[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by Paritoshkalra

Disappointing to see V model without Cruise Control. Steering looks wierd without those controls on the right hand side. Honda City V IVTEC 2014 was well equipped!

That was because back in 2014, V was the one from top model. They had S, SV, V and VX. The only significant differences between V and VX were leather style seat covers and a small sunroof. If I remember correctly, there was an entry level E trim as well, which was later discontinued.

Nowadays, V is base or next trim. It’s pretty much like Maruti phasing out their L trim name - LX, LXi. V is the new L, and Z is the new V.

[pannags]

Test drove the Elevate CVT at the dealership I have booked with, yesterday morning. Opting for an early morning visit on a weekday to avoid the weekend rush, we found ourselves the first and only customers at the dealership. The test drive car, in its Golden Brown finish, caught our eye with its attractive appearance.

Here are my impressions from two brief drives, each covering approximately 4 km. I had the chance to experience the Elevate both as the driver and as a front-row passenger while my wife took the wheel.

• Road Presence. For a CSUV, the Elevate boasts an impressive road presence, though it doesn't have the imposing stance of larger SUVs. While it may not turn heads, the design is generally likeable
  
  
• Driving Position and Comfort. View from the drivers seat is excellent and so is the driving position. My wife, who drives a Brio AT was very comfortable adapting to a CSUV stance. I particularly wanted to make sure the ergonomics are well sorted. Despite having to use the telescopic adjustment fully, I found the seat comfortable with it pushed back by around 70% and the height adjusted to about 65%. Surprisingly, there was still ample space behind me (I stand at 5' 10" and have a lean build)
  
  
• Powertrain. The iVTEC CVT provided a smooth experience, similar to what I've experienced in the City. I'm growing to appreciate the well-balanced engine's linear power delivery. However, I did notice that the initial torque and NVH levels were slightly lower in comparison (maybe the impact of years of driving a diesel)
  
  
• Interior Layout. While some adjustments are needed to find the perfect driving position, the limited use of flashy elements is a welcome feature. The MID and infotainment screen appear non-distracting, and all controls are easily accessible. Having toggle switches for the AC instead of touch controls was a significant relief.
  
  
• Build quality. The car exudes confidence in its solid build. This confidence is not only evident in how securely the doors close but also in how assuredly the chassis performs while on the move. However, it is disappointing to see cost cutting in the form minor things like not providing rubber beading to the doors!
  
  
• Passenger Comfort. When I shifted to the front passenger seat, I had to push it all the way back to stretch my legs comfortably. The inclined footwell could pose an issue for taller passengers, particularly those over 6 feet. The rear bench is excellent for two passengers. Even with the front seat pushed all the way back, there was ample knee room for someone of my height. While the width may not be as limiting as it appears, the third passenger may find little thigh support due to the elevated seat contour.
  
  
• Sunroof. Honda might've as well avoided what appears to be a pigeon hole of a sunroof. The small opening doesn't offer much benefit, although I'm not particularly bothered by its inconspicuous presence.

While Honda has indeed cut corners in some areas, I couldn't find any compelling reasons to be disappointed to the point of canceling my booking. Nevertheless, I'll be reevaluating the driver seat ergonomics and awaiting the official launch before reaching a decision.

Sharing a few pictures I shot.

Boxy, butch styling






Alongside the iconic sibling


Passenger view, while on the move

[cruise4control]

I had visited Pride Honda in Hyderabad Allwyn X Roads yesterday for a test drive. I don't have a lot of driving experience like many others here do. I currently own a used Ford Figo 1.5 L TDCI with 10k kms under my belt.
I have driven few Petrol cars before which included the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 Turbo apart from old Marutis and a TD of Altroz DCT.
I couldn't get hold of the Elevate ZX CVT which is what I booked. I drove the ZX Manual followed by City ZX CVT. Here are my observations.

• Elevate's got the SUV stance and for a hatchback owner like me, it gave me that elevated feel. But, the bonnet appeared too big and it's blocking the view of what's right in front of it.
• The driveability was good. It was easy to drive and turn. The clutch was super smooth
• The engine was revving too much (with noise) even for a slightly harder throttle. I don't know if it's my inability to handle it smoothly, but I didn't face such an issue with Kushaq 1.0L engine. The acceleration was linear unlike a Turbo. No complaints though
• The suspension was smooth and brilliantly handled the city roads with potholes, uneven surfaces and speadbreakers. It absorbed those with elan.
• Breaking was good, but I felt it could have been better on Elevate. This is more of a perception/feel thing than hard facts.
• The seat height adjustment wasn't helpful. There is no perceivable difference between the lowest and the highest levels
• I'm 5'10" with long legs and I definitely lacked the thigh support both in the driver seat and in the back which I didn't realize much when I was driving. But, I am not sure how the experience will be on long drives.
• Better half wasn't happy either with the thigh support though she will be comfortable standing at 5'0"
• Extremely disappointed with the middle or the 5th seat due to the elevated hand rest on the back and the same humpy seat under. Even a child would complain to sit on it. It's so bad that it could make or break our purchase.
• City ZX CVT felt much closer to my daily driving experience because of the lower stance and it felt closer to the road like my hatchback.
• I liked the CVT experience and feel that City V CVT is more VFM than Elevate VX CVT
• Elevate felt stronger than City (build quality - door thud)
• The AC was good. Music system was okay. Didn't test it that much, but nothing extraordinary either.

