There is no doubt that the future is electric, but the electric vehicle adoption so far has been slower than anticipated. At the same time, interest in strong hybrids has been on the rise as they are extremely fuel-efficient and avoid the inconvenience of long charging times. What also helps is that the road tax exemption on hybrid vehicles is on par with EVs in some states, making them more accessible. Below is a list of the most affordable hybrid cars under Rs 50 lakh, comprising sedan, MPV and SUV body styles.
1. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
Price: Rs 16.63 lakh-19.72 lakh
Claimed efficiency – 27.97kpl
The Maruti Grand Vitara is quite an all-rounder, and its hybrid powertrain is smooth and refined to suit most needs. It is also extremely efficient and can even be run in pure EV mode, provided there is sufficient charge in the battery. It does not quite have a sporty bent of mind, but that’s not the intent. Instead, it is tuned for maximising fuel efficiency, with real-world city and highway figures of 20.39kpl and 23.77kpl, respectively. The Grand Vitara also has a well-equipped, plush interior, and it rides and handles well. What’s most enticing is its attractive starting price, making it the most affordable hybrid car in India.
2. Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
Price: Rs 16.77 lakh-19.99 lakh
Claimed efficiency – 27.97kpl
The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, being the Grand Vitara’s sibling, shares its strengths. Both models are also almost specced identically across their respective variants, and the difference between the two just comes down to styling and branding. As with the Grand Vitara, you’ll have to make do with limited boot space in the Hyryder’s hybrid versions. As for fuel efficiency, the Hyryder delivers 20.8kpl in the city and 22.85kpl out on the highway. One’s buying preference may differ due to factors such as higher warranty, the reputation of the Toyota badge, service centre availability and waiting period.
3. Honda City Hybrid
Price: Rs 21 lakh
Claimed efficiency – 27.26kpl
While the Honda City is the most affordable hybrid sedan in India, it is not value-for-money in the face of the better-packaged SUVs above on this list. It should be noted that one cannot manually change between hybrid and EV modes, like on the Grand Vitara and Hyryder. Instead, the system automatically shuffles between full EV, hybrid and engine modes. We are yet to test the new City for its efficiency, but the pre-facelift City hybrid returned 19.8kpl in the city and 22.5kpl on the highway in our real-world tests. Honda, meanwhile, claims 27.26kpl for the new City. Performance is brisker here compared to the duo above, and as with the regular City, you get a dynamically sound car with a spacious interior and comfortable seating.
4. Maruti Suzuki Invicto
Price: Rs 24.97 lakh-28.61 lakh
Claimed efficiency – 23.24kpl
Moving up the price band, there’s the Invicto, which is Maruti Suzuki’s most expensive product yet. Borrowing the hybrid tech from Toyota, it’s an easy-going, hugely practical and comfortable MPV that does its primary job of hauling people very well. Like the Grand Vitara-Hyryder duo, the Invicto can be started in electric mode, and in light driving conditions, you can continue to be in full EV mode. It will give you an efficiency of 13.1kpl in the city and 16.1kpl out on the highway. However, it does not like to be hurried.
5. Toyota Innova Hycross
Price: Rs 26.76 lakh-31.84 lakh
Claimed efficiency – 22.16kpl
Apart from the difference in styling and badging from the Invicto, the Toyota Innova Hycross also gets features such as ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) and ottoman seats, which is why it costs more. Here, too, performance is pleasant, with a steady supply of power, but the engine gets strained under heavy acceleration. As for the Hycross’s city and highway mileage figures, they are similar to those of the Invicto. Elsewhere, it remains a spacious, well-appointed and efficient MPV, although ride quality isn’t as good as the Invicto owing to larger rims.
6. Toyota Camry
Rs 47.48 lakh
Claimed efficiency: 25.49kpl
The Toyota Camry is the brand’s lone sedan offering in India, and the most expensive in this set. While the City Hybrid doesn’t have a dedicated EV mode, the Camry adds just that, given there is enough battery charge. The hybrid system is also capable of automatically switching between ICE and EV modes, and it does so in a seamless manner. Those being chauffeured in the Camry will appreciate the well-bolstered seats, which are extremely comfortable. In mixed driving, the Camry returns about 20kpl of mileage, which is impressive considering it weighs 1.6 tonnes.
ALL PRICES ARE EX-SHOWROOM, DELHI
