Japanese automaker Honda launched its Elevate SUV in India in September 2023. The SUV became an instant hit in the market, rivalling other prominent players such as the Maruti Grand Vitara, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Toyota Hyryder, and Skoda Kushaq. Honda launched the Elevate to keep up with the current trend of SUVs in India. To no surprise, the Elevate has crossed the mark of 30,000 sales within just six months of its launch. Elevate is the first all-new product by the brand in India since 2017.
There are multiple reasons behind the success of this compact SUV.
1. The first proper Honda SUV that’s affordable
Honda priced the Elevate aggressively to grab a significant market share in the highly competitive compact SUV segment. Available for Rs. 11.58 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the base SV trim and Rs. 16.20 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the top ZX trim.
This price point makes the car much more affordable than other SUVs by the brand, such as the erstwhile CR-V (priced between Rs. 21.10 and 32.77 lakh). Also, the Elevate is marginally cheaper than the competition. With its long list of features and bold, rugged design, the Elevate is sought after in the Indian market.
2. Tried and tested powertrain
Elevate comes with the famous 1.5-litre-4 cylinder i-vtec engine. The entire Honda lineup in India comes with the same engine. The 1.5 liter i-VTEC petrol engine continues to be the benchmark among naturally aspirated petrol engines for refinement, performance, reliability and fuel efficiency. With years of development, Honda has made this engine bulletproof.
This 1.5-liter NA petrol engine produces 120 Bhp of peak power and 145 Nm of peak torque in the Honda Elevate. Buyers can choose between a 6-speed manual and a CVT transmission.
3. Great ride quality and comfortable interiors.
The Honda Elevate offers customers excellent ride quality with a well-tuned suspension setup. The suspension is well-balanced for highways and handles bumps. Stepping inside, the cabin is finished in premium materials. A spacious cabin, soft-touch material in multiple places, a panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch floating infotainment system, and a semi-digital driver’s display are some of the numerous features Elevate offers. This makes the SUV an appealing choice for buyers.
4. Typical Honda refinement levels and smoothness
Honda is known for making well-engineered cars that offer great refinement levels paired with a smooth driving experience, and the Elevate is no different. Most people want a high-riding car that drives and handles well, and the Elevate is just that. This SUV focuses more on providing a comfortable and smooth drive than outright performance; most people want that.
Honda launched the Elevate in Japan under the name Honda WR-V, becoming the latest addition to Honda India’s export portfolio. The WR-V, now available in Japan, shares similarities with its Indian version but with some differences.
In Japan, the WR-V is powered by the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine as its Indian sibling but delivers slightly lower power and torque outputs of 118 hp and 142 Nm. This variant is only available with a CVT automatic gearbox, unlike the Indian version, which offers both a 6-speed manual and a CVT option.
Despite these variations, the WR-V in Japan comes with numerous features, including a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs, and advanced safety features like six airbags, ABS with EBD, hill start assist, and traction control system. Additionally, it incorporates advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking.
Regarding pricing, the Honda WR-V in Japan ranges from 2,098,800 yen to 2,489,300 yen (approximately Rs 11.54 lakh to Rs 13.69 lakh in INR). Honda is also planning to introduce an electric version of the Elevate. This will mark the brand’s entry into the growing EV market in India. Specific details of the EV are unavailable for now, but reports suggest a launch sometime in 2026.
The post Honda Elevate Sales Cross 30,000 Units In 6 Months: What Makes It Popular? first appeared on Cartoq.
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