Honda Elevate: Global Debut of Honda's New SUV in New Delhi

Honda's entry into the SUV space, the Honda Elevate, was unveiled at a prestigious event in New Delhi, marking the company's foray into the SUV segment. While Honda has previously had the CR-V and the BR-V SUVs in its India portfolio, the Elevate represents a fresh addition. Bookings for the Elevate will commence in July 2023, with pricing details to follow.

Dimensions and Design of the Honda Elevate

The Elevate showcases a design reminiscent of Honda's newer SUV models sold overseas, such as the CR-V. With dimensions measuring 4,312mm in length, 1,650mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2,650mm, the Elevate bears similarities to the Creta SUV. It boasts a spacious 458-litre boot and segment-leading ground clearance of 220mm, surpassing the Creta's 190mm.

The exterior design features a prominent grille flanked by slender LED headlights and dual fog lamps. The LED daytime running lamps and headlights are connected by a substantial chrome bar, similar to the City model. The Elevate exhibits a flat front fascia with a prominent Honda emblem at the center.

On the sides, the midsize Honda SUV showcases slightly flared wheel arches with robust plastic cladding, enhancing its robust SUV aesthetics. The window line ascends towards the thick C-pillar. Equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels reminiscent of the facelifted City, the Elevate exudes a contemporary appeal.

At the rear, it features a gently raked window and tail-lights connected by a striking red bar, resembling a light bar. The wraparound tail-lights draw inspiration from the latest-generation WR-V available in markets like Indonesia. Additionally, the tailgate is designed with an indentation for housing the number plate.

Interior and Features of the Honda Elevate

The interior of the Elevate showcases a free-standing 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen positioned in the middle of the dashboard. In terms of features, the Elevate offers a single-pane sunroof, distinguishing it from three of its eight competitors that boast panoramic sunroofs. However, even the upcoming Kia Seltos facelift, previously equipped with a single-pane sunroof, is set to receive this premium feature.

Other notable features include a 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster, lane-watch camera, wireless charging, wireless smartphone integration supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as a rear parking camera.

The Elevate will incorporate Honda's Sensing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) suite, encompassing features like a collision mitigation braking system, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, road departure warning, and automatic high beam assist. Presently, the only other midsize SUV to feature ADAS is the MG Astor, while the Seltos facelift is also set to receive this driver assistance technology.

Platform and Powertrain of the Honda Elevate

Built on Honda's Global Small Car platform, the Honda Elevate shares its foundation with the Honda City sedan. Under the hood, the SUV houses the same 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine found in the City, delivering 121 horsepower and 145Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT.

Honda has also confirmed plans to introduce an electric powertrain for the Elevate within the next three years.

Rivals and Launch Timeline of the Honda Elevate

Entering the competitive midsize SUV segment, the Elevate will contend with formidable rivals such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, MG Astor, and the upcoming Citroen C3 Aircross.

Honda's re-entry into the SUV market is a strategic move to diversify its current line-up, primarily consisting of the City and Amaze sedans. The success of the Elevate will greatly depend on its pricing strategy, given the fierce competition and the substantial market share occupied by midsize SUVs. Although Honda has not disclosed pricing details at this time, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

India serves as the manufacturing hub for the Elevate SUV, and Honda has confirmed plans to export it to multiple international markets.