GaadiWaadi –
Hyundai has reportedly been working on a host of hybrid SUVs for India over the next two to three years and here are all the information we know so far
Hybrid technology could soon become a major talking point of Hyundai in India. While Toyota and Maruti Suzuki currently dominate the segment through the Hyryder, Grand Vitara, Victoris and Innova HyCross, Hyundai is working on multiple hybrid SUVs that will target different price points. The company is reportedly planning at least three new hybrid offerings for the local market.
The most premium of the trio is expected to be the Palisade Hybrid. Hyundai is evaluating the full-size SUV for India and a launch around 2028 remains possible. Sold overseas as a large three-row family SUV, the Palisade Hybrid combines a turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor while offering premium safety technologies and extensive cabin equipment. If introduced here, it would become Hyundai’s most expensive ICE-powered SUV.
Positioned well below the Palisade will be a completely new three-row SUV known internally as Ni1i. Expected to arrive towards the end of 2027, the model will fill the gap between the Alcazar and now-discontinued Tucson. Unlike many existing seven-seaters that rely solely on petrol or diesel power, hybrid technology is expected to be a core part of the package from the outset.
Reports indicate that a modified 1.5-litre petrol engine will work alongside an electric motor with the ability to drive on electric power alone during certain low-speed situations. That capability could become a significant advantage in city environments where stop-start traffic often limits fuel efficiency. Hyundai is also expected to use the same hybrid architecture across multiple future products – helping spread development costs while improving economies of scale.
Kia’s Seltos is also believed to be a potential recipient of this hybrid system. Volume, however, will come from the next-generation Creta. Internally known as SX3, the new SUV is expected to arrive in 2027 and will likely become Hyundai’s first high-volume hybrid offering in India. Few vehicles are better suited for electrification considering the current Creta crossed the two lakh annual sales milestone in FY26 as its popularity will be of certain help.
The upcoming model is expected to move onto Hyundai’s new K3 architecture and could stretch close to the 4.5-metre mark. Test vehicles have already hinted at a noticeably larger footprint compared to the existing SUV. Inside, one can expect upgraded materials, larger displays, additional connected technologies and a more premium appeal. Existing petrol, turbo petrol and diesel engines are likely to continue.
Rivals such as the Toyota Hyryder and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara currently enjoy a largely uncontested position in the mainstream hybrid SUV space and Hyundai’s entry could significantly alter that equation.
The post Hyundai Betting Big On Upcoming Hybrid SUVs – Here’s What To Expect appeared first on Gaadiwaadi.com – Latest Car & Bike News by Surendhar M.