Toyota India’s 2 upcoming SUV: Toyota is one of the country’s leading automotive companies, widely renowned for its robust hybrid vehicles. Recently, some automotive experts have suggested that the company is poised to launch several new hybrid models in the near future.
Toyota’s hybrid cars are considered to be of exceptional quality. The company is currently executing a strategic plan to significantly expand its hybrid portfolio in India, introducing two new hybrid models that are expected to hit the market very soon.
This lineup will include some of its best-selling SUVs and MPVs. So, let’s take a closer look at which Toyota vehicles are set to launch with hybrid powertrains, and determine whether they will succeed in maintaining their market dominance just as their predecessors did.
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Toyota Innova Hycross
Toyota India’s 2 upcoming SUV: The Toyota Innova Hycross—the latest offering from the company—builds upon an already formidable presence in the MPV segment, a segment where Toyota vehicles are a ubiquitous sight on the roads.
Notably, the current diesel-powered Innova Crysta continues to perform exceptionally well in the market, maintaining its immense popularity even today. However, in compliance with upcoming CAFE Phase II regulations, Toyota is reportedly making preparations to discontinue the production of the diesel-powered Crysta sometime around March of next year.
Among the Crysta’s most celebrated attributes—aside from its features, spacious dimensions, and comfortable ride was its engine; this powertrain was previously available at a more affordable price point compared to the high-end Hycross models.
Consequently, should the diesel variant be discontinued, it could potentially leave a significant void in the company’s product portfolio. To address this challenge, however, Toyota has devised a brilliant strategy: launching a lower-specification variant of the Hycross.
The primary objective of this move is to specifically target and attract fleet operators and commercial customers, positioning the new variant as an excellent alternative to the outgoing diesel Crysta in the Indian market.
Given that the standard petrol version of the Hycross entails lower fuel efficiency and higher operational costs compared to the diesel Crysta, this new variant is being strategically introduced to cater specifically to the demands of fleet usage.
It is not being marketed for fleet usage at all, and consequently, you will not find many of the features typically associated with regular MPVs in this high-end variant.
Hyryder 7-Seater
Toyota India’s 2 upcoming SUV: It is worth noting that Toyota is also focusing its attention on a 7-seater version to accompany its hybrid SUV lineup, and the company is actively working on this project with meticulous planning.
This model is expected to appeal greatly to young buyers who are in search of a robust, mid-size hybrid SUV; it could serve as an excellent option for them. While no official details regarding this specific model have been released yet, it is speculated that it will feature the same engine options found in the 5-seater version namely, the 1.5-liter mild-hybrid petrol and the 1.5-liter strong-hybrid powertrains.
Furthermore, it is likely to offer both manual and automatic transmission options, with the latter potentially featuring the familiar e-CVT gearbox found in other models. It is also anticipated that, upon its launch, this 7-seater Hyryder will be positioned in the market segment between the 5-seater Hyryder and the aforementioned lower-spec variants of the HyCross.
This could prove to be a highly successful and formidable entry in its market segment; if realized, this SUV has the potential to emerge as a strong contender capable of challenging numerous other vehicles in the category.
The price of the 7-seater Hyryder is highly likely to fall within the range of ₹15 lakh to ₹22 lakh, whereas—for comparison—the starting price for the lower-spec variants of the HyCross is expected to be around ₹24 lakh. Please note that all prices mentioned here are ex-showroom figures.
