News/ Industry/ Honda Elevate Unveils Globally | Indian SUV Space Getting Interesting?

Honda Elevate Unveils Globally | Indian SUV Space Getting Interesting?

The past months have been quite an eye-opener for the Indian auto market, wherein we saw MG coming up with a quirky urban commuter to grab the attention. Maruti Suzuki finally lets Jimny out of the bag, luring the off-road fanboys. But, if there have been any ambitious unveil for the year, it has to definitely- be Honda's take on the SUV space with the Elevate. To a large extent, Elevate is the do-or-die proposition for Honda in the Indian market because, apart from the Amaze and City, there isn't any potential vehicle in their portfolio. Honda has re-entered the SUV space in India with the global debut of its newest SUV - Elevate. 

Honda Elevate: Exterior 

Despite several spy shots on the internet, it was hard to speculate how the car's design would look. And now that it's finally showcased, we can clearly see how it looks. The overall car looks quite nice, but it's the front that could be polarising to some. It has a prominent grille and a flat nose with the Honda logo in the centre. A large thick chrome bar connects the two LED DRLs, just like we saw in the new Honda City. 

On the sides, the big wheel arches and black cladding gives it an SUV look. The design of the 17-inch alloy wheels is the same that we get in the new City. The rear design is a bit more similar to WR-

Dimension-wise, it measures 4.3m long,1.79m wide and 1.65m tall. The wheelbase is 2.65m, almost the same as MS Grand Vitara and Creta. The ground clearance measures 220mm, which is segment based. The boot space of 428 litres is also better when compared with MS Grand Vitara and Creta. 

Honda Elevate: Interiors 

Well, the feature of a single-pane sunroof has already been clear earlier. But what needs to be clarified are the details of the interior. It gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Elevate has a  7-inch instrument cluster. The steering wheel is similar to that we have seen in City already. Honda will also provide Elevate will also come with ADAS functionality to enhance driving safety. 

Honda Elevate: Engine

Honda Elevate will get the same engine that we get in the new City. It is a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, Naturally Aspirated engine that produces 120bhp of power and 148Nm of torque. The engine comes mated with a 6-speed manual or an automatic CVT gearbox. Honda has not officially announced the hybrid powertrain options for the Elevate at the global unveil. 

Honda Elevate: Rivals

The production of the Honda Elevate will be done in Tapukara, Rajasthan, and it is expected to launch soon. You can book Jimny from July 2023. It rivals segment-leader Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, VW Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, MG Astor, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder.Surely, the SUV segment is in ever-growing demand and with the unveiling of Honda Elevate, it is going to be even more competitive and interesting to watch for. Hope, Honda does not mess up the pricing. 

TopGear Magazine February 2024