2023 Honda Elevate makes global debut in India, EV model to be introduced by 2026

Making its global debut in India is the 2023 Honda Elevate and from first glance, it does look like a slightly shrunken down all-new CR-V with styling cues borrowed from the WR-V.

The Elevate’s world premiere in India is a result of the H brand’s commitment to the subcontinent which saw exports grow by nearly 20% compared to the previous year. Though the model is made for the Indian market with the country being the production hub, it is the sole SUV model in the subcontinent as the CR-V and HR-V are not available there.

Based on the dimensions, the Elevate would sit between the HR-V and CR-V though the Elevate's wheelbase is only 10 mm shorter than the latter. In India, the Honda Elevate will be challenging the Suzuki Grand Vitara in the country’s mid-size compact SUV market.

Details on the variants would be announced in the future along with the export markets as the Elevate is considered a global model for Honda. Also in the pipeline is a battery electric vehicle (BEV) version of the Elevate which would be launched within the next 3 years.

At its debut, Honda mentioned that the Elevate would be powered by a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine that makes 121 PS and 145 Nm. These are the same output figures as the 1.5-litre unit in the City, City Hatchback, WR-V, and BR-V and it will be paired to a 6-speed manual transmission as well as a CVT-type automatic.

Also read: Honda Malaysia to launch 4 new 2023 models - WR-V, CR-V, Civic Type-R FL5, and City facelift to raise market share to 12.3 percent

The Elevate has undergone extensive testing on India’s different road surfaces and climate conditions. It has a minimum turning radius of 5.2 m and a 220 mm ground clearance.

On the safety front, Honda LaneWatch and Honda Sensing will be equipped on higher variants of the Elevate which will include Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Adaptive Cruise Control (AHB), and Road Departure Mitigation System.

Also read: 86% of Honda cars sold globally now have Sensing, 100% by 2030, with motorcycle detection, including Malaysia

In terms of convenience features, the Elevate will be equipped with a 7-inch HD colour TFT meter along with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay (wireless) and Android Auto. The Elevate also comes with Honda Connect support which can be integrated into iOS, Android, and Alexa devices.

While the Elevate could be offered in some markets outside of South Asia, where do you think it would fit in Honda’s crowded SUV line-up?