All About Hybrid SUV Cars in India 2021 - From Maruti Brezza To Porsche Cayenne

Electrification is the key to the future of the automotive industry. The development of electric vehicles has become the focal point of many major car brands. Even smaller and fledging car companies also place bet on electric vehicles. This trend is also evident in the Indian market. However, due to the lack of charging infrastructure and range anxiety, electric vehicles have not yet to gain a desirable following in the market. Before all these issues are solved and the electric vehicles can fully bloom in the Indian market, customers can opt for the hybrid models instead. With hybrid cars, the customers can still tap into the wonderful technology of electric vehicles while still being secured with the traditional powertrain.On the other hand, the SUV body type is gaining dominance in the car market. In the following, IndianAuto will give you a brief introduction to the hybrid models and all the hybrid SUV cars in India in 2021.

What are Hybrid Cars – Pros and Cons?

Hybrid cars are designed to make use of both traditional internal combustion engine and electric powertrain. This combination is meant to deliver better fuel efficiency while keeping the emission level low. Hybrid cars continue to employ the regular internal combustion engine as the main source of power. Moreover, it also integrates a lithium-ion battery for storing energy to activate the electric motor. The hybrid system also makes use of the energy generated throughout the braking process as a way to saving energy.

Pros:

Environmentally-friendliness: Hybrid cars are, foremost, environmentally friendly. It is one of the biggest advantages of this powertrain type. With the help of electric technology, hybrid cars can ensure a low level of emission.

Range-anxiety-free: One of the biggest concerns that hold buyers from purchasing electric cars is range anxiety. This issue does not exist in the hybrid models. Car users won’t have to worry about the range since hybrids car can still run solely on fuel.

Cons

High purchasing and maintenance cost: Since the technology behind the hybrid cars is more complicated than the regular fuel-powered setting, the cost for manufacturing is also higher, hence increasing the upfront prices of these models. Moreover, it also requires expertise to fix and maintain the hybrid system. So the cost for repairs and maintenance of hybrid cars are also significantly higher than other models.

Not emission-free: Since hybrid cars still rely on the internal combustion engine, it is not entirely emission-free like the electric vehicles.

What are the types of hybrid cars?

The car industry has developed a few types and layouts for the hybrid powertrains. Here are some popular hybrid types in the market.

Parallel hybrid car

In a parallel hybrid car, the electric motor and internal combustion engine work together to generate power. The combination of both electric motor and fuel engine leads to higher power output and lower fuel consumption. The motor and engines work alternatively as the primary source of power.

Series hybrid car

The series hybrid cars use the electric motor as the main power source. The fuel engine, on the other hand, only assists the electronic motor by charging the battery if necessary. The internal combustion engine also kicks in case of pulling heavy loads.

Two-mode hybrid car

A two-mode hybrid runs on electric motor at low speed. The power sourced from the engine is used to complement the electric motor when driving at high speed.

Plug-in hybrid car

Plug-in hybrid cars are the most popular in the market right now. This hybrid layout features a large battery that can be externally recharged. The electric motor can provide power for the shorter drive while the regular engine plays the main role in long-distance drives.

What is the future of Hybrid cars in India?

In India, there are now a small number of models in the market that offers the hybrid powertrain as an optional choice. Knowing the customers’ hesitance toward the full-fledged electric cars, car manufacturers in India has occasionally introduced a hybrid option for the range of vehicles.

Recently, the government has introduced some initiatives to promote the use of electric vehicles in India. However, it might take time for car buyers to fully embrace electric cars. In the meanwhile, hybrid cars play as a bridge to the electric vehicle future.

Top hybrid SUV cars in India 2021

Mass-market Hybrid SUVs

In the past, hybrid cars were expensive. However, in recent years, many mass-market car brands started to introduce their hybrid system at more affordable prices. Here are some hybrid SUV cars in India with attractive pricing.

MG Hector Mild Hybrid

MG Hector was first launched in 2019 as the first product from the British car brand. The mid-size SUV easily gains reception from Indian buyers thanks to its sensitive pricing, value-for-money package, good-looking design and well-loaded feature list. Right from the get-go, the MG Hector was available with a hybrid powertrain option. This hybrid system combines the regular 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 48V mild hybrid system. The power outputs of the MG Hector hybrid are 143 PS and 250 Nm, which is on par with the regular petrol powertrain. On the hybrid version, this engine comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox only.

