• Honda’s highly-anticipated Elevate midsize SUV to revolutionize the Indian market with its unique design and features.
• Bookings for the Elevate SUV to commence on June 6th, signaling a new era for Honda in India.

On June 6, 2023, Honda will debut one of its most important products for India, the Elevate midsize SUV. The Elevate SUV has been teased for a while now, and the company will formally release further details and begin bookings on the day of its global premiere.

Dealers tell us that existing Honda customers who own the WR-V and the City are interested in the future Elevate SUV. Some sellers have already begun accepting unauthorised bookings, with booking sums ranging from Rs 11,000 to Rs 21,000.

The Elevate SUV will share its underpinnings with the City, but its design influences will be unlike any other Honda SUV now on the market outside. According to sources, the Elevate was designed with India in mind, and it will have a more upright styling – from its flat nose and tall grille to its glasshouse and roofline – which Indian buyers prefer over the more rounded coupe-like SUV design popular in other markets.

While Honda may nail the Elevate’s style, it will need to be on top of the game in terms of features. The latest teaser from the company confirms the presence of a single-pane sunroof, which could have been standard practise a few years ago, but its competitors have stepped up their game, with practically every single contender, with the exception of the Seltos, Taigun, and Kushaq, now boasting big panoramic sunroofs. A panoramic sunroof will be added to the Seltos facelift, which will be available in the coming months.

While little is known about the Elevate’s features, dealers tell us that it will have most of the same equipment as the City, which is well-equipped for its class, with the exception of ventilated seats. It remains to be seen whether Honda addresses this omission when the Elevate SUV is released.

Engine and Transmission

Honda, like many other automakers, recently discontinued its diesel lineup, which means the Elevate, like all other Hondas marketed in India, will only be available in petrol. It will be launched with a single 1.5-liter normally aspirated engine, with a hybrid powertrain expected to be added later. This petrol engine will be shared with the City sedan, producing 121hp and 145Nm of torque and available with either a manual or CVT automatic gearbox.

According to dealer sources, deliveries for the Honda Elevate are slated to begin in late August, with the price to be announced early that month.