Honda starts deliveries of Elevate SUV. How to book one?
Honda Cars has started to deliver the Elevate SUV to the customers from today. The carmaker has not revealed details on the number of bookings it has received. However, it said that the bookings have been encouraging. The booking for Elevate SUV was opened in July. One can book the SUV through Honda’s official website for a token amount of ₹5,000. Interested customers can also visit the nearest Honda showroom to book the Elevate SUV at ₹21,000.
Honda launches Elevate SUV: Check price and variants
Honda Cars has announced the price of the Elevate SUV. The new compact SUV price will start from ₹11 lakh (ex-showroom). The price of the top-end variant will be ₹16 lakh (ex-showroom). The SUV is available in four variants. All four will be available with a 6-speed manual gearbox while the top three variants will also get the choice of a 7-speed CVT transmission unit. The ZX variant with CVT gearbox will cost ₹16 lakh (ex-showroom).
Honda Elevate SUV: Space and comfort features explained
The interior of the Elevate SUV is quite spacious and can seat five adults inside. While it does not offer modern features like ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof or ambient lighting, the cabin is roomy enough. There is a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is compatible with wireless smartphone connectivity. There is also a 7-inch HD colour TFT driver display. One also gets other features like automatic climate control among others.
How safe is Honda Elevate SUV?
Honda Cars promises that Elevate SUV will not compromise on safety front. The Japanese carmaker has packed in a lot of safety features in the SUV. To start with, it will offer six airbags and ISOFIX for child seats for the safety of occupants. Besides these, the Elevate SUV will also offer features like Hill Hold Assist and rear parking camera. Though the Elevate has not been sent to any safety crash tests, it is likely that the Honda SUV will score highly if and when it is put to test.
Honda Elevate SUV stands tall with highest ground clearance
In terms of design, the Elevate SUV comes with a boxy front profile. It has a large black radiator grille, LED headlights, integrated LED DRLs, LED taillights, black fog lamp housing and large wheel arches housing sporty 17-inch alloy wheels. The character lines at the sides, along with the black claddings, increase its visual appeal. The SUV also gets a massive 220 mm of ground clearance, which is the highest in the segment.
Honda Elevate SUV to get only one engine choice
Under the hood, the Elevate SUV will come with a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine, the same unit that also powers the Honda City sedan. The engine is capable of generating 119 bhp of maximum power and 145.1 Nm of peak torque. The engine will come mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox and an advanced CVT gearbox. Honda says that the Elevate SUV has a mileage of 15.31 kmpl in manual variants while the CVT versions will offer 16.92 kmpl of mileage.
Honda Elevate SUV: Which colour to pick?
Honda Elevate SUV will be launched with seven single exterior colour options. These include Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Obsidian Blue Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, Golden Brown Metallic, Meteoroid Gray Metallic and Phoenix Orange Pearl. There will also be three dual-tone options available on the top-end variants – Phoenix Orange Pearl with Crystal Black Pearl Roof, Platinum White Pearl with Crystal Black Pearl Roof and Radiant Red Metallic with Crystal Black Pearl Roof.
Honda Elevate SUV has its task cut out against formidable rivals
The compact SUV segment has become fiercely competitive with new models being introduced every year. SUVs have taken over from the small cars in India as the new backbone of the auto industry with sales growing in leaps and bounds in recent years. Little wonder that Honda has finally made its foray into the compact SUV segment, abeit a bit late than most others. The Elevate will have to fight the dominance of the Korean carmakers in the segment. Hyundai Creta remains the top choice in the segment since its launch. Kia Seltos, in its new avatar, promises to renew rivalry with Creta. The rise of Maruti Suzuki in the SUV segment with Grand Vitara has intensified competition in the segment. However, before these three, Honda Elevate will have to beat the others in the segment including the likes of Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder SUVs.
Elevate is Honda’s ‘India first’ SUV
Honda Cars has said that the Elevate SUV has been designed and developed with the Indian market in mind. The carmaker showcased the Elevate for the first time on June 6 this year. It was also the first time that Elevate was shown to the world. The Elevate SUV will launch in India first, and then across other global markets, making it a India-first model. Elevate shows the importance Honda associates with the Indian market. Honda has slipped in terms of sales among the big carmakers in India. The Elevate is expected to give it enough push to revive its fortunes in the country.
Watch: Honda Elevate SUV first drive review – Can it take on the might of the Koreans?
Honda’s tryst with SUVs in India
Honda Cars’ luck with SUVs in India has not been as good as the Koreans. The first SUV that the Japanese auto giant launched in India was the CRV. The model, which was sold between 2003 and 2020, was part of the premium segment rivalling the likes of Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavours SUVs. The CRV has been the longest-surviving SUV model from the carmaker in India.
Honda later introduced two more SUVs – the BR-V and WR-V. Both these models, like the CRV have now been pulled out of the markets after they failed to push sales for the Japanese carmaker. Launched in 2016, the BR-V survived only four years while the WR-V sub-compact SUV was discontinued in April this year after existing for just six years.
Honda pins its hopes on the Elevate to break its SUV jinx in India. The Elevate could become the make or break model for the carmaker which offers only two sedans – City and Amaze – in its fleet.
