Plug-in Hybrid Cars in India: PHEV Cars You Can Buy in 2026

When we talk about top Plug in Hybrid cars in India, only a handful of names come into mind which are mostly either Mercedes-Benz or BMW. This time interestingly, MG has launched its Hector Tomahawk PHEV that offers plug-in hybrid functionality at a quite affordable price. Other than this, we also got the newly launched Mercedes-AMG E53 PHEV and older models like BMW M5 and Range Rover Autobiography PHEV.

All these PHEV cars in India combine a petrol engine with a larger battery, which can perform as a pure EV when the engine isn’t working. The best advantage you get is, you don’t care about EV range since the vehicle can run on both battery and engine.

In this blog, we’ll discuss top 5 plug-in hybrid cars which offer you best of range, price, charging options and features.

If you want to explore more hybrid SUV options beyond PHEVs, check out our guide to top hybrid SUVs in India.

What is a Plug-in Hybrid Car?

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV, gets a combination of engine and an electric motor (like all hybrids) but the electric motor with a much stronger battery. Even without engines being running, the batteries can drive the vehicle in pure EV mode.

Now since you’ve a battery that can run independently, the setup also gets an external charger, just like for an EV car. But the catch is, the batteries can only power the vehicle to a certain distance only.

Once the battery charge gets low, the system once again kickstarts the engine or works with the motor simultaneously. This way, you get the benefits of both powertrains in a true sense.

For example, a typical PHEV can cover daily city trips in EV mode and use its petrol engine for longer journeys. The exact electric range depends on the battery size, powertrain and driving conditions.

Plug-in Hybrid Cars in India: Quick Overview

PHEV Model	Ex-showroom Price	Powertrain	Battery	Electric Range
MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV	Rs. 25.69 lakh	1.5L Petrol + Electric Motor	20.5 kWh	115+ km
Range Rover Sport 3.0 PHEV Autobiography	Rs. 1.43 crore	3.0L turbo-petrol, 6-cylinder	38.2 kWh	Up to 123 km
Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid	Rs. 1.45 crore	3.0L Turbo Petrol + Electric Motor	21.2 kWh	Around 100 km
BMW M5	Rs. 2.12 crore	4.4L Twin Turbo V8 + Electric Motor	18.6 kWh	Up to 67 km
Mercedes-Benz S 450e	Rs. 2.20 crore	3.0L Turbo Petrol + Electric Motor	21.96 kWh	Up to 100 km

*Figures can vary by market, model year and certification cycle.

1. MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV (Rs. 25.69 Lakh Onwards)

The MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV was launched in India on 26th August 2026, as India’s most affordable PHEV model, along with its EV version. It combines a 1.5 litre petrol engine with a 20.5 kWh battery for its PHEV hybrid powertrain. If driven in pure electric mode, it can go as far as 115 from its initial point.

Interestingly, you get seven seater comfort in a PHEV which is currently by far, only offered in this model. It also gets Vehicle-to-Home capability, where one can extract power from its battery to run household appliances.

For more cars offering an extended driving range, explore our guide to hybrid cars in India with a 1,000+ km range.

Specification	MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV
Engine	1.5L petrol
Engine Power	102 PS
Engine Torque	125 Nm
Electric Motor Power	201 PS
Electric Motor Torque	237 Nm
Battery	20.5 kWh
Pure Electric Range	115+ km
Combined Range	1,100+ km
Transmission	Dedicated Hybrid Transmission

Along with this, you get multiple drive modes, first GenAI voice assistant and several experience modes. Here’re some features: 

• Drive modes: Pure EV, Series Hybrid, Parallel Hybrid, Pure Engine etc.
• Charging: 3.3 kW AC, 25 kW DC
• AC Charging Time: Around 7.5 hours, 10% - 100%
• DC Charging Time: Around 35 minutes, 30% - 80%

MG has priced the Hector Tomahawk PHEV from Rs. 25.69 lakh ex-showroom, while a BaaS option starts at Rs. 21.79 lakh plus Rs. 3.20 per km battery rental. Deliveries are planned from November 2026.

