- Honda launches a facelifted version of the Elevate in India.
- The SUV gains a redesigned grille and rear ventilated seats.
- It is priced between Rs 11.80-18.40 lakh ($12,200-$19,000).
Honda has introduced a mid-lifecycle update for its entry-level SUV in India, focused on mild styling tweaks and new interior features. The facelifted Honda Elevate stands out thanks to its rugged grille with integrated LEDs, and the newly available ventilated front and rear seats.
The Indian-built Elevate was introduced in 2023, and has been exported to Japan with the WR-V moniker. Three years later, it’s time for a refresh to keep the SUV relevant in a competitive segment.
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Visually, the automaker tried to make the Elevate look tougher with a new grille design. The Honda emblem has been relocated on the hood, making room for a new honeycomb pattern, black trim pieces, and segmented LED position lights mounted right in between the headlights.
The front bumper is carried over from the pre-facelifted Elevate, but the side faux inlets gain body-colored inserts around the fog lights. The sheet metal on the profile and the rear end also remain unchanged. To keep things fresh, Honda has introduced a new Nordic Forest Pearl shade to the existing color palette.
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The facelifted lineup includes the flagship ZX+ Black trim with a stealthy appearance, black 17-inch alloy wheels, and leather upholstery. Buyers also have access to optional accessories such as extra protective cladding for the bumpers and the doors, or decorative inserts with a chrome or dark chrome finish.
Moving inside, the faux wood inserts of the outgoing model have been replaced with extended leatherette padding on the dashboard, joined by new ambient lighting. The trim around the climate controls on the center console has a slightly different design, but the free-standing 10.25-inch infotainment has been retained.
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Ventilated seats in both rows are the headline addition. Nothing else in the segment offers them, and they’re the kind of feature you normally have to move up a size or a price bracket to get. What you won’t find is a massage function, which the rival Skoda Kushaq does have.
The Elevate also benefits from improved insulation and can be equipped with power front seats, rear climate vents, touch-sensitive reading lights, and remote engine start. In terms of safety, all trims come standard with six airbags, while high-spec models benefit from the Honda Sensing ADAS suite including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and more.
Predictably, there are no changes under the skin. The 4,312 mm (169.8 in) long SUV shares its underpinnings with the Honda City sedan, but unlike the latter, it is available with a single non-electrified powertrain option. The carry-over naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine generates 119 hp (89 kW / 121 PS) and 145 Nm (107 lb-ft) of torque, sending power to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox or a CVT.
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The facelifted Honda Elevate is now available to order in India. The starting price of Rs 11.80 lakh ($12,200) for the entry-level SV manual trim is identical to its predecessor, but the rest of the lineup sees small price increases. For those who want the absolute best, the range-topping ZX+ trim with the CVT automatic is priced at Rs 18.40 lakh ($19,000), making it more expensive than the discontinued ADV special edition of the pre-facelifted model.
Rivals of the entry-level Honda SUV in India include the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Renault Duster, and Nissan Tekton. The aforementioned updates will likely find their way into the Japanese-spec Honda WR-V, manufactured in the same facility in Tapukara, Rajasthan, India.