Honda and Citroen are a little late to join the highly competitive midsize SUV segment in India. However, both car manufacturers are now ready to tap the market with their offerings, the Elevate and C3 Aircross, respectively. These new models will face tough competition from multiple offerings, including Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Volkswagen Taigun, and Skoda Kushaq. While the prices of the Honda Elevate will be announced in September, the Citroen C3 Aircross is expected to go on sale in October 2023.
Honda has decided to skip the strong hybrid version of the Elevate and focus on its electric version instead. The company has confirmed that the SUV’s electric iteration will arrive in the market within three years. Initially, it will be available with a single 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol engine, delivering 121bhp and 145Nm. Customers can choose between a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed CVT automatic transmission. The manual and automatic versions are claimed to deliver a mileage of 15.31kmpl and 16.92kmpl, respectively.
On the other hand, the Citroen C3 Aircross comes with a 1.2L turbo petrol engine generating 110bhp and 190Nm, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The SUV is said to offer a fuel efficiency of 18.5kmpl. Details about the specifications of the Citroen C3 Aircross electric variant are yet to be disclosed by the carmaker. However, it’s likely to share its powertrain with the eC3, which is available with a 29.2kWh battery pack, offering a claimed power of 56bhp and 320km of range on a single charge. The C3 Aircross EV is expected to deliver an electric range of around 400km.
We expect that both the Honda Elevate electric and Citroen C3 Aircross electric will receive a few EV-specific cosmetic changes, while the overall dimensions, interior layout, and features are likely to remain intact. More details on both upcoming electric SUVs are expected to be revealed in the near future. Stay tuned to IndiaCarNews.
