Series of hotly anticipated hybrid cars could be launched in Vietnam by the end of the year

Hybrid technology usually appears on the highest trim of a car model, making this "green" type of vehicle often expensive and difficult for the majority of users to access.

In the context where customers are increasingly open to new experiences, hybrid cars still have a certain niche in Vietnam. Below are some names that may be introduced by the end of 2024, although not entirely new models, they have products equipped with hybrid engines for the first time.

Hyundai Santa Fe 2024

According to a dealer, the Hyundai Santa Fe 2024 will be launched in Vietnam in September, removing the diesel engine option similar to the international market and only offering a petrol engine option. There is a possibility that the hybrid version will also be introduced, but it is not clear if it will be introduced at the same time.

The information has not been confirmed by TC Motor, but the Hyundai Santa Fe 2024 has been spotted at an emissions testing center in Hanoi (Photo: Hyundai).

The current generation of this D-segment crossover also has a hybrid variant but is not popular. The main reason is the high selling price, and at the same time, this model is not very attractive, in a market where users have other appealing choices like the Ford Everest.

However, in the new generation, the Hyundai Santa Fe 2024 is expected to enhance its appeal to Vietnamese customers. The design of this model, although controversial in the rear area, is overall attractive, with angular style reminiscent of Land Rover models.

The interior of the car has been completely revamped with many new noteworthy features (Photo: Hyundai).

The hybrid powertrain on the Hyundai Santa Fe 2024 hybrid variant still consists of a 1.6L engine combined with an electric motor. Detailed information about this engine has not been disclosed, but based on the Philippines market, the 1.6L engine produces 177 horsepower and 265Nm while the electric motor generates 64 horsepower and 264Nm.

Honda Civic 2024

Some sales consultants have revealed that the Honda Civic 2024 may be introduced to Vietnamese customers in October, most likely to be unveiled at the Vietnam Motor Show (VMS) 2024. However, this information has not been confirmed by the Japanese automaker.

The Honda Civic 2024 will continue to be imported from Thailand, as an mid-cycle update with some minor design changes (Photo: Honda).

Notably, some rumors from dealers indicate that the new Civic may have a hybrid version similar to the model in Thailand. If this information is accurate, it will be the first time this C-segment sedan has a hybrid powertrain, becoming the second Honda model in Vietnam to have hybrid technology, following the CR-V.

If there is a hybrid version, the price of the Honda Civic 2024 is likely to increase significantly compared to the current generation (highest price of 870 million VND). However, some users who prefer this type of vehicle are still eagerly anticipating this variant, as it features a similar operating mechanism to the CR-V e:HEV (flexible switching between pure electric, series hybrid, and parallel hybrid).

The interior of the Honda Civic 2024 still retains some familiar design elements. The new model features a 9-inch infotainment screen with software developed by Google, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity (Photo: Honda).

In Thailand, the hybrid variant of the Honda Civic 2024 consists of a 2.0L petrol engine (141 horsepower) combined with an electric motor (181 horsepower and 315Nm). The transmission is still a CVT type, combined with front-wheel drive.

Toyota Camry 2024

According to a dealer, the Toyota Camry 2024 will be launched in Vietnam by the end of this year. This information has not been confirmed by the Japanese automaker, and according to some sources, the new generation of this D-segment sedan will only be unveiled in Thailand in October. This is the market where Camry is exported to Vietnam.

However, according to industry experts, the Toyota Camry 2024 is likely to be introduced in Vietnam in October, within the framework of the VMS. When participating in this event, automakers usually bring new products to create highlights.

At the beginning of September, the Toyota Camry 2024 was launched in Southeast Asia, specifically in Singapore (Photo: AsiaOne).

According to some sales consultants, the Toyota Camry 2024 for the Vietnamese market will only have 3 instead of 4 versions like the current generation. Specifically, the 2.0G standard variant and 2.5Q will be eliminated; the 2.0Q variant will be the new standard version, with the remaining being 2 versions of 2.5HEV, with the actual name yet to be confirmed.

If this information is true, the starting price of the Toyota Camry 2024 is likely to increase significantly, as the current 2.0Q variant has a listed price of 1.22 billion VND. On the contrary, industry experts believe that this D-segment sedan will have a "more affordable" hybrid version.

In the current generation, the Camry 2.5HEV has a selling price of up to 1.495 billion VND, the most expensive in its segment. If a new hybrid version is added in this upgrade, the Japanese automaker is likely to adjust some equipment to make this variant more affordable than the "full" version, expected to be around 1.2-1.3 billion VND.

The interior of the Toyota Camry 2024 features a more modern design than before, with many similarities to the Crown model in the international market (Photo: Toyota).

The 2.5HEV version of the new Camry will still have a 2.5L engine combined with an electric motor, but it is not known if there will be any upgrades. In the U.S., the car also has 2 hybrid versions with power output of 225 horsepower or 232 horsepower, combined with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive AWD.

Kia Carnival 2024

Some sales consultants in Hanoi have started accepting deposits for the new Kia Carnival, expected to be launched in Vietnam in October. This information has not been confirmed by THACO, but at the end of July, the new version of this minivan was spotted outside an emissions testing center in Hanoi.

According to a dealer, the Kia Carnival 2024 may be equipped with hybrid technology for the first time. According to industry experts, this information is plausible, as the car spotted was equipped with alloy wheels similar to the hybrid version introduced in the Indonesian market.

Kia Carnival Hybrid 2024 in Indonesia and the car spotted in Vietnam.

The Kia Carnival 2024 is just a mid-cycle update, so the overall shape of the car remains the same, with slight design changes focusing mainly on the front. However, the interior has been completely revamped with design elements focused on the driver, similar to the Kia EV6 and EV9 electric models.

The curved screen cluster includes a digital instrument panel connected to the central infotainment screen, both measuring 12.3 inches (Photo: Paultan).

Referring to the car in Indonesia, the powertrain of the Kia Carnival Hybrid 2024 consists of a 1.6L turbocharged petrol engine combined with an electric motor and a 6-speed automatic transmission, producing 242 horsepower and 367Nm. According to the manufacturer's announcement, the car can accelerate from 0-100km/h 1.4 seconds faster than the diesel engine versions and consumes only 7.4 liters/100km.