Recap 2022: Strong Hybrid Cars Launched in 2022

• Here is a list of strong hybrid cars launched in the Indian market in 2022.
• All the new models are mass-market offerings, priced within the Rs. 30 lakh bracket.
• Running on the engine as well as battery power, these vehicles return high fuel efficiency.

2022 can easily be called the year of strong hybrids in the Indian automotive industry. We have seen the strong hybrid space go from not even a single product in the mass market segment grow to the count of 4, in just a year's time. These vehicles are priced at a premium and come with the advantage of high fuel efficiency figures, all thanks to the combined power delivery from the engine as well as the electric motor. So here is a comprehensive list of strong hybrid cars launched in 2022, coupled with all the necessary details.

Also Read: Strong Hybrid Cars Under Rs. 50 lakh In India

Honda City e:HEV

Launched in May this year, the Honda City e:HEV became the first mass-market vehicle with a strong hybrid powertrain in India. The low-slung sedan is currently priced at Rs. 19.89 lakh (ex-showroom) and only comes in a single top-rung ZX trim. Under the hood, it uses a 1.5 litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine mated to two electric motors. The combined power output from the system stands at 126 bhp and 253 Nm of peak torque. The four-wheeler returns a claimed fuel economy of 26.5 kmpl. In terms of design, Honda has slightly differentiated it from the regular City and it also gets the Honda Sensing ADAS technology.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Toyota debuted in the mid-size SUV segment with the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. Co-developed with Maruti Suzuki, the SUV comes in both mild hybrid and strong hybrid powertrain options. In its strong hybrid guise, the four-wheeler is priced in the range of Rs. 15.11 lakh to Rs. 18.99 lakh (ex-showroom). It draws power from a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine paired with an electric motor, churning out a combined power output of 115 bhp. All thanks to additional power from the electric motor, the SUV excels in the fuel efficiency department, returning a claimed mileage of 27.97 kmpl.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Following the launch of its Toyota counterpart, Maruti Suzuki introduced the Grand Vitara in the country in September 2022, thus joining the list of strong hybrid cars launched in 2022. Much like the Urban Cruiser Hyruder, Maruti's mid-size SUV also comes with mild and strong hybrid powertrain options. The strong hybrid is offered in only two variants, i.e. Zeta+ and Alpha+, which comes at a price of Rs. 17.99 lakh and Rs. 19.49 lakh (ex-showroom) respectively. Underneath, it uses the familiar 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine paired with an electric motor, putting out a combined power output of 115 bhp.  The claimed fuel efficiency figure stands at 27.97 kmpl.

Toyota Innova Hycross

The latest strong hybrid vehicle launched in the year 2022 is the Toyota Innova Hycross. The 7/8 seater MPV also gets a regular petrol powertrain, along with an efficient strong hybrid unit. The four-wheeler is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which runs on the Atkinson cycle and it comes paired with the brand's fifth-gen strong hybrid system. The combined power output from the system is rated at 186 bhp and 206 Nm of peak torque and the power is channelled to the front wheels using an e-Drive transmission. The price range starts from Rs. 24.01 lakh (ex-showroom), going all the way up to Rs. 28.97 lakh (ex-showroom).

Also Read: Toyota Innova Hycross, Petrol VS Strong Hybrid: Which One To Buy?

Verdict: The Strong Hybrid vehicles are the sweet spot between the ICE and fully electric cars. Offering the best of both worlds, i.e. good fuel efficiency, making it light on pocket along with being environmentally friendly and still saving you from the range anxiety of EVs, with enough juice to enjoy your drives on long treating highways. To conclude, 2022 has been a great year for strong hybrid vehicles in India and we expect more manufacturers to enter this segment. Along with this, the higher price premium for these strong hybrid vehicles over their regular petrol counterparts will likely come down, given the local assembly of the hybrid components in the coming years.