Overall, Elevate wasn't a strong pull for us yet. I'm waiting for the Nexon facelift to launch and I may veer towards that for couple of reasons. The high end DCT of Nexon may cost me same as a V variant of Elevate. But it'll have all bells and whistles (except ADAS). Nexon may be a smaller car, but if the interiors are on par with/better than Honda which is where we spend most of our time driving a car, I want that to meet our expectations, if not exceed.
To be honest, I felt that 15-20 lakhs segment is still a 4-seater one and the 5th seat is a compromise. The difference between Tata and Honda could be more visible when you visit the showroom and go for service (where Honda wins hands down).

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Iyencar

I finally checked out the Elevate.

Isn't there anything you liked about the car? There are things I like even in an S-Presso or Nano, so surely, the Elevate has some things going for it? Couldn't you list them in point-wise format too? On Team-BHP, we prefer "BALANCED" reviews. Which means, listing out the pros & cons both (ideally, in equal number).

If someone lists only the pros, we call them out (link to my recent post (2022 Audi Q3 Review)). Similarly, it's not cool to only point out the cons in a car. Extreme bias is very bad for the forum, whether it is in favour of a car or against it.

40-lakh readers refer to Team-BHP every month, and we influence many purchase decisions & opinions. Which is why, "BALANCE" is important. If we are reviewing a car even for 5 minutes, one must list out the good stuff as well as bad stuff. Apart from the Audi Q3 link above, do check out my very short post on the Gloster (A Close Look : MG Gloster Blackstorm Edition).

Thanks for the support & understanding

[Sahil_Gurgaon]

The car while not outstanding in any specific area, will be good in most areas and is a practical choice.[/quote]

Why not go for MG ZS EV excite variant ?

[Iyencar]

Originally Posted by GTO

...
40-lakh readers refer to Team-BHP every month, and we influence many purchase decisions & opinions. Which is why, "BALANCE" is important.
If we are reviewing a car even for 5 minutes, one must list out the good stuff as well as bad stuff. Apart from the Audi Q3 link above, do check out my very short post on the Gloster (A Close Look : MG Gloster Blackstorm Edition).
Thanks for the support & understanding

Thank you GTO for not simply critiquing but actually explaining your thought process behind it with your examples.

Originally Posted by GTO

If someone lists only the pros, we call them out (link to my recent post (2022 Audi Q3 Review)). Similarly, it's not cool to only point out the cons in a car. Extreme bias is very bad for the forum, whether it is in favour of a car or against it.[

As someone spending a significant amount of time here I am well aware and do appreciate this a lot. Just that I really wasn't thinking of my post in terms of anything close to a review. Unlike the Q3 ownerwho bought the car, posted a full fledged review and couched the negatives as positives, I just posted some points which really jumped at me after sitting in a stationary car for a few minutes. But as you say maybe should have kept in mind the nature of the target audience here and stand corrected.

Originally Posted by GTO

Isn't there anything you liked about the car? There are things I like even in an S-Presso or Nano, so surely, the Elevate has some things going for it

Honestly, this was one of the rare instances a car didn't appeal much to me in too many ways. Gun to my head I would say the front looks nice and the boot is spacious with easy access to the spare. That's sadly about it. The engine tuning, NVH, ride etc. which are probably where this shines I couldn't talk about because it was on display in the showroom. Cheers and thanks again.

[Kln]

I hope the Elevate does well - it is the only Japanese made pseudo SUV that is refined in its design. After the garish eyesore that is the Nexon facelift, I'm more inclined to recommend the Elevate.

[arepalli99]

Was able to test drive the top-end automatic just now.
It felt as if the engine was stuck in the initial (1st gear mode) for a long time. It felt as it was struggling, just too many rev’s. Anyone else felt so? My comparison are the automatics from Kushaq/Alcazar. Their engines/transmissions seemed more refined.
The manual transmission might be better suited.

[SoumenD]

Originally Posted by arepalli99

Was able to test drive the top-end automatic just now.
It felt as if the engine was stuck in the initial (1st gear mode) for a long time. It felt as it was struggling, just too many rev’s. Anyone else felt so?
The manual transmission might be better suited.

Were you on D or S mode? S usually holds revvs pretty long and hence paddleshifters should be used.

[LowRpmHighTorq]

I was already in the midst of indecision regarding whether the Honda Elevate would be a suitable choice for me. My reservations stemmed from concerns such as inadequate thigh support (I am 6'1" tall), the absence of cruise control in the VX version, and the subpar quality of interior plastics.

However, my perspective shifted when I received a call from Cherish Honda in Gurgaon, inviting me for a test drive on the 4th. During our conversation, they explicitly stated that if I were to proceed with the CVT version (which I had already booked), it would be mandatory for me to purchase insurance, RSA (Roadside Assistance), and accessories valued at 25,000 INR from them, in accordance with the dealership's policy.

