The mid-size SUV segment in India is getting more competitive, and Honda has now given its Elevate a major makeover. The facelifted Honda Elevate has been launched with a starting price of ₹11.80 lakh (ex-showroom), bringing fresh styling, a more premium cabin and several new features to the SUV.

Originally launched in India in 2023, the Elevate has received its first major update. While Honda has focused heavily on styling and equipment, the mechanical package remains largely unchanged.

Bookings for the updated SUV began on October 1. With the facelift, Honda is looking to take on popular rivals such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Maruti Grand Vitara more aggressively.

Bolder New Look

The biggest visual changes can be seen at the front and rear of the SUV.

Honda has given the Elevate a redesigned mesh grille finished in gloss black, along with new detailing underneath it. The Honda logo has also been repositioned, while the LED position lamps now feature a distinctive three-bar design.

At the rear, the SUV gets connected LED tail lamps stretching across the width of the vehicle. This gives the Elevate a wider and more modern appearance.

Despite the styling changes, its overall dimensions remain unchanged. The SUV measures 4,312 mm in length, 1,790 mm in width and 1,650 mm in height. It gets a 2,650 mm wheelbase and offers 220 mm of ground clearance.

A More Premium Cabin

Honda has made significant changes inside the cabin as well.

The facelifted Elevate gets an ivory-black dual-tone interior with soft-touch materials, gloss-black accents, premium leather upholstery and updated interior trim.

One of the most interesting additions is seat ventilation. Both the front and rear seats get ventilation, with Honda claiming that rear-seat ventilation is a segment-first feature.

The front seats are power adjustable, with an 8-way adjustment for the driver and 4-way adjustment for the front passenger.

The cabin also gets ambient lighting with an Active Orange theme, electrostatic-touch LED cabin lights and an illuminated passenger-side vanity mirror. A one-touch electric sunroof is also available.

More Technology and Safety Features

Honda has added several features to make the Elevate more convenient and technology-focused.

The SUV gets a 10.25-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, USB connectivity and WebLink.

Other features include:

• 7-inch full-colour TFT multi-information display

• Front and rear USB Type-C ports

• 8-speaker premium surround sound system

• 360-degree surround-view camera

• Multi-view camera function

• Front and rear parking sensors

• Multi-angle rear-view camera

• PM2.5 air-quality display

• Automatic cabin air-cleaning function

• Electric parking brake

• Auto Brake Hold on CVT variants

• Rear disc brakes

The combination of new features and a redesigned cabin is intended to make the Elevate feel more premium than the outgoing model.

Engine Remains the Same

Despite the extensive feature and styling upgrades, Honda has not made major mechanical changes.

The facelift continues with the existing 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. Buyers can choose between a 6-speed manual transmission and a CVT automatic gearbox.

This means those expecting a new engine or major powertrain upgrade will find the mechanical package familiar.

Variants and Warranty

The updated Elevate is available in five variants: SV, V, VX, ZX and ZX+.

The manual gearbox is available across all five variants, while the CVT automatic can be chosen with the V, VX, ZX and ZX+ variants.

Honda offers a standard warranty of 3 years with unlimited kilometres. Customers can extend the warranty up to 7 years with unlimited kilometres, while the company's Anytime Warranty programme can take coverage up to 10 years or 1.2 lakh kilometres.

Can the New Elevate Challenge Creta and Seltos?

With its sharper styling, more premium interior and a significantly expanded feature list, the facelifted Elevate is clearly aiming for a stronger position in India's highly competitive mid-size SUV market.

While Honda has chosen not to alter the engine or gearbox, the addition of features such as rear-seat ventilation, a 360-degree camera and an upgraded cabin could make the SUV considerably more appealing to buyers.

For customers looking for a spacious, feature-loaded mid-size SUV with Honda's familiar petrol powertrain, the new Elevate could be an interesting alternative to the Creta, Seltos and Grand Vitara.