Honda Elevate Has Sold Over One Lakh Units Globally, Here’s A Look At Its Pros And Cons

QUICK HIGHLIGHTS

• Honda Elevate crosses one lakh sales milestone, with the majority of sales coming from the domestic market.

• Most Elevate buyers chose the top-spec ZX variant.

• Platinum White Pearl held its spot as the top colour pick, followed by Golden Brown Metallic.

• Prices for the Elevate range between Rs 11.69 lakh and 16.73 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Elevate is Honda's answer to the SUVs like Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Manufactured solely in India, the Elevate is also exported to markets like Japan and South Africa while being offered in the domestic market. With a growing response from buyers, it has now achieved a sales milestone of one lakh units globally.

Let's break down its pros and cons to understand what makes it popular among both domestic and international buyers.

Honda Elevate Positives and Negatives

PROS	CONS
The Elevate’s design is conservative, yet it exudes elegance without excessive creases. With upmarket materials and a practical layout, the Elevate offers a spacious interior with ample legroom and headroom, even for tall passengers. With a 458-litre boot, the Elevate can comfortably accommodate two airport-sized suitcases. We also managed to fit six vertically stacked trolley bags with the parcel tray in place. The Elevate offers a comfortable ride even on bad roads. Body roll is well controlled, maintaining a stable feel without being too soft or bouncy on uneven surfaces. Performance from the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth, and the CVT gearbox provides a more convenient driving experience.	Even though the Elevate offers a feature-rich cabin, it lacks niceties like powered front seats, seat ventilation, and a panoramic sunroof found in some rivals. A turbocharged or hybrid powertrain would have added more appeal, offering buyers more options while keeping up with competitors. Although the Elevate’s powertrain delivers smooth drive quality, it lacks the punch needed for highway overtakes or hilly terrain.

Honda Elevate Sales Breakdown

Honda revealed buyer preferences among Elevate owners in India. Out of 53,326 units sold, 53 percent opted for the ZX variant, while 79 percent chose the CVT over the manual. Platinum White Pearl and Golden Brown Metallic together accounted for 55 percent of colour choices for the Elevate, with white shade making up 35 percent, followed by brown hue at 19.9 percent. Additionally, 22 percent were first-time car buyers, and 43 percent purchased it as an additional household car. 

Honda Elevate: Features

The Honda Elevate comes equipped with features such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 7-inch semi-digital driver’s display, an 8-speaker sound system, automatic climate control, a single-pane sunroof, a wireless phone charger, and ambient lighting. 

Safety-wise it gets six airbags as standard, electronic stability control, hill start assist, lane watch camera, rear parking camera with sensors, and ADAS with features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking.

Honda Elevate: Powertrain

Honda offers the Elevate with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that churns out 121 PS and 145 Nm. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a 7-step CVT. 

Honda Elevate: Price and Rivals

Prices for the Honda Elevate start from Rs 11.69 lakh (ex-showroom) and go up to Rs 16.73 lakh (ex-showroom). Apart from Creta and Seltos, it lock horns with the VW Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, MG Astor, Maruti Grand Vitara, and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. 

Verdict

The Honda Elevate has successfully carved a niche for itself in the highly competitive compact SUV space, and its one-lakh sales milestone is proof of its growing popularity. It strikes a fine balance between practicality and comfort, making it a strong contender for urban buyers and highway cruisers alike. The CVT’s dominance in sales suggests that convenience is taking precedence over outright performance.

That said, while the Elevate nails the basics with a spacious cabin, a comfortable ride, and a smooth powertrain, it does miss out on some premium features that rivals offer. A more powerful turbocharged or hybrid option could have added extra zest to its driving dynamics.

If you’re in the market for a no-nonsense, well-built, and fuss-free SUV that prioritizes reliability over gimmicks, the Elevate is a solid choice. However, if you're after the latest tech and a more spirited drive, you might want to explore the competition.

Will you pick the Honda Elevate? Let us know in the comments!