If you’ve been keeping an eye on hybrid cars in India, here’s something interesting. A Toyota Aqua hybrid hatchback — which normally doesn’t even sell here — was recently spotted testing on our roads. This has got a lot of people curious. Why test a Japan-only hatchback here? The answer lies in Toyota and Maruti Suzuki’s big hybrid plans for India.
A video on YouTube by 91Wheels shows the bright green Aqua cruising on the Gurgaon highway. The car wasn’t hidden under wraps, but its Toyota badge was covered at the front and back. There were no other badges either. So, unless you know the car, you’d easily miss it. But for auto buffs, this was a clear sign that Toyota’s testing something serious under that small hood.
Why Test The Aqua Here?
So, what’s the deal with this hatchback? The Aqua isn’t coming to India. In Japan, it’s a popular city car. Elsewhere, some knew it as the Prius C. But Toyota dropped it in other markets because sales didn’t pick up. In India, it’s just here as a test mule.
The real story is what’s inside it. Toyota is likely testing the hybrid bits — battery, motor, and related tech — that will power upcoming bigger cars here. Think next-generation Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and even their new seven-seater versions. If these parts work well in India’s climate and roads, they’ll go straight into the bigger SUVs that families actually want.
What’s Special About The Aqua?
The Toyota Aqua runs a 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder Dynamic Force petrol engine. On its own, this tiny engine makes 90 bhp and 120 Nm torque. Add the electric motor, and the total jumps to 114 bhp and 141 Nm. It’s not crazy fast, but for a hatchback, it’s smooth and super efficient.
What’s really cool is its battery. The Aqua uses a bipolar nickel-hydrogen battery. Sounds fancy, right? It is. It’s the first of its kind in a production car and has a voltage of 177.6V. This battery sits neatly under the rear seat, so the boot stays roomy. The car pairs this setup with an e-CVT, which helps deliver that silent, smooth hybrid drive that Toyota’s hybrids are known for.
What’s Next For India?
Now, don’t expect to see an Aqua at your local dealership anytime soon. Toyota Kirloskar Motor India has no plans to sell it here. But you will see the benefits of this testing soon. The tested hybrid parts are most likely heading into the new-gen Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Grand Vitara.
These two SUVs are already well-received for their hybrid options. The new ones might get better mileage and smoother power delivery. The bigger news is the upcoming seven-seater versions of these SUVs. Families love seven-seaters in India, and hybrids could be a game-changer for this segment.
The new three-row Hyryder will lock horns with the Grand Vitara seven-seater (codenamed Y17), Hyundai Alcazar, Mahindra XUV700, and Tata Safari. If Toyota nails the balance between power, mileage, and price, it could really shake up the competition.
Why Hybrids Still Matter
With fuel prices the way they are, hybrids make sense. You get better mileage than a regular petrol SUV, without the range anxiety of a full electric car. Toyota and Maruti Suzuki know this well. They’ve been steadily building up their hybrid game instead of jumping straight to full EVs for the mass market.
So next time you see a strange hatchback with taped-up logos zipping past you, it might just be the testbed for your next family SUV. It’s small things like these that show how carmakers prepare for what’s next — quietly, one test drive at a time.