3 Upcoming SUVs Arriving in December 2026 - Diesel, Plug-in Hybrid and Electric

As the final month of the year approaches, the Indian SUV market is set to experience multiple arrivals. Three major auto manufacturers are introducing different powertrains in December 2026: a mild-hybrid diesel ladder-frame off-roader, a plug-in hybrid SUV and a dedicated Born-Electric Vehicle (BEV).  Here is a detailed breakdown of the three key SUVs debuting this December - 

1. Next-Gen Toyota Fortuner (48V Mild-Hybrid Diesel)

Global Debut Date: December 1, 2026
Expected India Launch: Early 2027
Estimated Price Range: Rs 38 lakh - 52 lakh
Engine Option: 2.8L Turbo Diesel with 48V Mild-Hybrid System

Toyota will reveal the long-awaited next-gen Toyota Fortuner in the South African market in December 2026. It will be based on the updated iteration of Toyota’s IMV ladder-frame platform that also underpins the Hilux lifestyle pickup. The SUV will come with electrified diesel torque and active safety technology. 

Key Highlights

48V Mild-Hybrid Diesel: Integrates a small electric motor-generator and 48-volt battery with the proven 2.8-litre diesel engine to improve low-speed acceleration, and improved fuel efficiency. 

Modernised Interior: The SUV will receive major changes inside the cabin, an all-new dashboard incorporating a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, a fully-digital instrument console, electronic parking brake with auto hold, and ventilated front seats. 

Level-2 ADAS Suite: It will receive Toyota Safety Sense, offering safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Avoidance, and Blind-Spot Monitoring. 

JSW Combat (Plug-in Hybrid EV / PHEV)

India Debut Date: December 4, 2026
Expected Price Range: Rs 30 lakh - Rs 40 lakh
Engine Option: 1.5L Turbo Petrol + Dual Electric Motors + 18.4 kWh Battery Pack

JSW Group will finally enter the Indian automotive market as a standalone car manufacturer in December 2026. JSW Motors will be introduce the Combat 5-seater PHEV off-road SUV, which is basically the re-badged version of the Jetour T2 PHEV. 

Key Highlights

Powertrain: The Combat will be powered by a 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine mated to two electric motors and an 18.4 kWh battery pack. The engine offers a combined power and torque output of 360 hp and 610 Nm of torque, routed via a 3-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. The India-spec model is expected to be offered in front-wheel-drive configuration; however, an AWD version could also join the lineup. 
Total Range: All electric range of up to 90 km (NEDC) and a combined range of around 1200km. 

Cabin & Tech: 15.6-inch central touchscreen infotainment unit, a 10.6-inch digital driver display, panoramic sunroof, 12-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, ventilated front seats, 540-degree camera system and an ADAS suite with adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking. 

Honda 0 Alpha EV

India Debut Date: December 2, 2026
Expected Price Range: Rs 18 lakh - 24 lakh (ex-showroom)
Engine: 65kWh - 75kWh Pure Electric (Born-EV Architecture)

Honda Cars India will finally enter the mass-market electric vehicle segment with the official reveal of the Honda 0 Alpha EV on December 2, 2026. The SUV will be locally produced at Honda’s Tapukara facility in Rajasthan for domestic as well as export markets. The 0 Alpha will be the first production model born out of Honda’s global “Thin, Light, and Wise” EV design philosophy. 

Key Highlight

Design Highlights: The production-spec model features a boxy silhouette, flat bonnet, squared-off wheel arches and an upright tailgate. It comes with full-width horizontal LED light bars at the front and vertically-stacked LED tail-lamp clusters, 18-inch aero-optimised wheels and sloping roofline. 

Interior Details: It will have a clean interior layout built around Honda’s “Man Maximum, Machine Minimum” design philosophy. The SUV will have landscape-oriented central touchscreen paired with a standalone digital instrument console, flat floor structure for maximum rear-seat knee and legroom, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic glass roof, Honda Sensing Level 2 ADAS and others. 

Estimated Range: Likely to be offered with 60 kWh and 70 kWh battery packs, an estimated range of around 450-500km, and a front-wheel-drive setup.