Honda Elevate ZX+ Black Variant Explored: Is the Top-End Variant The Best Looking Elevate?

Honda finally sets foot in the all-black craze with the recent launch of the Elevate facelift, priced at Rs 11.80 lakh onwards. The new facelift, in typical Honda fashion, brings incremental updates to the Elevate that bring it up to date with the competition, thanks to the extra bling and premium features. 

However, with the facelift, the Elevate also gets a new variant called the ZX Plus Black that also goes against the black or dark editions offered by the competition. This new top variant is priced at Rs 16.9 lakh for the manual and Rs 18.40 lakh for the CVT automatic variant.

The Elevate comes in a total of six variant options. They include the SV, V, VX, ZX, ZX Plus, and ZX Plus Black. Let's explore the ZX Plus Black, the top-of-the-range variant of the Elevate.

2026 Honda Elevate Facelift: Exterior

The Elevate ZX Plus Black is the most distinct-looking in the Elevate’s range. The reason is in the name and the looks. This variant gets an all-black treatment and is available only in the Crystal Black Pearl colour.

The front end of the Elevate has an elevated bonnet line and a confident upright stance. With the facelift, it gets a new segmented LED DRL connecting the LED headlamps. The handsome-looking front end now gets front parking sensors and a front camera for the 360-degree camera system, which is mounted on the grille. What breaks the black monotony on the fascia is the subtle silver skid plate mounted on the bottom of the bumper. 

Moving to the side profile, Elevate's confident shape carries forward here with the all-black theme. The black treatment includes the window lines, door garnish accents and the 17-inch alloy wheels. 

Over to the rear, the Elevate’s black theme continues. However, what is new here is the connected LED tail lamps, which weren’t part of the outgoing model. Meanwhile, the silver accent on the bumper stands out and gives the Elevate’s rear end a premium touch. 

2026 Honda Elevate Facelift: Interior

Like the exterior, the interior of the Elevate ZX Plus Black gets an all-black treatment, giving it a sportier vibe. You find a free-standing touch-screen infotainment system and a new LED ambient lighting system on the dashboard and the door pads. The cabin also includes piano black finishes on the AC vents, centre console panel, and the accents on the door handles. 

The rear seats also get the all black-treatment thanks to the black leatherette seats with ventilation, black door pads and the black roof.

This is a departure from the light and airy feeling cabin on the standard Elevate available on the other variants. While space and practicality remain the same, the overall vibe here is more serious and sporty. This black interior can also be easier to maintain in comparison to the lighter interior, which is more sensitive to looking dirty.

2026 Honda Elevate Facelift: Features And Safety

The feature list of the ZX Plus Black doesn’t get a major upgrade over the ZX Plus variant. However, what is new with the Elevate facelift is the 8-way powered driver seat and the 4-way powered passenger seat. Another highlight is the addition of a ventilated function for the rear seats.

Other feature highlights include a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a semi-digital driver’s display, an 8-speaker sound system, ventilated front seats, a single-pane sunroof, keyless entry with engine push-button start, and adaptive cruise control. 

Safety-wise, the Elevate gets ABS with EBD, 6 airbags, electronic parking brake (EPB) with auto hill-hold, ISOFIX child seat mounts, all-wheel disc brakes, a 360-degree camera and Level-2 ADAS.

The Elevate has scored 5 stars in the Japanese NCAP safety tests, which further strengthens its safety credentials. 

2026 Honda Elevate Facelift: Powertrain

The Elevate comes with one engine, which is the well-known 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine with a 6-speed manual and a 7-step CVT automatic transmission option. Powertrain figures are as follows:

MT- Manual Transmission, CVT- Continuously Variable Transmission (automatic)

The Elevate’s powertrain option may seem to be one of the weaknesses among its competition on paper. However, this engine is among the most powerful naturally aspirated options in the sub-4 metre SUV class. Thus making it have among the best balances of performance, driveability, efficiency and proven reliability. 

2026 Honda Elevate Facelift: Price And Rivals

The Honda Elevate ZX Plus Black is priced at Rs 16.9 lakh for the manual and 18.40 lakh for the CVT automatic variant.

Rivals include  Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Renault Duster, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Maruti Victoris,  Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Nissan Tekton, Tata Sierra, Tata Curvv, Citroen Aircross X, and the MG Astor.

ZigSays…

The Elevate is among the best no-nonsense options in the compact SUV segment. Confident looks, feature-packed, powerful and reliable. For a long-term family car, the Elevate is hard to fault. 

And with the ZX Plus Black trim, this gives an option for those who fancy the recent craze for black-on-black cars available from competitors from Tata, Hyundai and Kia. The Elevate’s interpretation is also tastefully executed with the all-black exterior and the black interior. 

However, we wished the black treatment was also available with lower variants so one need not shell out top-variant money to get an all-black-themed Elevate. 

What do you think of the Honda Elevate ZX Plus Black? Let us know in the comments below.