The 48V mild-hybrid system on the MG Hector is used to power the car during the lower-end torque range of the SUV. This allows the SUV to accelerate faster within city driving. In addition, the regenerative braking technology utilises kinetic energy to recharge the 48-volt battery. With the help of the hybrid setting, the mileage was increased from 14.16 kmpl to 15.81 kmpl.

Maruti Vitara Brezza SHVS

Maruti Suzuki is an active advocate of mainstreaming hybrid technology. The market-leading car brand has introduced mild-hybrid technology in many of their products in different categories, for example, the Maruti Ciaz sedan, Maruti Baleno hatchback. In the SUV space, Maruti has included the SHVS mild-hybrid technology on the Maruti Brezza.

Maruti Vitara Brezza is one of the most successful cars in the sub-four-meter SUV segment. The Brezza is able to gain a huge following thanks to its spacious cabin, pliant ride quality and refined performance. The Brezza is currently is available exclusively with a petrol engine only. The sole petrol engine is a 1.5-litre petrol engine that makes 105 PS and 138 Nm. On the regular version, this engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed AT gearbox.

The SHVS comes with an automatic gearbox only. With the assistance of the SHVS system, the Brezza can offer higher mileage and smoother performance. The SHVS system of the Brezza features a dual battery electric motor setting which will come into play during acceleration, auto start-stop and deceleration. As a result, the mileage of the hybrid version is increased to 18.76 kmpl against 17.03 kmpl of the standard model. The Brezza is certainly among the most popular hybrid SUV cars in India 2021

Hybrid SUV Cars in India 2021 - Luxury SUVs

The hybrid technology seems to be more popular in the luxury SUV segment. In the second part, IndianAuto will give you some luxury hybrid SUV cars in 2021 in India.

Lexus NX

Lexus is the luxury branch of Toyota. As you might know, Toyota is the leading company in promoting hybrid technology in the premium and luxury segment. Lexus, as a subsidiary company of Toyota, also inherits the earnestness for hybrid tech. One of the hybrid models is the Lexus NX. It is offered exclusively with the hybrid powertrain only. Along with the 2.5-litre petrol engine, the NX is also fitted with an electric motor. The petrol engine alone is powerful enough for 155 PS and 210 Nm. If combined with the electric motor, the power output will be increased to 197 PS. This SUV is available with automatic transmission only.

The hybrid system on the Lexus NX is similar to the one used on the Toyota Camry Hybrid. The difference is that, on the NX, there is an additional rear electric motor, making it an e-AWD (electric all-wheel-drive) model. However, the e-AWD mode is automatically activated only when the system detects the need for power to the rear wheels. But essentially, it is still a front-wheel-drive model. Lexus NX is positioned against the likes of Mercedes Benz GLC, BMW X3, Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5.

Lexus RX

Here is another luxury hybrid SUV from Lexus. The RX is offered in one single variant - the seven-seater RX 450hL. The hybrid system includes a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine that generates 295 PS. When combined with the electric motor, the power output reaches 308PS. The hybrid powertrain is available with an e-CVT (Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission) gearbox. Unlike the NX, the RX is a full-time four-wheel-drive model. In the luxury SUV segment, the RX is challenging against the likes of the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Volvo XC90 T8

Next in line on our list of hybrid SUV cars in India 2021 is the Volvo XC90 T8. The existing version of this SUV was launched back in 2019. At the launch of the outgoing XC90, Volvo has introduced a mild-hybrid version of this SUV, the XC90 T8. The mild-hybrid XC90 is offered exclusively with the petrol engine. The petrol hybrid is good for 400 PS and 640 Nm. The transmission duty is handled by an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Besides the petrol engine, there is also a diesel engine on offer.  Volvo XC90 is competing against the likes of Mercedes Benz GLS, BMW X5, and Audi Q7.

Porsche Cayenne

Porsche Cayenne is the most expensive hybrid model on this list. The luxury SUV is offered in three variants. One of them is the Cayenne E-Hybrid variant which is priced at Rs 1.58 Crore. The hybrid version sources power from the 3.0-litre petrol engine and a 136 PS electric motor. Together, this hybrid powertrain can generate a total output of 462PS and 700Nm. The power is delivered to all wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. When running on the electric powertrain, the Cayenne E-Hybrid can offer a range of 44 km. In the luxury SUV segment, the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is directly rivalling the Volvo XC90 Excellence Plug-in Hybrid.

So, which one of these hybrid SUV cars in India 2021 excites you the most?