Sadly this isn't enough to influence Indian customers to go for hybrid cars, and that is where the premium hybrid sedans come in. These are cars that not only offer the same safe and clean engine, but also a level of performance and luxury that justifies these high price points. Presently the segment is ruled by the Toyota Camry and Prius. Adding on that, here are the top 3 hybrid sedans that are set to go on sale in the Indian car market in 2016.
Honda Accord Hybrid
There was a time when the Honda Accord was one of the most popular entry level luxury sedans in India. The Indian car market saw two generations of Honda Accord being sold in the country before the company finally pulled its plugs in early 2014 due to poor sales. Now Honda has decided to bring back the new generation Accord to India but this time the car will come with a new hybrid engine. The new Honda Accord will be powered by a 2-litre, 16-valve i-VTEC petrol engine that's mated to the electric motor which derives power from the on-board lithium-ion battery. The petrol unit churns out 141bhp, but the system's combined output is a 196bhp with a generous 306Nm of torque. The transmission is an electronic CVT, which is designed to handle all that torque. Honda will unveil the Accord Hybrid next month at the 2016 Auto Expo.
Expected Price: Rs. 30 Lakh - Rs. 35 lakh
Expected Launch Date: Mid-2016
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
This South Korean automaker has always tried to be at par with Honda and similarly, Hyundai India too had a popular executive sedan on sale in the past - the Sonata. And what happened with the Accord happened with Sonata too and the Hyundai Sonata soon went off sales in India. Now Hyundai too wants try its luck in the luxury hybrid segment with the new Sonata Hybrid. The car some with an all-new modern design with Hyundai's signature style cues. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid comes with plug-in technology and is powered by a 2.0-Litre GDI 4-cylinder engine with Blue Drive fully parallel HEV system along with Interior-Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor, a 360V lithium polymer battery and Hybrid Starter Generator (HSG) that produces a combined power output of 202bhp. While the electric motor solely has a range of 44 km, the combined range is clocked at 965 km.
Expected Price: Rs. 28 Lakh - Rs. 33 lakh
Expected Launch Date: Late-2016
Volkswagen Passat GTE
It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that 2015 hasn't been a very nice year for Volkswagen Group. Especially, with the diesel engine emission scandal the popular German carmaker is trying its best to clean the slate as much as it can. And the growing market for luxury hybrids is something that has caught its eye. At this year's Auto Expo, Volkswagen India will be showcasing its luxury plug-in hybrid, the Volkswagen Passat GTE. The cars design is same as the standard Volkswagen Passat but under the hood car will comes with a 1.4-litre TSI engine combined with an electric motor that collectively churns out 215bhp and has a driving range of 1000 km.
Expected Price: Rs. 30 Lakh - Rs. 35 lakh
Expected Launch Date: Late-2016
Also Read: Top Hybrid and Electric Cars in India
Toyota Prius Facelift
Toyota has been one of the leading players in the hybrid sedan market with the Camry and Prius. The carmaker launched the Camry Hybrid facelift in mid-2015 and now Toyota is gearing up for the 2016 Prius facelift, which will also be showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo. While it is true that the sales of the Prius in India is quite low, the market is still alive and growing, which is why Toyota India wants to bring in the new Prius as well. Moreover, with the recent ban on diesel cars above 2000cc (Fortuner and Innova), the Camry and the upcoming Prius could see some higher demand in Delhi and NCR.
The Toyota Prius facelift will be powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder DOHC naturally aspirated engine that makes 97 bhp and 142 Nm of torque. Whereas the electric motor that sources power from a nickel metal hydrid battery that contributes a further 71 bhp, which brings the combined power output to 214bhp.
Expected Price: Rs. 35 Lakh - Rs. 40 lakh
Expected Launch Date: Mid-2016
