Honda Elevate Long Term Review, August 2024 Report

For Honda fans in India, the Elevate has been one of the longest-awaited new releases from the company. And frankly, Honda did take a bit too long to get on to the SUV bandwagon, but then again, Japanese companies have a history of being very thorough in their research before they develop new products or enter new segments. Despite the delay, the Elevate has proven to be a sales success, boosting volumes for the company both in India and in export markets.

Our long-term Elevate arrived in the striking Phoenix Orange shade, paired with a contrasting black roof, ensuring excellent road presence. The interior features a nice brown finish, and I particularly appreciate the streamlined, fuss-free dashboard layout. Although I drove the Elevate during its initial showcase, spending extended time with the vehicle provides a better perspective on its performance across various conditions, allowing a more comprehensive assessment of its pros and cons.

My initial impressions are that the Elevate is a robust product. It offers a well-rounded feature set, including a well-tuned ADAS system, which is barely intrusive during daily commutes. The front seats are notably large and exceptionally comfortable, and the air-conditioning is simply brilliant – it literally freezes the cabin within five minutes of driving, without needing to set the climate control below 24 degrees (I typically keep it at 22 degrees in other cars). It’s also quite spacious, and so is the boot, which proved quite useful on a recent long trip that I undertook to Himachal Pradesh.

On the driving front, the Elevate’s suspension is well set up to handle rough roads with ease while providing solid high-speed stability. The engine is refined, although the CVT gearbox’s rubber-band effect is somewhat annoying, but not much can be done about it. Additionally, I would appreciate an extra 25–30bhp to make high-speed cruising easier, given that we now actually have highways for such driving. However, my tendency to desire more power in our long-term vehicles is a recurring theme, so I think it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Overall, for Honda fans, the Elevate is a commendable product worth considering. I’ll have more insights on the Elevate next month, once I come back from another long road trip.

Also Read: No Turbo, No Problem: Honda Elevate vs Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos vs Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Also Read: Honda Elevate, City and More Attract Discounts of up to Rs 65,000 in August