New Honda hybrid SUVs, next gen City hybrid in the works

One by one, most carmakers in India are re-evaluating their hybrid plans for our market and Honda Cars India is no different. The Japanese brand’s initial hybrid foray in India with the City e:HEV – powered by a 126hp, 1.5-litre strong-hybrid engine and delivering 26.5kpl – was more a signalling exercise than a market-defining product. While the City hybrid showcased Honda’s global capabilities and offered a refined, fuel-efficient alternative in the midsize sedan space, its imported components and resultant pricing (Rs 20.85 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi) limited its commercial success.

1. Upcoming Honda hybrid cars for India to use new modular platform
2. New Honda hybrid cars likely to be positioned in the Rs 15 lakh-30 lakh bracket

Honda hybrid plans for India

New Honda hybrid cars to be based on PF2 platform.

Having learnt from this experience, Honda is now recalibrating its hybrid strategy. At the core of this shift is the PF2 platform – a modular, hybrid-compatible architecture that will form the basis of Honda’s future product portfolio in India. Unlike the City e:HEV, upcoming models based on the PF2 are expected to be significantly localised, improving cost viability and aligning better with Indian market dynamics.

New Honda hybrid SUVs, crossovers and sedan likely.

Honda is likely to use the PF2 platform to launch a new range of SUVs and crossovers – including the all-new City – in the Rs 15 lakh-30 lakh segment, where demand for hybrid technology is expected to rise alongside tightening CAFE norms. This also aligns with Honda’s global shift, as the company has reinforced its commitment to scale hybrid offerings across key markets as part of its broader electrification roadmap.

With localised production, hybrid-ready architecture, and a clearer understanding of market expectations, Honda is aiming for a more grounded and scalable hybrid play in India, balancing performance, fuel economy and affordability in a way its first attempt did not fully achieve.

Honda joins the likes of Hyundai, Skoda-Volkswagen, and others who have a new hybrid strategy for our market.

With inputs from Hormazd Sorabjee