Due for its global unveiling tomorrow, the Honda Elevate finally marks the Japanese carmaker’s entry into the midsize SUV segment. Crucially, this brings back a much-needed SUV to Honda India’s portfolio since the discontinuation of the CR-V in 2020. And while the Amaze and City sedans have been chugging along fairly consistently, there’s no denying the need for an SUV in a carmaker’s portfolio given the demand for the body style.
The Elevate will be the ninth model in the segment with Citroen also having joined recently with the C3 Aircross. Yes, Honda is late to the party and has its competition properly cut out as well.
But there’s a fair amount of anticipation around it too. The Elevate is based on the City, so that’s already a good base to begin with. Furthermore, spy pictures have suggested styling in line with Honda’s global portfolio of SUVs such as the CR-V and HR-V, it will come with ADAS features and could even get a hybrid powertrain sometime down the line. So, ahead of its global unveiling, here are 5 things you should know about Honda's new Creta rival.
1. Honda Elevate's styling in line with brand’s global SUVs
The Elevate will share styling cues with the sixth-generation CR-V, and the new-gen WR-V, which was revealed late last year. Looking at the spy shots, one can make out a flat nose with a large Honda logo in the centre, and sharply styled LED headlights which look similar to the new HR-V. At the rear, it gets tail-lights that look similar to the new WR-V. Other key design highlights include squarish wheel arches, a prominent kink in the rear window and multi-spoke alloys. As far as the dimensions go, the Elevate is expected to measure 4.2-4.3 metres in length which is at par with the segment.
2. Honda Elevate’s equipment list to be shared with City
On the inside, however, expect more similarities with the City. The equipment list, for one, is expected to be largely carried over, and that includes the ADAS features as well. In fact, we recently reported to you that all future Honda cars in India will come equipped with ADAS features. Honda, in a teaser, also confirmed a single-pane sunroof for the Elevate, but that’s not quite at par with the segment when most rivals are offering panoramic sunroofs. Other features could include an 8.0-inch touchscreen and semi-digital instrument cluster from the City, wireless phone connectivity and wireless charging.
3. Honda Elevate will share platform, powertrains with City
The Elevate will be based on the fifth-gen City’s platform, and will also share the petrol powertrain with the sedan. This means, the Elevate will be powered by the 121hp, 1.5-litre, four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine and be paired to either a 6-speed manual or a CVT gearbox. The 1.5-litre petrol-hybrid engine from the City is also expected to join the line-up at a later stage, but there will be no diesel.
4. Honda Elevate has its work cut out
The Elevate is entering one of the most competitive segments in the market right now where the Hyundai Creta has dominated for years. In recent times, the duo of Grand Vitara and Hyryder have also gained fair popularity and the C3 Aircross is soon going to bring the versatility of a three-row seating layout to this segment. Even the Kia Seltos will soon get a mid-lifecycle facelift that will bring even more equipment and a new turbo-petrol powertrain. With premium features and multiple engine options from rivals, the Elevate is going to go up against a capable assortment of SUVs.
5. Honda Elevate expected price and launch
Following its unveiling, prices for the Elevate are expected to be announced around August this year. Given that Hondas are typically priced at a slight premium over their rivals, we expect prices to start from around Rs 11 lakh-12 lakh (ex-showroom). However, with a sole petrol engine on offer, prices are expected to max out at around Rs 17 lakh (ex-showroom) for the top-end petrol automatic variant.
Do you think the Elevate will be able to make a mark against other SUVs in this segment? Let us know in the comments below.
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