Honda has finally revealed a new SUV, Elevate for the Indian market. It will be manufactured in India and exported overseas as well. As the preferences of Indian car buyers continue to evolve, automakers strive to introduce innovative features and designs to capture the attention of this discerning customer base.
Among the latest entrants in the SUV segment is the Honda Elevate, a vehicle that aims to set new benchmarks for performance, comfort, and versatility. The Honda Elevate marks the brand’s return to the SUV space, which is ruled by Creta, Seltos, and Kushaq. Let’s see how it compares with its rivals:
Design & Dimensions
All these SUVs are monocoque with sleek designs. Elevate has a bold and modern appeal with an upright stance. The added elements, such as the roof rails and the sunroof, add to the overall appeal, along with the new headlamps. We have the dimensions(mm) below:
| Dimensions | Elevate | Seltos | Creta | Kushaq |
| Length | 4312 | 4315 | 4300 | 4225 |
| Width | 1790 | 1800 | 1790 | 1760 |
| Height | 1650 | 1620 | 1635 | 1612 |
| Wheelbase | 2650 | 2610 | 2610 | 2651 |
| Ground clearance | 220 | 190 | 190 | 188 |
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In terms of dimensions, it has the highest ground clearance in the segment, which is only 6mm less than the Thar. It is 4.3 meters long and just 3mm shorter than the Seltos in length and 10mm shorter in width. It is the tallest one out of the four SUVs we have, with great headroom. It has almost the same wheelbase as the Kushaq but the largest boot space with a capacity of 458 litres but it has the smallest wheels in the segment.
Engine & Transmission
Elevate is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, while the Kushaq is offered with two turbocharged engines; they all miss out on diesel options. Creta and Seltos are the only ones with diesel powertrains on offer. All these SUVs are FWD.
| Specs | Elevate | Seltos | Creta | Kushaq |
| Petrol engine | 1.5-litre NA | 1.5-litre NA | 1.5-litre NA | 1.0-litre/1.5-litre turbo |
| Power(hp) | 119 | 113 | 113 | 114/148 |
| Torque(Nm) | 145 | 144 | 144 | 178/250 |
| Transmission | 6-speed MT/CVT | 6-speed MT/iVT | 6-speed MT/iVT | 6-speed MT/AT/7-speed DCT |
| Diesel engine | – | 1.5-litre NA | 1.5-litre NA | – |
Also Read: Honda Elevate | The Korean Crusher?
The Korean twins churn out 113hp & 250Nm with diesel engines, and Honda offers the Elevate with only a petrol powertrain as of now. Elevate may get updates with hybrid tech in the future, but the current engine churns out 119hp & 145Nm torque.
Kushaq stands out as the most powerful one, with 148hp and 250Nm torque with the 7-speed DCT trim. Honda offers its SUV with a 6-speed manual and a CVT transmission similar to the City. The Creta and Seltos are expected to have new 1.5-litre turbo petrol engines with the facelift. Honda’s candidate does not come out on top here, but it offers a decent power package.
Some buyers may not be interested in the Elevate because it doesn’t have a choice of engines, but that remains to be seen. Honda has also confirmed that the Elevate won’t get the e:HEV strong-hybrid technology found in the City, but they are working on an all-electric version. s the segment’s smallest wheels.
Features
Elevate is equipped with a camera-based Sensing ADAS system. It might be the most affordable SUV in the segment with ADAS. It has a decent set of features, including a sunroof and a digital instrument cluster.
| Features | Elevate | Seltos | Creta | Kushaq |
| ADAS | Yes | No | No | No |
| Climate Control | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Infotainment system | 10.25-inch | 10.25-inch | 10.25-inch | 10-inch |
| Sunroof | Single-pane | Single-pane | Panoramic | Single-pane |
| LED Headlamps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated Seats | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Smartphone Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Also Read: Honda City VS Toyota Hyryder | The War Of Strong Hybrids
The Honda Elevate has a touchscreen infotainment system, lane-watch camera, wireless charging, and Honda Sensing ADAS technology with automated safety features. The Creta, Seltos, Taigun, and Kushaq all share a number of these characteristics. However, it misses out on ventilated seats and a panoramic sunroof but gets smartphone mirroring that the Korean twins lack.
The Honda Elevate is a strong challenger in the compact SUV sector because of its full package of equipment, engine power, and comfort. While it will face fierce competition from other brands, the Elevate’s unique selling characteristics, such as high ground clearance, extensive boot space, and Honda Sensing ADAS technology, will most certainly help it carve out a market niche.
Price
Honda has not released the price yet, but we expect the SUV to be priced between ₹12-17 lakhs ex-showroom. We will get the official pricing with the launch during the festive season. At this price, Elevate would be in the same range as all of its competitors, which are all priced about the same.
| Car | Elevate | Seltos | Creta | Kushaq |
| Price range (ex-showroom) | ₹12-17 lakhs( expected) | ₹10.87-19.20 lakhs | ₹10.87-19.65 lakhs | ₹11.59-19.69 lakhs |
Also Read: Honda Stopping Diesel Engine Production In India?
Again, it’s important to note that these prices are only for the “entry-level” engines of the competitors, except for the Citroen, and that they all have more expensive engine options. For now, though, all of this is just a guess, so we’ll have to wait for the official prices to see how Elevate really compares in this segment.