The compact SUV segment has been raking in a lot of sales in the past couple of years. The segment dominated by the Koreans has recently started getting competition from the Japs and the Germans. Another Japanese carmaker, Honda has been in the shadows all this while with no offering in this segment. Honda no longer wants to be in the shadows and wants a piece of the C-SUV pie. That is where the Elevate comes in. We had a chance to spend a few hours with the new Honda Elevate. This is not a comprehensive review but, we know enough to give you a fair idea if this is the car for you.
Honda Elevate Design
First things first, the design of the Elevate is quite refreshing. A large front grille gives it a commanding road presence. The grille is flanked by sleek LED headlamp clusters. The LED DRLs double up as turn indicators. The LED lamps look really good when they are lit up.
The rear follows the design language that almost all cars are nowadays. The boot lid is wrapped by LED strips that meet the Honda logo at the center. The rear is nice and boxy completing the overall SUV look of the Elevate.
Speaking about dimensions, the Elevate is 4312 mm long, 1790 mm wide, and 1650 mm tall. The wheelbase is 2650 mm which opens up decent room inside the cabin. Overall there is more to like than hate the exterior design of the Elevate.
Honda Elevate Interior
As soon as you open the doors of the Elevate, you are welcomed by two-toned upholstery. The black and brown interiors look comforting with the latter being the prominent shade.
The dash is made up of hard plastics and this is where I felt Honda could have made a better choice in materials. You still get soft-touch panels which will keep you happy.
The center is taken up by a floating or should I say an “Elevated” screen. Below the screen, you have the easy-to-access control panel for the aircon. There are two cup holders followed by the gear shifter/drive selector. There is also an armrest however, it is not adjustable.
The seats are simply comfortable. The cushioning, materials, and support are meant to give you a comfortable drive and might as well be the best in the segment. This goes for the rear seat as well. However, the lack of ventilated seats could dampen the overall seating experience.
The Elevate also gets the most in-demand feature – a sunroof, albeit a small one. What’s not small, however, is the boot. The Elevate is equipped with a segment-busting 458 L boot that can swallow a weekend’s luggage for the entire family and still have room for a couple of days’ worth.
Watch the Walkaround video here
Honda Elevate Drive Experience
Let’s get the specs out of the way before I speak about how the Elevate drives. It is powered by a 1.5L 4-cylinder i-VTEC motor that produces 121 PS at 6,000 rpm and 145 Nm of torque at 4300 rpm. The motor is mated to either a CVT or a 6-speed manual transmission.
We first drove the CVT and in terms of performance, there is nothing exceptional about the 1.5L naturally aspirated engine. It builds revs gradually and the shifts from the CVT are not that aggressive either. What the engine excels at is refinement. The 4-cylinder motor is vibe free and the NVH levels are next to nil unless you push the pedal hard. That is what the Elevate does not like, press hard on the accelerator, and the engine roars as if it’s gasping for breath.
The performance of the 6-speed manual is similar. However, I had more fun with the stick shift than the paddle shifters on the CVT. You will have a more engaging drive with the manual. If you like more control over the revs, the manual is what you should opt for. In terms of mileage, the CVT returned between 14-15 kmpl and the manual between 13-14 kmpl on our drive. This is pretty close to what Honda has claimed.
Ride Quality
The ride quality is a mixed bag. The suspension is on the stiffer side and lets the bumps filter into the cabin. You will feel the bad roads both at the front and the rear. On the flip side, it is a breeze on the highway. It has one of the smoothest drives when cruising on good roads. The cabin too is well insulated and even the tyre and wind noise cannot creep in. The handling too is impressive and the steering is precise. It weighs up really well and gives the driver good feedback of what’s happening under the wheels. The ground clearance at 220 mm is also impressive and can go over bad roads without scrapping the belly.
Verdict
The Honda Elevate is for someone who likes a relaxed and comfortable ride on the highways. The suspension is a little stiff and performs really well at higher speeds. However, in the city, going over bumpy roads could be a little unsettling. It is not overly loaded with features like the Seltos or the Creta but it has most of them to make you feel that you’re in a modern car. The mileage is not extraordinarily impressive but it is fairly good in its segment. The Elevate excels at handling with precise steering and next to nil body roll which will keep the occupants comfortable on the curves. Overall, a good car for the family who likes to take long weekend trips and short spins around the city where the roads are well maintained.