While electric vehicles continue to receive positive response from India’s urban buyers, a new automotive tech in mass-market cars is entering the market: the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). Offering home-chargeable electric drive for zero-emission city commutes and a petrol engine for unlimited highway range, PHEVs offer the best of both worlds without range anxiety.
A new range midsize SUVs and lifestyle SUVs with plug-in hybrid tech are coming to Indian shores. Here is a look at three of the most anticipated PHEV SUVs set to transform the market –
JSW Motors Jetour T2
JSW Motors is preparing to debut its first independent passenger vehicle, the Jetour T2 PHEV. This SUV offers a combination of the rugged Defender-like aesthetics and a high-tech Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.
The new Jetour T2 is powered by a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a dual-motor setup paired with a 26.7 kWh battery pack. The combined power and torque output stands at 381hp and 610Nm, respectively. This engine is paired to a 3-speed DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission), which is claimed to be more efficient at managing power between the engine and motors than a standard CVT.
The best part is that the JSW Jetour T2 will offer a staggering 1200km combined range on a single tank of fuel and a full charge. This is made possible by the “i-DM” (Intelligent Drive Model) system. For daily city commutes, the PHEV offers an electric-only range of around 139km.
Key Features: 15.6-inch central touchscreen powered by the Snapdragon 8155 chipset, 10.2-inch digital instrument console, a 12-speaker Sony audio system, LED lighting system, panoramic sunroof, and LEVEL 2 ADAS.
Estimated Price & Launch: JSW Motors will locally assemble this plug-in hybrid electric vehicle at its upcoming Greenfield manufacturing plant in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra. Scheduled to be launched by Diwali 2026, the new Jetour T2 is estimated to be priced around Rs 25-30 lakh. It will take on the high-end variants of the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari and the Jeep Compass.
Starlight 560
JSW MG Motor India will launch an all-new 3-row SUV in August 2026. While the official details of the upcoming MG SUVs are yet to be revealed, they are widely expected to be based on the Wuling Eksion (Indonesia) / Starlight 560 (China). The new SUV is built on the new ADAPT (Advanced Drive Architecture Platform Technology) platform, which supports strong hybrid, plug-in hybrid, range-extender hybrid and electric powertrains.
Plug-in Hybrid Powertrain: the Wuling Starlight 560 PHEV (plug-in hybrid vehicle) version features a 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol engine mated with an electric motor and a 20.5kWh battery pack. This setup delivers a combined power of 197bhp and 230Nm of torque. The SUV promises a claimed electric-only range of 100km and a combined range of up to 1,100km.
Key Features: Level 2 ADAS, a large 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 6-speaker audio system, an 8.8-inch digital driver display, automatic climate control, all LED lighting, and many more.
Estimated Price & Launch: This 7-seater PHEV is expected to be revealed sometime in August 2026, and its launch will take place before Diwali 2026. It is expected to be priced around Rs 30 lakh, and will rival the Mahindra XUV 7XO.
BYD Seal U DM-i
BYD has officially announced its new i-DM, plug-in hybrid tech for the Indian market. The Seal U will be the first plug-in hybrid SUV from the Chinese maker in our market. This SUV is already sold in several overseas markets and is also known as the Sealion 6.
The new BYD Seal U is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine coupled with dual electric motors and an 18.3 kWh battery pack. The hybrid powertrain generates 319 BHP and 550 Nm of torque, helping the SUV sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds. It is offered in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. This model is claimed to offer an electric only range of 126 km, allowing users to complete their daily commute without consuming any petrol. The BYD Seal U offers a combined driving range of over 1200 km.
Estimated Price and competition: the BYD Seal U will take on the likes of the upcoming Jetour T2 PHEV SUV. It is expected to be priced somewhere around Rs 40-50 lakh.
Also See – Renault Duster Hybrid Explained: Specs, Key Features and Launch Details