When Worlds Collide

It’s not a thought that occurs to you very often, but the high-intensity world of rock climbing shares quite a lot in common with being behind the wheel. We weren’t distinctly aware of this either, until we came in contact with expert rock climber Gowri Varanashi and put her in the driver’s seat. Her climbing journey began way back in 2012, while she was still in college. Back then, it was a friend who introduced her to rock climbing, and there’s been no looking back ever since. She’s gone on to scale ever more challenging peaks over the years, and even founded Climb Like A Woman – a non-profit aimed at women empowerment through rock climbing.

Most of her days begin by coming face to face with an imposing-looking mountain, and that’s exactly how this one started off too. Faced with a dirt path strewn with hefty boulders, sharp rocks and steep climbs, it would be natural to have some trepidation. But not on this day. Because on this day, she started her climb at the helm of the Honda Elevate, and as it turned out, the SUV was her perfect companion.

The most immediate boost to her confidence came from the Elevate’s commanding driving position, giving her a clear view of the strong bonnet line and helping her precisely place each wheel exactly where needed. Some quick inputs through the communicative steering wheel and she soon realised this is an agile and sure-footed SUV, yet one that remains decidedly easy to drive. Progressive controls and an intuitive driving experience are exactly the sort of strong fundamentals you expect from a Honda, and the Elevate is no different in this regard.

Confidently navigating around the rocks she could avoid, and carefully rolling over the ones she couldn’t, Gowri quickly came to appreciate the generous 220mm ground clearance. It’s all well to have a capable car by your side, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to look stylish at the same time. Thankfully, the Elevate perfectly blends form and function, as is evident by elements like the stylish 17-inch alloy wheels it rides on. Not only do they fill up the squared-off wheel arches nicely, they also help the car glide over rough patches – something Gowri was quick to appreciate during her climb up.

Speaking to her about her craft, it’s quite clear that rock climbing is far more layered and complex than simply making your way up the side of a mountain. Sure, strength is an important part of it. But it’s vital to find strong footing and the correct grip points, which allow her to leverage this strength. Sounds a little like the Elevate, doesn’t it? Sure, the 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine uses Honda’s signature i-VTEC wizardry to dish up a healthy 121hp. But it’s backed up by a strong chassis package, and the stability and grip offered by chunky 215-section tyres.

Segueing back to the world of climbing, Gowri remarks on how it’s impossible to go all-out from beginning to end during a climb. The best climbers know how to pace themselves – when to conserve energy, and when to shift gears and push for the summit. That’s exactly the sort of control she enjoys in the cockpit of the Elevate, using the paddle-shifters to take control of the smooth-shifting CVT transmission.

Watch your back

It’s impossible to deny the fact that climbing is an inherently dangerous activity. Hanging off a cliff by nothing more than a few nylon ropes can never be described as safe. But Gowri derives peace of mind from the fact that she has someone watching out for her. At the other end of the ropes is her partner, who acts as a counterweight, holding her up in case she happens to lose her grip on the mountain.

Similarly, in the cabin, Gowri gets her peace of mind from the Elevate. With six airbags and a high-rigidity structure, you can be assured of remaining well isolated in the event of a mishap. Add to that features like vehicle stability assist and Honda SENSING intelligent ADAS technology that make an accident unlikely in the first place, and you can see why Gowri looks comfortable and confident in the driving seat. Unfazed by the rocks and boulders scattered all across her path, she smartly utilises the LaneWatch cameras to chart her way through the rocky maze.

Before getting behind the wheel, we had the privilege of observing Gowri in her element, clambering up a steep rock face as if it were almost flat. It all looked like smooth sailing, until suddenly she came to a stop. A quizzical look around told us that she was taking a moment to plan her next move, trying to find firm footing and a strong grip. The palpable tension in the air was quickly sliced right through when her partner’s voice crackled to life, “To your left, that little protrusion!”. Spurred on by his hawk-eyed observation, she promptly reached out to it and levered herself up the next level, never looking back until she made it all the way to the summit.

This whole event wasn’t very dissimilar to her drive up the mountain in the Elevate, where she came across a particularly challenging section and stopped for just a moment, to plan her path ahead. After a quick survey of the challenge, she decided to set off again, and once more, the Elevate was in position to help her out. With Hill Start Assist, she was able to get going swiftly and easily, despite being stopped on a particularly steep section of the trail. And just like while climbing before, she never had to look back right till the end. Though if she did, she’d definitely appreciate the multi-angle rear camera with guidelines.

Rock climbing is one of those sports that’s difficult to rationalise to those who don’t get it. But a quick chat with Gowri will definitely help you appreciate the novelty of it, even if you can’t quite stomach the idea of having a go yourself. Certainly, two of the biggest factors at play here are the thrill and the reward – the adrenaline rush you get as you take your wellbeing into your own hands and claw your way up a mountain, as well as the stunning views you get to enjoy as a result. Both of which she indulged in on the drive up as well.

Gobbling up the metres ahead and deftly navigating the Elevate, using the precise steering and punchy engine to pump adrenaline into her veins, there was a smile on her face for most of the journey. A smile that got even wider once she finally reached the top. The terrain around Bengaluru, where we met up with Gowri, is dominated by lush green expanses during the late monsoon, with all sorts of odd and interesting rock formations poking through in between. Best appreciated from an, erm, elevation, that’s exactly what the Elevate allowed her to do on this crisp, cool August morning behind the wheel.

Also see:

Honda Elevate long term review, 6,800km report

Honda Elevate Apex Edition launched at Rs 12.86 lakh