Hyundai 7-Seater SUV, New Kia Seltos, Mahindra XUV 3XO to get Hybrid Engines

Seeing the rising demand for hybrid cars, most brands in India are now preparing to launch hybrids in our market. In fact, Maruti Suzuki has started working on a low-cost hybrid setup to power its entry-level models. Car makers including Hyundai, Kia and Mahindra are also planning to launch hybrid SUVs in our market. 

Hyundai 7-seater Hybrid SUV

The Korean automaker, Hyundai is developing an all-new 3-row SUV, internally codenamed Ni1i for the Indian market. This C-segment SUV will sit above the Alcazar in Hyundai India line-up and will compete against the Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Safari. The new 3-row SUV is expected to be based on the Tucson LWB on sale in China. It measures 4680mm in length, which is similar to the XUV700 and Safari. 

The new Hyundai 7-seater SUV will be equipped with a hybrid engine. Hyundai is offering Tucson with a 1.6-litre petrol hybrid setup, which is expected to be offered with the new 7-seater SUV. Hyundai could also add the hybrid setup to its existing 1.5-litre NA petrol engine to achieve competitive pricing.

New Kia Seltos Hybrid

Kia is also testing the next-gen Seltos hybrid SUV on the foreign soil. The new Seltos Hybrid is expected to make global debut sometime in Q1, 2026 - most probably in January. It is expected that the new-gen Kia Seltos could get a 141hp, 1.6-litre hybrid system that is also available in Hyundai Kona Hybrid and the Kia Niro. 

Interestingly, Kia is also developing a dedicated electronic all-time four-wheel-drive (E-AWD) system for the Seltos hybrid.

Mahindra XUV 3XO Hybrid

The homegrown UV maker, Mahindra is also working on multiple new powertrains including strong hybrid, range extender hybrids and others. The XUV 3XO is also expected to receive a hybrid powertrain. Called the Project S226, the Mahindra XUV 3XO hybrid is likely to be launched sometime in 2026. The SUV could get a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with a hybrid setup. Adding to it, Mahindra is also considering range extender hybrids for the existing INGLO platform models including the BE 6 and XEV 9e.

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