2. Range Rover Sport 3.0 PHEV Autobiography (Rs. 1.96 Crore)

The Range Rover Sport 3.0 PHEV Autobiography brings plug-in hybrid technology to one of India's premium luxury SUVs. It combines a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and a large battery pack.

Interestingly, the Range Rover Sport PHEV uses a 38.2 kWh battery, which is considerably larger than the batteries found in several other PHEVs on this list. Its combined output stands at 460 hp and 660 Nm, while the SUV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in around 5.5 seconds.

The PHEV is offered only in the Autobiography trim in India. It also gets features such as adaptive air suspension, all wheel drive, four-zone climate control, 22-way powered front seats with ventilation and massage, a head-up display and a 360-degree camera.

Specification	Range Rover Sport 3.0 PHEV Autobiography
Engine	3.0L turbo-petrol, 6-cylinder
System Power	460 hp
System Torque	660 Nm
Battery	38.2 kWh
Electric Range	Up to 123 km
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drivetrain	All wheel Drive
0–100 km/h	5.5 sec
Top Speed	225 km/h
AC Charging	7 kW
Charging Time	Around 5 hours
Seating Capacity	5
Wading Depth	Up to 850 mm

The Range Rover Sport PHEV can cover up to 123 km on electric power under the WLTP cycle. Its 7 kW AC charger takes around five hours to fully charge the battery.

In India, the PHEV version is priced at ₹1.96 crore ex-showroom. It combines the luxury and off-road ability expected from a Range Rover Sport with the option of covering daily trips using electric power.

3. Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid (Rs. 1.45 Crore Onwards)

This Plug in Hybrid car in India is the most affordable PHEV Mercedes-Benz car which merges hybrid tech with performance of E-Class. It was launched in India on 23rd July, in two variants - Hybrid 4MATIC+ and Racing edition.

Looking at its performance, this PHEV car gives a combined power of up to 585 hp and 750 Nm torque. When this comes into action, the car shoots from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3.8 seconds! It can go as fast as 250 km/h using its AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive.

Specification	Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid
Engine	3.0L turbo-petrol, 6-cylinder
Engine Power	449 hp
Engine Torque	560 Nm
Electric Motor Power	163 hp
System Power	585 hp
System Torque	750 Nm
Battery	21.2 kWh usable
Electric Range	Around 100 km
Transmission	9-speed automatic
Drivetrain	AMG Performance 4MATIC+ AWD
Top Speed	250 km/h
AC Charging	11 kW
DC Charging	60 kW

This Mercedes-AMG model is equipped with hardware which is focused to give the finest performance. This includes rear axle steering and AMG-specific suspension and braking systems. Being priced between 1.45 crore and 1.48 crore (ex-showroom), it gets a place between the luxury E-Class and the performance focus of AMG.

4. BMW M5 (Rs. 2.12 Crore)

The BMW M5 takes the plug-in hybrid formula in a completely different direction. Instead of using electrification mainly for efficiency, BMW uses it to add more power to the M5's performance package.

It gets a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 paired with an electric motor and an 18.6 kWh battery. The combined system produces 727 hp and 1,000 Nm, while the car can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 3.5 seconds.

The M5 also gets BMW's M xDrive all-wheel-drive system and an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Despite its performance, the PHEV system allows up to 67 km of electric-only driving according to the claimed figure.

Specification	BMW M5
Price	Rs. 2.12 crore onwards
Engine	4.4L twin-turbo V8
Engine Power	585 hp
Engine Torque	750 Nm
System Power	727 hp
System Torque	1,000 Nm
Battery	18.6 kWh
Electric Range	Up to 67 km
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drivetrain	M xDrive AWD
0–100 km/h	3.5 sec
Top Speed	305 km/h
Claimed Mileage	49.75 km/l WLTP

The BMW M5 is priced from Rs. 2.12 crore ex-showroom in India and is sold in a single variant. Its PHEV system gives the M5 both electric driving capability and the performance expected from an M car.

