Hybrid Cars

It’s a strong hybrid (petrol + electric motor), not just mild hybrid; sometimes called “Hybrid S”. Engine: 1.5 L, 3-cylinder petrol (1490 cc) paired with an electric motor. Transmission: e-CVT (Toyota’s hybrid continuous-variable / electronic CVT) with paddle shifters. Electric battery: lithium-ion pack (~177.6 V), located under rear seats. Key Specifications Spec Value Max power (petrol engine) ~ 91 bhp @ 5,500 rpm Max torque (petrol) ~ 122 Nm @ ~4,400 rpm Electric motor contribution ~ 79 bhp, 141 Nm Combined / effective performance. It’s not like simply adding the two; there’s boost, EV-aids, etc. Realistic combined power in usable conditions is modest. ARAI Fuel Efficiency ~ 27.97 kmpl for Hybrid S variant. Mileage real-world (city & highway) Users report ~22-24 kmpl in heavy/stop-go city; ~25+ kmpl on mixed/highway runs. 0-100 km/h ~ 12.4 seconds claimed. Ground Clearance 210 mm unladen. Boot Space ~265 litres (battery packs reduce usable boot volume slightly). Price (S Hybrid, on-road) ~ ₹19.4 lakh in Delhi (varies by city) for the S Hybrid. What It’s Good At (Strengths) 1. Excellent Fuel Efficiency Thanks to the strong hybrid system, which can run in electric-assisted or EV-mode in certain low-speed/light load conditions; ARAI and user numbers are both good. Highway runs where the EV contribution and engine shutdown happen often (e.g., cruising ~ 90-100-kph) give strong returns. 2. Smooth, Silent Operation in Urban Conditions At low speeds, or in stop-go traffic, many users comment on how quietly it moves (electric assist / EV mode) and how smooth transitions are (no harsh shift shocks as in many non-hybrid AT/TC/TC-converter gearboxes). 3. Decent Comfort & Ride Rear seat space is good, enough legroom, relatively comfortable for city & highway. Ground clearance is decent, so road undulations, speed breakers are handled well. 4. Features & Build Quality Being a Toyota / Suzuki collaboration (Hybrid S under the Toyota brand, etc.), the fit-and-finish, materials, infotainment etc are seen as quite competent. Safety features are reasonable for its class. The hybrid badging, unique styling touches add appeal. 5. Low Running Costs With good mileage, fewer stops at the fuel pump, plus hybrid components helping engine load (AC, start/stop, regen braking), one can expect lower fuel bills, especially if much of the driving is city + moderate highway. Also, the battery is packaged well; Toyota hybrids have fairly good reputation for reliability. What It’s Not So Great At / Weaknesses 1. Performance & Highway Overtaking / Gradual Acceleration While highway cruising at stable speeds is fine (engine + electric motor work), it’s not a high-power machine. The 0-100 time of ~12.4 s is modest. If you often need to overtake with heavy loads or go up steep inclines at highway speeds, there will be some effort involved — the hybrid assist helps, but there’s noticeable lag when stepping on the accelerator hard. So “confident highway performance” is relative. If you want brisk acceleration, this won’t satisfy in the same way as a turbocharged petrol + DSG / DCT setup. (Especially since peak torque is relatively high in rpm, not in very low revs where you might expect immediate punch.) 2. Boot-Space Compromise The battery packs (lithium ion, strong hybrid setup) under the rear seats / in back/battery placement reduce usable boot capacity somewhat. The spec numbers (265 litres) are okay, but you lose some convenience vs a non-hybrid. 3. Pricing Premium Hybrid variants usually cost noticeably more than the non-hybrid / mild-hybrid / conventional petrol/AT versions of rivals. You are paying for the technology, but for some buyers the return in mileage may take time to offset upfront cost. Also, service / parts for hybrids may be slightly more expensive or sparse in smaller towns. 4. High RPMs for Peak Torque The petrol engine’s peak torque is not accessible at very low revs; hybrid motor helps with low-end pull, but still, when pushing for highway acceleration (say overtaking at 100-120 km/h), you may find it works best when engine revs climb, which means more noise, more engine involvement. 5. No Pure EV Driving Mode It doesn’t offer zero-emission pure EV driving over long stretches; most of the EV portion is assisting or for very low speed. So for highway stretches or long trips, you’ll still largely rely on the petrol engine. Highway & Long-Distance Suitability For long distances and highway cruising, the Hyryder S Hybrid is competent, but with caveats: At stable highway speeds (~90-110 km/h), you’ll appreciate the efficiency: engine often cuts off and motor assists or EV-mode (partial) kicks in, helping reduce fuel burn. User tests show excellent kmpl in such conditions. However, overtakes, merging, and inclines at speed will require revving, and the response might feel less instantaneous than with a strong, turbocharged petrol + DSG. For drivers who often carry full load (family + luggage) or drive in hilly terrain, performance might feel just “adequate” rather than thrilling. Comfort is good for highways: ground clearance, ride quality decent; less NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) at low-to-medium speeds. At high revs, engine noise will rise. Who It Suits Best “Hyryder S Hybrid” is best for people who: Want great fuel efficiency, especially in mixed city + highway driving. Do moderate long drives, but don’t need super-fast acceleration or high speed bursts often. Value low running/maintenance costs, smoother drives, less reliance on fuel consumption. Live in/near cities, with stop-and-go traffic, so electric assist / EV mode helps a lot. Want crossover/SUV form factor: decent ground clearance, comfortable ride over bad roads, plus decent features. Who Might Prefer Something Else You might want a different car, or a different variant, if: You require very brisk performance on highway — overtaking, merging, long uphill stretches with full load. In that case a turbo petrol with DSG / DCT may be better. Boot space is very important (frequent travel with lots of luggage). The hybrid pack reduces space somewhat vs rivals or non-hybrid versions. Cost of maintenance/parts: if you are in a remote area, hybrid parts or service may take more time or cost more. You care about outright 0-100 acceleration or high top speed. Verdict Overall, the Hyryder S Hybrid is a very strong contender if your priorities are fuel economy, comfort, and a blend of city + highway use rather than outright performance. It delivers a smooth, quiet drive, good efficiency, and decent features. But it isn’t going to match a 150 PS turbo-petrol + 7-speed DSG for sharp responses or high-speed punch. If your highway runs are leisurely or moderate, it should serve well; if they’re aggressive or you frequently need overtakes, you might find the Hyryder somewhat warmed-up in demand.

