Honda Elevate CVT Detailed Review — Check Out Its Specifications, Features & Looks
Excited about the Honda Elevate CVT? Read a detailed review below and check out the specifications that will meet your eyes when you sit in it.
Honda has taken its own time to enter the most fought and the most popular segment in the Indian automobile market right now- the compact SUV space. There are already seven contenders yet such is the segment that there is a sizable market share for all including newcomer Honda. Without a doubt, a lot of hopes are resting on the Elevate in being the best-seller for them but as a buyer should you consider the Elevate? We had a brief first drive of the CVT variant to tell you exactly that.
The Elevate is based on the same platform as the City and has been heavily localised which means we expect a competitive asking price. However, the all-important looks seem to be won by Honda with a convincing design which is different from others. The Elevate borrows its styling from the bigger Honda Pilot SUV and looks purposeful while not being overstyled. It has the big and boxy SUV look to it along with a clean design.
The front end is purposeful with an upright bonnet along with a stubby nose. It looks big with a large chrome lined grille along with the DRLs being blended in. The triangular-shaped foglamp enclosures along with a skid plate plus square-shaped wheel arches accentuate its length. The Elevate is similar to its rivals like the Creta or Seltos in length while the side view is more towards the traditional compact SUV design while the connected tail-lamps plus thick cladding are yet again similar to current trends.
Build quality is similar to a City and feels solid while the 17-inch alloys are also the same as those on the City. The Phoenix Orange is a highlight and looks very good while the other blue colour is similar to the one on the City.
Opening the doors and getting in is easy and the cabin has a more traditional look with faux wooden inserts which appeals to the Indian buyer with a black/brown dual-tone theme. There are soft-touch inserts on the dash too and the sense of quality is there with the climate control buttons etc. It is a simple but well-thought-out cabin design.
The steering wheel is similar to the City along with the part digital instrument cluster which we like in terms of its simplicity while still packing in all of the required info. You can access the ADAS features while toggling between other functions/information as well. The centre console is all new with a larger 10.25-inch screen which has a simple but neatly laid out infotainment system. There are physical buttons below for use too.
The menu or layout isn't huge while being basic but it has the required features plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto/weblink to access apps etc. There are sub-screen functions including ASVM (Assistant Side View Monitor), ARVM (Assistant Rear View Monitor), Clock, Calendar, Compass etc.
We do wish the screen had more brightness, especially in sunlight. Other features include a rear camera with multiple angles while the display is pretty clear too along with connected car tech, climate control, wireless charging (with an on/off button) etc. There is a standard sunroof too. Further on, the 8-speaker audio system also has good sound quality. Some features like cooled seats or a powered driver's seat/electric handbrake are not there.
The front seats are large and comfortable while credit goes to the rear seats in terms of its excellent comfort. The rear seat is ample in space and has good thigh support. The headrests are also shaped very well but there are two at the rear while there is a centre armrest. Hence, the Elevate is very comfortable for two at the back while a middle passenger would be a squeeze. The door pockets are large though and the huge 458-litre boot beats others as well.
Let us talk regarding performance. Here Honda has stuck to its tried and tested 1.5l naturally aspirated petrol which does duty on the City. Unlike rivals, there is no turbo petrol or diesel or a hybrid but the majority of the sales from rivals are also from 1.5l engines hence, this is a calculated move by Honda. The engine is smooth and loves to rev with being enjoyable when pushed to its rev limit. It is smooth and refined, the Elevate and at low speeds, it is easy to drive too.
We drove around the hills nestled within Udaipur and here at low speeds, the way the suspension tackled the bad roads was very impressive. The ride quality is excellent and its huge 220mm ground clearance also helps. Here the engine is responsive and the CVT makes for effortless driving. The 1.5 engine is linear with 121hp and 145 while not quite having the torque of turbo petrol but performance at low speeds was pretty smooth.
This is much more rugged and tough than some of its compact SUV rivals and can take over bad roads very well with superb ride quality. The Elevate is heavier than the City and that does blunt the high-speed performance when you push hard and this is more of an SUV to do a relaxed drive. The CVT version when driven hard does get noisy although you do get paddle shifters.
The extra weight also means efficiency is lesser than the City but you will get around 10 in the CVT. The manual is a 6-speed one and is one of the best in its class for being fun with slick shifts and a light clutch. The manual is more fun but the CVT is more convenient and the better buy.
Cabin refinement and noise insulation is better than the City while it is stable around corners with a bit of a roll. That said, this is a well-sorted package dynamically while working on our roads better than some of its rivals. We did not have a huge amount of time but we did try some of the ADAS features and we found that the system was not too aggressive while not being erratic too. Even the manual Elevate gets ADAS but here it is slightly tricky as the driver needs to make sure you are driving in the right gear.
The Elevate is a solid package for Honda with a clear focus on space, butch looks and ride quality along with a smooth engine. It is not the most efficient or the fastest but its toughness plus the ease of use will mean that buyers will gravitate towards it while we expect it to bring good sales for Honda.
What we like- Looks, comfort, ride quality, ground clearance, manual gearbox, interior quality
What we do not- Missing some features, efficiency could be better
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