With the launch of many new hybrid models, consumers now have more and more choices.
Following the launch of hybrid car models such as the Suzuki Hybrid Ertiga, Nissan Kicks e-Power, Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8HEV, and Volvo SUVs, the Vietnamese car market continues to welcome a wave of hybrid vehicles in 2023 with many products already introduced and planned for release.
Notably, the car manufacturers planning to launch electric vehicle models are all in the affordable segment, a segment already familiar to Vietnamese consumers.
First, we can mention the hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants of the 7-seater Kia Sorento SUV. The Kia Sorento HEV comes in 3 versions with listed prices ranging from 1.304 to 1.599 billion VND.
The Kia Sorento PHEV comes in two versions priced from 1.494 to 1.604 billion VND. This model also uses a 1.6L turbocharged gasoline engine similar to the Sorento HEV variant, but with a more powerful electric motor for pure electric operation. The electric motor on the Sorento PHEV has a power output of 90 horsepower and a torque of 304 Nm. The battery pack also has a larger capacity, reaching 13.8 kWh.
Another 7-seater Korean SUV, the Hyundai SantaFe, has also recently added a hybrid variant priced at 1.45 billion VND. The vehicle uses a traditional hybrid system, where the electric motor and internal combustion engine can operate independently or in combination depending on driving conditions.
The engine consists of a 1.6L turbocharged SmartStream gasoline engine producing 178 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque, paired with a 60-horsepower electric motor and a 1.49 kWh battery. The transmission is a 6-speed automatic optimized for the hybrid system.
Toyota, a Japanese car manufacturer familiar to Vietnamese consumers, will also launch a new generation of the Innova, expected in October, under the name Innova Cross, and will also have a hybrid version.
Specific details for this model when it is sold in Vietnam are not yet available; however, in Indonesia, the new Toyota Innova hybrid variant uses a 2.0L gasoline engine with 152 horsepower and 187Nm of torque, and an electric motor, for a total output of 184 horsepower and 206Nm of torque.
Another automaker, Honda, has also announced plans to introduce a range of hybrid cars to the Vietnamese market, starting this year. The Japanese manufacturer has not yet revealed which models will be launched, but Honda's product line in Vietnam, including the Honda City, Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Honda HR-V, and Honda CR-V, all have hybrid versions available in international markets.
This coming August, a relatively new car brand called Haval will enter the Vietnamese market. Haval will introduce its first model in Vietnam, the Haval H6. This model is expected to have a hybrid version and is likely to be the first C-segment crossover in Vietnam to use this powertrain.
In some Southeast Asian markets such as Thailand and Malaysia, the hybrid version of the Haval H6 uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 165 horsepower and 285 Nm of torque, combined with a 174-horsepower electric motor. This system delivers a total output of 240 horsepower and 530 Nm of torque. It comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Currently in Vietnam, hybrid car models are gradually gaining more attention from consumers due to their long-range driving capabilities compared to electric vehicles and their fuel efficiency. However, hybrid versions are generally more expensive than their gasoline or diesel engine counterparts.
Among the hybrid models currently sold in the Vietnamese market, the Toyota Corolla Cross is the best-selling model, consistently ranking among the top-selling vehicles nationwide. With the increasing number of products, Vietnamese consumers will soon have more diverse options when choosing to buy a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle.