5. Mercedes-Benz S 450e (Rs. 2.20 Crore)

The Mercedes-Benz S 450e brings plug-in hybrid technology to the flagship S-Class in India for the first time. It combines a 3.0-litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor and a 22 kWh battery. Interestingly, Mercedes claims up to 100 km of electric only range, which means many daily city trips can potentially be completed without using the petrol engine. The S 450e also produces 435 hp and 680 Nm, making it more than just an efficiency focused version of the luxury sedan.

Specification	Mercedes-Benz S 450e
Engine	3.0-litre turbo petrol, inline-six
Electric Motor	120 kW
Battery	22 kWh
Combined Power	435 hp
Combined Torque	680 Nm
Transmission	9-speed automatic
Drive Type	Rear wheel drive
Electric Range	Up to 100 km
Charging	AC and DC charging
0-100 km/h	5.7 seconds

The S 450e is currently the only S-Class variant in India with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It starts at Rs. 2.20 crore, ex-showroom, and is locally assembled in India.

Upcoming Plug-in Hybrid Cars in India

Do you think PHEV hybrid cars in India are affordable even by the slight premium section of the society? The answer seems no, since all models (besides Tomahawk PHEV) are in crores. To answer the problem, the upcoming plug-in hybrid cars in India come with relatably affordable price. The PHEV segment could become more interesting with new SUV launches.

For more upcoming hybrid options, check out our guide to upcoming hybrid cars in India.

BYD Seal U (expected Rs. 45 Lakh - 50 Lakh)

The BYD Seal U is expected to arrive in India as a plug-in hybrid SUV. International versions use BYD's DM-i system, which places more emphasis on electric propulsion.

The international model can offer up to 126 km of electric only range from an 18.3 kWh battery. Its combined driving range can reach around 1,080 km under the claimed test cycle.

However, BYD is working on updates to its PHEV powertrain, so the specifications of the India bound version could differ.

JSW Jetour T2 PHEV (expected Starting Price of Rs. 30 Lakh)

The Jetour T2 PHEV is another upcoming plug-in hybrid SUV for India. The model is expected to be introduced by JSW Motors, with launch reports pointing towards 2026.

It could bring PHEV technology into a lower price bracket than the luxury models currently available. However, its final India specifications and pricing need to be confirmed before launch.

Plug-in Hybrid vs Regular Hybrid vs EV

It is easy to confuse these three technologies, especially because all of them use electric motors. The biggest difference is how their batteries are charged and how much they can rely on electric power.

Want to understand the different hybrid technologies in more detail? Explore our guide to types of hybrid cars.

Type	External Charging	Electric Only Driving	Petrol Engine
Regular Hybrid	No	Short periods	Yes
Plug-in Hybrid	Yes	Longer distance	Yes
Electric Vehicle	Yes	Full time	No

A regular hybrid charges its battery through regenerative braking and the engine. A PHEV has a much larger battery that can be charged externally.

An EV, meanwhile, does not have a petrol engine at all.

Conclusion

Plug-in hybrid cars offer an interesting middle ground between regular hybrids and electric cars. You can charge them at home and use electric power for shorter trips, while the petrol engine remains available for longer journeys.

In India, most PHEV cars are still expensive luxury models from Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. However, the upcoming BYD Seal U and Jetour T2 could bring this technology to a wider group of buyers.

As charging infrastructure improves and more manufacturers explore different forms of electrification, plug-in hybrids could become a more visible part of India's car market.

FAQ about Plug-in Hybrid Cars in India

What is a plug-in hybrid car?
A plug-in hybrid combines a petrol engine with an electric motor and a rechargeable battery that can be charged through an external power source.

Are plug-in hybrid cars available in India?
Yes. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche currently offer plug-in hybrid models in India, while BYD Seal U and Jetour T2 PHEV are among upcoming options.

Can a plug-in hybrid run only on electricity?
Yes. A PHEV can drive using electric power alone when its battery has sufficient charge, although the available range varies by model.

Is a plug-in hybrid better than a normal hybrid?
PHEVs offer a longer electric only range and external charging, while regular hybrids are simpler because they do not require charging from an external source.

Which plug-in hybrid cars are coming to India?
The BYD Seal U and JSW Jetour T2 are among the upcoming PHEVs reported for India. Their final specifications and prices may differ at launch.