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South Korean brands to bring new hybrid MPVs that directly challenge the Maruti Ertiga and Toyota Innova Hycross in India
Despite the dominance of SUVs, MPVs still account for a notable share of utility vehicle sales in India and remain a preferred choice for large families. With the rising trend of road trips and family trips, these conventional people movers remain a popular pick among customers prioritising space and utility over sheer road presence.
While the MPV category in India is currently dominated by Maruti Suzuki and Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), South Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia are preparing to give them strong competition in the near future. Hyundai has been eyeing an entry into the MPV segment for well over a decade and is finally set to make it happen, while Kia is already present and plans to strengthen its presence further.
In October last year, Hyundai announced that it will launch an all-new MPV in India. The company has been silent about the positioning or launch timeline of this model, but the first details have already emerged through the industry grapevine. Word out in the media is that the South Korean automaker is mulling an MPV based on the platform of the Santa Fe, a D-segment SUV that was sold in India in its second and third generations.
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Incidentally, the platform in question is shared with the fourth-generation Kia Sorento, confirmed to be locally manufactured in India starting later this year. This strengthens the credibility of the speculation and aligns with Hyundai and Kia’s internal strategy to avoid cannibalisation.
While Hyundai and Kia compete in the mid-size SUV segment with the Creta and Seltos, respectively, in the segment above them, the former sells a three-row SUV in the form of Alcazar, while the latter offers a three-row MPV as the Carens/Carens Clavis. In the D-segment, it seems that while Kia will launch the three-row Sorento, Hyundai will bring a three-row MPV. The Hyundai MPV will likely arrive in 2028 and directly compete with the Toyota Innova Hycross. In all likelihood, it should be offered with the same hybrid system as Kia’s Sorento.
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Earlier this month, Kia confirmed plans to launch two new hybrid MPVs in India: the Carnival Hybrid and the Carens Hybrid. The company will launch the Carnival Hybrid in the second half of 2026 and likely import it as a CBU from South Korea.
The Carnival Hybrid employs a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine that develops 180 PS (178 hp) and 27.0 kgf.m (265 Nm) of torque and an electric motor tuned to produce 54 kW (74 hp) and 304 Nm of torque. It has a 6-speed automatic transmission that directs drive to the front wheels. In South Korea, this setup returns a fuel economy of 14.0 km/l.
As for the Carens Hybrid, Kia has said that it plans to launch this model between 2027 and 2029. We expect the locally produced model to arrive after the Seltos Hybrid, the latest by 2028. It should combine a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with an electric motor, both expected to be sourced locally. Kia may even localise the high-voltage battery and other core components to keep the costs low and price the model competitively.
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