Regrettably, it appears that I may now be leaning towards the All-New Nexon petrol DCT.

[hummer]

Media drive outcome was goody goody so I was really hopeful on Elevate, however, people's feedback is at two extremes. Some found it highly satisfying on various factors while some others are utterly disappointed and some even canceled the booking.

Now I am confused, for me backseat comfort for 3 adults is important, this seem to be a problem from many reviews. I don't want to pay ~20L for a 4 seater, where a little more money can buy a spacious 7 seater like KIA Carens. Carens is not a bad choice either.

I am yet to see the Elevate, I am holding on to price announcement next week.

Currently I am driving Duster diesel AMT and backseat can accommodate 3 adults comfortably (in fact 4 lean adults were adjusted for short drives few times), Duster's 475ltrs boot, large windows + rear quarter panel glass makes it airy and spacious.

I know Elevate is more modern, safe (?), far better interiors, features and premium than Duster.

Does it make sense to buy Elevate for my use case considering backseat space it offers?

[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by hummer

Now I am confused, for me backseat comfort for 3 adults is important, this seem to be a problem from many reviews. I don't want to pay ~20L for a 4 seater, where a little more money can buy a spacious 7 seater like KIA Carens. Carens is not a bad choice either.

If you want to seat 3 adults at the back comfortably, Elevate is not the right car for you. Neither are Seltos or Creta. Their cabins are just not wide enough. If this is the primary criteria, you should look at the lower models of Hector or ScorpioN or XUV700 or Safari Storme.

[neil.jericho]

I checked out the Honda Elevate at the Magnum Honda showroom in Kanakapura. They only have a manual test drive vehicle. The automatic test car should arrive on Monday / Tuesday and once the formalities are completed, the customer test drives should be available from the following week. The sales person was good to deal with and knowledgeable. However, I had informed him in advance about a test drive of the City Hybrid and despite having a day's notice, the car was not made available.

Since everyone has thrown in their opinions on the Elevate, here are some of my observations as a very happy Honda Jazz owner (8 years and 42K kms),

- I was expecting the Elevate to be a logical extension / modernized version of the Honda Jazz but they are actually very complimentary products. What the Jazz does very well, the Elevate doesnt and vice versa.
- The Elevate is one of those vehicles in which the exterior looks large while the interiors are a little smaller than what you expect them to be. The Jazz is one of those few vehicles in which exterior is unassuming while the interiors actually feel a lot bigger than what you expect them to be.
- Sit in the driver's seat of the Elevate and the first impression is that everything looks and feels premium. The tan coloured material and wood finish on the dash is really nice! The view from the drivers seat in the Jazz, is of materials that are functional and durable but one would be hard pressed to call anything premium.
- It is more of the same in the back seat of the Elevate. The seat looks nice and those tan brown inserts on the doors are lovely. It does feel like a very good 4 seater. After a few minutes, you cant help but ask yourself if the Jazz is actually a little wider and / or more comfortable?

- The high windows in the rear seat of the Elevate make it feel less airy than the Jazz.
- The boot space is pretty impressive in the Elevate. Thats one area where it is similar to the Jazz.
- Headroom at the front and rear was good in the Elevate.
- The Elevate gets 6 airbags and adjustable headrests at the rear (though only 2, it should have been 3 ). The Jazz gets 2 airbags and fixed headrests at the rear.
- The biggest difference in the design philosophy of the Elevate and the Jazz is in the dashboard to front windows layout. In the Elevate, the dashboard is at a reasonable height and the front windows are set distinctly higher. While this might look great from the outside, it does make you feel a little hemmed in, once you are seated. In the Jazz, its just the opposite. The front windows are set lower than the dash and this adds immensely to the sense of spaciousness. Why Honda didnt follow the same design philosophy in the Elevate is beyond me.

Window line is noticeably higher than the dash in the Elevate


Window line is noticeably lower than the dash in the Jazz

The Honda City feels clearly wider and more premium than the Elevate. That said, headroom in the City is scarce. At 5'10" and a bit, I cant sit properly in the back seat as my head hits the roof. While driving the City, I had to drop the seating position from the highest, so that my head wasnt too close to the roof. In terms of ingress and egress comfort for elders, the Elevate is so much better than the City.

When I entered the showroom, I was really keen on the City and had a modicum of interest in the Elevate. After checking them out side by side, it has swung the other way. Im very interested to see how Honda prices the Elevate. Its not a slam dunk choice for existing Honda owners (Brio / Jazz / older City etc) but the Elevate could be a very sensible upgrade, if priced well.

[arepalli99]

Originally Posted by SoumenD

Were you on D or S mode? S usually holds revvs pretty long and hence paddleshifters should be used.

It was surprisingly in the D mode. Understand that happening a bit in S mode , but not as much.
Having driven the other vehicles just a little while earlier, I did not notice this in them.

we are reconsidering our options now and are taking a serious look at either the alcazar/ Kushaq.
Thoughts?

[RahulNagaraj]

Thanks to Karan for sending this in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP share page!

Dear Team,

Sharing these genuine accessorized photos of Honda Elevate.

Note the front and rear bumper protectors which have not been showcased till now.

Thanks