When someone mentioned a hybrid car a few years ago, we all knew who was talking about the Toyota Prius. However, times have changed, and carmakers now offer a variety of hybrid vehicles, with some specializing solely in them.
It took time for carmakers in India to offer hybrids, but there is now a hybrid car to suit every budget and need. Today, we look at India’s top 5 most affordable hybrid cars, including models from Lexus, Toyota, Honda, and even the most popular Indian brand, Maruti Suzuki. Here are the top five most affordable hybrid vehicles in India.
Lexus ES 300h
The Lexus ES 300h is the most expensive hybrid on our list of the least expensive cars, costing Rs 59.50 lakh ex-showroom, Delhi. The Lexus ES 300h is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a 1.6-kWh Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack, producing 214 bhp and 221 Nm of torque. The car runs in pure electric mode but switches to a combination of ICE and EV power at higher speeds, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in 8.9 seconds and return 22.5 km (Claimed). The vehicle includes all the bells and whistles that come with a luxury car, such as premium leather interiors, a touchscreen infotainment system, and ten airbags to keep passengers safe.
Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Toyota Camry is the next car on our list of the most affordable hybrid vehicles in India, with an ex-showroom Delhi price of Rs 44.35 lakh. The Camry chose the mixed route many years ago, and the car is powered by a 2.5-liter petrol engine paired to a 245 volt Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack – the same setup as the Lexus ES 300h – that produces 214 bhp and 221 Nm of peak torque via a CVT transmission. Despite sharing the same engine-battery pack configuration as the Lexus, Toyota claims a mileage of 19.1 km, slightly lower than the ES 300h. The Toyota Camry Hybrid has a range of 958 km while keeping occupants as comfortable as possible.
Honda City e: HEV
The Honda City e: HEV was recently introduced in India, with an ex-showroom Delhi price of Rs 19.49 lakh. The City e: HEV employs a 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle petrol engine in conjunction with a 172.8 Volt lithium-ion battery pack to produce 124 bhp and 253 Nm of torque via a CVT gearbox. The car has two electric motors, one to drive the car in pure EV mode at low speeds and the other to charge the battery pack while driving. The car switches between electric and hybrid power on its own, using onboard computers with no human intervention. Honda claims a fuel economy of 26.5 kmpl. Our first-drive review can find more information about the Honda City e: HEV hybrid.
Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
The newly launched Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is India’s second most affordable hybrid vehicle. The mid-size SUV based on Maruti Suzuki’s platform will go on sale in India soon and will be available with two engines, one of which is a 1.5-liter Maruti Suzuki petrol engine. The other engine option will be a 1.5-liter unit, but this time it will work with a hybrid system to produce 114 bhp with the help of an eCVT gearbox. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder will be available in pure EV mode and with AWD, but more information will be available once Toyota launches the SUV in India.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
