Renault Bridger to Fronx Facelift - 3 Upcoming Compact SUVs with Hybrid Engine

Published ByAmit Sharma

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2026-05-29

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Renault Bridger to Fronx Facelift - 3 Upcoming Compact SUVs with Hybrid Engine

Renault Bridger and next Kia Sonet to get strong hybrid engine Maruti to launch Fronx facelift with series hybrid engine

The sub-4 meter SUV segment in India has been long dominated by petrol and diesel engines; however, things will change significantly in near future. With stricter emission norms and a demand for higher fuel efficiency, major automakers like Maruti Suzuki, Kia, and Renault are planning to launch Strong Hybrid powertrains in the sub-4 meter SUVs. Here is the list of the upcoming sub-4 meter hybrid SUVs in the Indian market -

Maruti Fronx Hybrid

The Maruti Fronx has been one of the best-selling sub-4 meter models in the Indian market. The company is preparing to give the crossover a mid-life update, which is reportedly to get a hybrid electric vehicle. It is expected to debut Maruti’s in-house Strong Hybrid system, which will get a series-hybrid tech. The hybrid system is likely to comprise a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder, Z-Series engine, an electric motor and a small battery pack. If reports are to be believed, the Fronx Hybrid will return a fuel efficiency of around 35-40kmpl.

Renault Bridger

Renault Bridger compact SUV

Renault has officially announced that the production version of the Bridger compact SUV will be introduced sometime in 2027. The sub-4 meter SUV will be based on the RGMP (Renault Global Modular Platform) platform that also underpins the Duster. It will initially come with a turbo petrol engine, but Renault has confirmed that it is considering a strong hybrid version of the sub-4 meter SUV.

Renault is exploring a localised version of its E-Tech hybrid system. This would make the Bridger one of the first European-origin compact SUVs to offer a full-hybrid setup in India. It is expected to get a 1.2L petrol engine coupled with a small battery pack and an electric motor.

Next-gen Kia Sonet

Kia will launch the second generation Sonet compact SUV in the country in 2027. The Korean automaker is also considering the hybrid version of the next-gen Sonet. Internally codenamed QY2E, the next-gen Kia Sonet has already been spotted testing on the Indian roads. It will be based on the new K1 platform that also underpins the Kia Syros and the new Hyundai Venue. This platform is claimed to be strong and will support modern tech and safety features.

The new Kia Sonet is expected to retain the existing engine options, including an 83bhp, 1.2L NA petrol, a 120hp, 1.0L 3-cylinder, turbo petrol, and a 116hp, 1.5L turbo diesel. Previous media reports claim that Kia is also developing a strong hybrid engine for the Sonet, which is likely to arrive sometime in 2028.

Also See - New Renault Bridger – Fresh Details Out

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Amit Sharma

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Amit is responsible for the content creation on the Carlelo website with an objective to serve the online visitors to the best of his abilities. He has a vast experience of over 12 years in motoring journalism and has worked with multiple automotive brands including CarDekho, IndiaCarNews and Zee Network (India.com Auto)

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