The Honda Elevate, the upcoming mid-size SUV from the Japanese automaker, has now entered mass production at Honda’s Tapukara facility in India. The same manufacturing plant will also be responsible for producing units for export markets. The SUV is scheduled to be first launched in India in September, followed by select global markets. Honda has emphasized that the Elevate has over 90 percent localization of components, indicating that it is likely to be competitively priced. Targeting competitors such as the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara, and Kia Seltos, the new Honda mid-size SUV is estimated to be priced around Rs 12 lakh for the base variant and up to Rs 17 lakh for the top-end variant.
Powering the Honda Elevate SUV will be a 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol engine, available with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed CVT automatic gearbox. The petrol engine produces a claimed power output of 121bhp and 145Nm of torque. Honda claims that the Elevate petrol manual delivers a fuel economy of 15.31 kmpl, while the automatic version promises 16.92 kmpl. With a 40-litre fuel tank, the manual and automatic versions offer a range of 612 km and 679 km, respectively. It’s important to note that there will be no hybrid or diesel powertrain options.
The Elevate SUV will be offered in four trim levels: SV, V, VX, and ZX. The ZX trim will come with an exclusive set of features, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Honda Sensing ADAS suite, leatherette brown upholstery, 8-speakers, auto-dimming day/night mirror, and a soft-touch dashboard, along with the option of Phoenix Orange and dual-tone color schemes.
Buyers who opt for the entry-level variant will get a basic set of features, consisting of beige fabric upholstery, push-button start/stop, automatic AC unit, dual front airbags, LED projector headlamps, LED taillamps, and 16-inch steel wheels. An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with four speakers and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity becomes available from the V trim onwards.
