Hyundai Motor India and Kia have both confirmed the imminent hybrid SUV strategy in India, notching up the electrified versions of two of the most popular midsize SUVs in the country, Creta and Seltos.
With both automakers gearing up to launch an attack of aggressive products and products in the next five years, hybrid powertrains will help bring the portfolio of these auto manufacturers to be more nature friendly as well as fuel efficient.
Hyundai Creta Hybrid is Coming in 2027
Hyundai just released its broadest product lineup to date: 26 new cars by FY2030, of which 6 will be electric, and 20 ICE solutions. The second-generation Hyundai Creta is expected to come in 2027.
The SUV should deliver a combination of electrified economy and mainstream styling, which cements its place as the best-seller in the segment.
Kia Seltos Hybrid will come no later than early 2026
In the meantime, Kia also has expressed its intentions toward hybrids. A brand new-generation Kia Seltos, internally dubbed SP3i, will appear worldwide during the second half of 2025, probably appearing in India in early 2026.
It is assumed that the new model will take many cues from the Kia Sportage design language and have tech and feature creep-ups of the Kia Syros.
Powertrain Details: Familiar Engine, New Electrification
The two hybrid SUVs will be powered by a new 1.5 liter-4-cylinder engine that is a naturally aspirated petrol-hybrid powertrain, which will be based on the existing petrol engine but optimized for fuel efficiency. It will also be the foundation of the new three-row hybrid SUVs of Hyundai and Kia, timed for 2027.
Although official numbers are not available, the hybrid varieties will surely perform superiorly on the principle of mileage as compared to their ICE counterparts.
Price and Competitiveness
On launch, both the Creta and Seltos hybrids will clash with other hybrid competitors such as the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, the new upcoming Renault Duster hybrid, and the new Nissan midsize SUV, modeled on the Duster.
Such hybrid models will automatically come with a higher price tag than non-hybridizable ICE variants, although in exchange, they should yield better efficiency and new technologies.
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