We lived with the Honda Elevate SUV for some days. Here’s everything we have to say about it…
The C-segment SUV space is gaining much heat and the Elevate is Honda’s attempt to grab its piece of the pie. It has been designed ground up and brings quite a handful to the table. This Honda Elevate review will discuss various aspects of this product and what sense it makes in the segment.
It was in September 2023 that Honda launched the Elevate in India. Recently we got to live with this car for quite some time. So this review will give you more in-depth insights into the SUV.
Table of Contents
Design And Dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
| Length | 4,312 mm |
| Width | 1,790 mm |
| Height | 1,650 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2650 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 220 mm |
| Boot capacity | 458L |
Honda Elevate has a rather conventional two-box SUV design that looks minimalistic but has a proper stance. It has the segment-best ground clearance of 220mm. While the base variant gets 16-inch wheels, the top-spec rides on 17-inchers which further complement the stance.
Key highlights on the exterior include bold, clean lines, a large grille, front and rear scuff plates, prominent bonnet lines, prominent wheel arches, and LED lighting. The SUV also has a class-leading boot capacity of 458L.
Honda Elevate Platform And Underpinnings
The Elevate is based on the same platform as the City. But the chassis has undergone a lot of transformation before it could find a place on the SUV. The suspension has been recalibrated to suit the SUV dynamics. The Elevate has the best-in-class wheelbase of 2,650mm. The suspension gets significantly more travel than the City and delivers a comfortable ride on bad roads. The engine and transmission come from the City as well. On the Elevate, however, the engine has been retuned to deliver more low-end juice.
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Interior And Features
The cabin here is well laid-out, and looks plush to most. However, if you are expecting a tech-packed haven, this could just be the wrong place to be in. The manufacturer has given this car a neat equipment list. However, some omissions are easily noticeable. You get essential tech like climate control, wireless charger, a large 10.25-inch touchscreen, keyless access, a semi-digital instrument cluster with a customizable display, single pane sunroof, level-2 ADAS etc.
However, considering the segment that this product falls into, and what its rivals pack, a handful of things like a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, full digital console, seat ventilation, front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, and branded audio are missing and we will notice these omissions easily as well. But, do these matter? Are they gonna be deal breakers? Well, not for everyone!
The cabin has a Black-Tan colourway. Seats get leather upholstery. A particularly nice touch inside the cabin is the wood trim on the dash that gels well with the Tan colourway. The front seats offer great support and comfort to the occupants. The rear seat offers good thigh support and occupant comfort. These, however, do not offer a reclining function. In the recent update, a centre headrest and 3-point seatbelt were added to the Elevate’s rear row. The steering wheel, control stalks and window switches are borrowed from the City.
Infotainment System
Honda Elevate gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This is, in fact, the biggest screen in any Honda model in India. Even the new City doesn’t get this screen. The screen has a neat interface, is fairly responsive and gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also comes with physical controls for all basic functions. There is even a button to toggle between Day and Night modes. The audio, however, is not a branded one. Rivals like the Kia Seltos, Citroen C3 Aircross, Hyundai Creta, and MG Astor offer premium branded audio for the price, while the Elevate comes with just a normal system with decent sound quality.
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Is ADAS available in Honda Elevate?
The SUV gets a comprehensive level 2 ADAS suite. It offers functions like a Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), a Road Departure Mitigation System, Auto High Beam function, and a Lead Car Departure Notification System. This system, however, differs from the ones found on Seltos and Creta. Elevate’s ADAS suite completely uses the camera feed to function and lacks a LIDAR.
How good is the ADAS on Honda Elevate? : We found the overall sensitivity and efficiency of the ADAS to be good. However, since the suite relies completely on the camera feed, the efficiency might get slightly compromised in scenarios with compromised visibility. In that case, the car would ask the driver to take control.
Drive Impressions
Honda Elevate is powered by the City-borrowed 1.5L iVTEC NA petrol engine. It produces 120hp and 145 Nm. The SUV can be had with either 6MT or a CVT. We chose to sample the manual. Unlike the new City, the SUV doesn’t get a hybrid powertrain.
The manual transmission has been recalibrated. The first and second gears are now shorter and so is the final. The steering and clutch are quite light to use. Gears slot in easily with the signature click sound. The CVT on the other hand, has pronounced rubber-band effect. It would thus be the manual that’ll entertain you on the highway.
The vehicle is fairly fun to drive. The engine’s state of tune allows for more low-end grunt. It is easy to move off the line. There is ample torque available from 1500 rpm. The engine loves to be revved. You can take it all the way up to 7000 rpm. The best place to stay, however, is around 4000 rpm.
The engine has signature Honda levels of refinement. It however, gets noisy at high revs. The smoothness of the transmission and powertrain are to be appreciated. In mileage, expect 16-16.5 kpl on the highways. In city runs, the numbers are mostly going to be around 12 kpl.
Ride And Handling
The Elevate feels quite engaging to drive. The steering offers good feel and feedback. The suspension delivers good dynamics. The ride quality deserves special applause. The suspension offers good damping on bad patches and while tackling potholes. We took the Elevate to some really harsh terrains, roads and ruts. Felt the suspension to resemble the one on Renault Duster, in some respect.
Variants, Price And Booking
There are 16 Elevate variants to choose from. Ex-showroom prices range from 11.69 lakh to 16.63 lakh. In pricing, the Honda SUV sits slightly below its competition.
How To Book Honda Elevate?
You can make your reservations at the nearest Honda dealerships or via the official Honda website.