Not satisfied, manual seats, low boot space, nothing as expected from Honda India...

I brought the vitara strong hybrid driven 1000km on road price around 20L . Pros - removes range anxiety as compared to EVs . - watched several videos on ecvt engine reliability. The engine is good, strong , reliable, durable . It ecvt works without the belt. Though the engine is noisy and irritating. - the insurance cost was lower and maintenance cost is low that's good. At present I can only notice the cons. Here is a list - the side mirrors are automatic but not automatically foldable when we lock the car. The headlights should auto turn off when car is locked. - I am still adjusting to the driving seat and driver position. The driving position doesn't feel comfortable for me. I came from i10 and it's seat feels natural. - the overall price of the car is on higher end. The EVs are much cheaper for this price range. - the boot space is just 250l without spare tyre. The boot sucks wherever I look at it. - the car is long without practicality. It does not have storage options. There is just one single storage where I keep the car keys , phone, passenger phone, and other small essentials. It gets messy . In this size and price range the storage space can be improved. Even I10 has better storage boot + small essentials. - the back seat is straight and non adjustable. The back passengera comfort is not even present. - the real world milage is 20 with heavy traffic, 25 on normal city driving, same 25 at Highway too, though not driven long on highways. Milage is decent . The car battery is very small, < 1kwh . No data is available on the internet for this. When I realised this , it broke my heart. - the premium paid in taxes 40% 7L easily so the manufacturing value of the car is much lower. Whereas in ev there is no tax (negligible as compared to petrol). So take the benefit . Driving experience - when the car runs on ev it gives mental peace. But when the engine starts the same converts into emotional delima. Still getting used to it . - when battery gets low engine starts to charge the battery. And engine noise is loud. It revs at high rpm and can be easily heard in the car. Disturbing the silence. - the motor is weak . Cannot provide instant torque. Works at slow speeds upto 40 kmph when accelerated smoothly and can maintain same speed. Why I bought this car. I am an ev enthusiast. I was looking for ev but the world told me ev is new tech and unreliable, so we settled at hybrid . When we entered the dealership the agent gave us good discount without arguing much and then the first thought of buying the hybrid entered my mind. (The boy who as researching on EVs for 6 months ) . We searched all the showrooms and no one offering that price. The greedy me considered it a good offer and bought the car. Learnings and life lessons If you are buying a box to carry 4 people under 10l go with any car. But if want to buy a premium box then buy the one that matches your personality your taste and lifestyle. It's like getting wife,. One good one goes a long way. And you will never realise a year has passed it will always feel like brand new every year.

This car is good, comes first, and best driving experience. CNG tank fitting is very good. Road grip is best, no problem. Thank you for Maruti Suzuki