Maruti & Toyota To Launch New Hybrid SUVs: XUV700 & Alcazar Rival

The Maruti & Toyota Hybrid 7-seater SUV duo is expected to debut sometime next year; Based on the Grand Vitara and Urban Cruiser Hyryder

The strong hybrid technology is not very prevalent in the mass-market car segment with a limited number of models being offered by Maruti Suzuki, Toyota and Honda. This combined with the lack of a 7-seater model in the Maruti’s portfolio demands for a new SUV which is currently under development. Let’s look at the details of the upcoming 7-seater hybrid SUV based on the Grand Vitara and its Toyota derivative based on the Urban Cruiser Hyryder.

Internally codenamed Y17, the Grand Vitara 7-seater hybrid SUV is expected to debut sometime next year i.e. 2025 and it will be closely followed by the introduction of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder hybrid 7-seater. While the details about the project are scarce at the moment, we are pretty sure that the current Global C platform will underpin the upcoming hybrid SUVs from Maruti Suzuki and Toyota. Although the wheelbase will likely be longer to accommodate an extra row of seats, the hybrid powertrain is expected to be carried forward as it is.

Currently, the 7-seater SUV segment is occupied with options like Hyundai Alcazar, MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700. The upcoming Renault Bigster 7-seater SUV will also square off with the Maruti Grand Vitara 7-seater.  However, there is no proper strong hybrid option available in this segment. The efficient hybrid powertrain paired with the practicality of a 7-seater can help to create a unique proposition for prospective buyers in the three-row SUV segment.

Under the hood, the Maruti Suzuki and Toyota strong hybrid SUV will employ the familiar 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine which runs on Atkinson, paired with a 177.6 V lithium-ion battery pack which powers the electric motor. The combined power output from the system stands at 114 bhp and 141 Nm of peak torque.

The setup is mated to an e-CVT gearbox. The claimed fuel efficiency could take a slight hit as compared to the current figures of 27.97 kmpl for the Grand Vitara and Urban Cruiser Hyryder hybrid. In addition to this, the upcoming SUVs will also get the option of the 1.5 litre naturally aspirated K15C mild-hybrid petrol engine.

In terms of design, the affair will remain more or less the same, however, we expect some new stand-out design elements for the 7-seater hybrid versions of the Grand Vitara and Hyryder. The upcoming Maruti Suzuki and Toyota 7-seater hybrid SUVs will further help to strengthen the portfolio of the respective brands along with offering a wider range of choices to the customers searching for an efficient family-oriented 3-row SUV.