Made-in-India Honda Elevate (WR-V) Gets 5-Star Safety Rating in Japan NCAP Crash Tests

The Honda Elevate, manufactured at the Tapukara facility in India, has made a remarkable debut in Japan’s safety crash tests under the WR-V nameplate. The mid-size SUV has scored a perfect 5-star rating in the Japan New Car Assessment Programme (JNCAP), with an overall score of 90% (176.23/193.8). It excelled in preventive safety with a remarkable 95% (82.22/85.8) and earned 86% (86.01/100) for collision safety. Additionally, the Made-in-India SUV scored 57.73 points for occupant protection and 28.28 points for pedestrian protection, highlighting its strong safety credentials on a global platform. For the initiated, the Elevate stands tall as the first India-manufactured Honda to be introduced to the Japanese market. It is yet to be assessed under the safety protocols of Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP.

During frontal crash testing, the Honda Elevate provided strong protection, earning 96% for the driver and 88% for rear occupants. The offset frontal impact assessment showed 86.9% driver safety and 100% rear passenger safety.

Also Read: Honda Elevate Review: Better SUV Than Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Hyundai Creta?

The SUV also scored maximum points in the side impact test. For pedestrian safety, it earned 2.91 out of 4 for head protection and a full 4 out of 4 for leg protection.

Other Details

The Japanese WR-V is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine (119bhp/145Nm) paired with a standard CVT automatic. It is fitted with Honda Sensing ADAS (including collision mitigation braking and adaptive cruise control). While visually similar to its Indian counterpart, the Japan-spec Honda Elevate/WR-V has key distinctions, with fewer paint options (five single-tone vs. ten). It features a distinct all-black interior and upholstery, along with a bigger touchscreen infotainment system compared to the 10-inch unit in India. Unlike the India-spec model, it does not include wireless phone charging or an electric sunroof.

In our market, the price of the Honda SUV starts at Rs 11.91 lakh (ex-showroom). It competes against the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, and the Volkswagen Taigun. Last year, Honda rolled out a special edition of the Elevate SUV in India to mark the festive season. Called the Apex Edition, this limited-run variant is built on the mid-spec V and VX trims and has a range of cosmetic upgrades inside and out. On the exterior, it gets a piano black insert on the lower front bumper with silver highlights, while the rear bumper sports chrome detailing.

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

The edition also includes unique Apex Edition badges on the front fenders and tailgate, along with a piano black door garnish to enhance its visual appeal.