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Hybrid Cars in India

A hybrid car uses a petrol engine and an electric motor together to give you far better mileage without ever plugging in. There are 10 on sale in India. The cheapest is the Maruti Victoris strong hybrid at ₹16.43 lakh, and the range runs through the Honda City sedan and the seven seat Toyota Innova Hycross. At the top sit luxury names like the Toyota Camry and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Every price on this page is ex-showroom, so add road tax, insurance and registration for your on-road cost. A hybrid is the easiest way to cut your fuel bill if you cannot charge an electric car, since it charges its own battery as you drive and brake. The full list is sorted brand by brand below, cheapest first.

Best hybrid SUV
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
Around 27 km per litre
Best hybrid sedan
Honda City
Refined and efficient
Best hybrid MPV
Toyota Innova Hycross
The family hybrid
Best luxury hybrid
Toyota Camry
Serene hybrid sedan

Toyota Hybrid Cars

Toyota is the hybrid specialist in India. The Urban Cruiser Hyryder is a frugal midsize SUV, the Innova Hycross a spacious seven seat family MPV, the Camry a serene luxury sedan, and the Vellfire a flagship luxury MPV. All use a smooth self charging hybrid that never needs plugging in.

Maruti Suzuki Hybrid Cars

Maruti sells two strong hybrids, and both are self charging midsize SUVs. The Victoris strong hybrid starts at ₹16.43 lakh and is rated at 28.65 kmpl. The Grand Vitara hybrid starts at ₹16.68 lakh and is rated at 27.97 kmpl. They are the most affordable way into a strong hybrid in India.

Honda Hybrid Cars

Honda's City is the benchmark hybrid sedan. Its strong hybrid system delivers excellent fuel economy along with the smoothness and comfort the City is loved for, making it one of the most efficient petrol powered sedans on sale in India.

Honda City in white, seen from the front

Midsize Sedan

Honda City

₹11.99 Lakh to ₹21.35 Lakh ex-showroom

On-road in Bangalore from ₹14.84 Lakh

PetrolHybridManual & automatic
View detailsCompare variants

Renault Hybrid Cars

Renault's Duster Hybrid is a self charging strong hybrid midsize SUV, sold as the Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160. Its 1.8 litre petrol and two motors make 160 PS, Renault certifies it at 29 kmpl, and prices run from ₹16.99 lakh to ₹19.69 lakh.

MG Hybrid Cars

MG's Hector Tomahawk is a plug in hybrid version of its large SUV. Unlike a self charging hybrid, it can be charged from a socket to run on electric power alone for short trips. It then switches to petrol for longer journeys, giving you the best of both worlds.

Mercedes-Benz Hybrid Cars

Mercedes-Benz brings hybrid technology to its flagship in the S-Class. It is a plug in hybrid limousine that can cover city distances on electric power alone, while offering the ultimate in luxury, comfort and technology at the very top of the market.

Which hybrid car should you buy?

Match it to your budget and body style. For an affordable, frugal hybrid SUV, the Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder are the value picks, and the Renault Duster Hybrid is the most efficient on paper. The Honda City is the hybrid sedan to beat, and the Toyota Innova Hycross is the seven seat family choice. At the luxury end, the Toyota Camry and Vellfire and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class pair hybrid efficiency with real comfort.

Strong hybrid or plug-in hybrid: what is the difference?

A strong or self charging hybrid, like the Grand Vitara, Hyryder, City and Camry, charges its own small battery as you drive, so you never plug it in and simply enjoy better mileage. A plug in hybrid, like the MG Hector Tomahawk and Mercedes S-Class, has a bigger battery you charge from a socket for a useful electric only range, then runs on petrol after that.

Hybrid Cars: common questions

How does a hybrid car work?

A hybrid pairs a petrol engine with an electric motor and a small battery. At low speeds and in traffic it can run on the electric motor alone, and the battery recharges itself as you brake and cruise, so you never plug it in. The result is much better mileage, especially in the city.

Do you need to charge a hybrid car?

A strong hybrid like the Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder or Honda City never needs plugging in, as it charges itself while you drive. Only a plug in hybrid, such as the MG Hector Tomahawk or Mercedes S-Class, is charged from a socket to unlock a longer electric only range.

Which hybrid car has the best mileage?

On certified figures, the Renault Duster Hybrid leads the self charging hybrids at 29 kmpl. The Maruti Victoris follows at 28.65 kmpl, the Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder at 27.97 kmpl and the Honda City at 27.26 kmpl. Plug in hybrids quote higher figures on a different basis.

Are hybrid cars worth the extra cost?

If you drive a lot and cannot charge an electric car, yes. A hybrid costs more than a plain petrol car, but its much higher mileage steadily pays that back, and there is no charging or range worry. For high running city drivers, a hybrid is often the smartest choice today.

Hybrid or electric car: which is better?

It depends on charging. If you can charge at home, an electric car is cheaper to run and smoother still. If you cannot charge easily or take frequent long trips, a hybrid gives you most of the fuel savings with none of the range or charging worry. It fills up at any petrol pump.

Also consider

Cars under ₹15 LakhWhere hybrids startCars under ₹20 LakhMore hybrid choiceElectric carsZero emission drivingSedansComfortable and roomy