Honda Elevate vs rivals: How Honda’s reentry could impact the compact SUV segment

The Honda Elevate has been unveiled in India, marking the Japanese company’s return to the compact SUV segment. It is set to compete with established players sich as the Hyundai Creta, the Kia Seltos, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, the MG Astor, the Skoda Kushaq, the Toyota Hyryder and the Volkswagen Taigun.

Let's dive into the specifications, key features and pricing of these cars.

Honda Elevate vs others: Dimensions

When it comes to size, the Honda Elevate has impressive dimensions. It's longer than the Creta, Taigun, Kushaq, and similar to the Seltos. It's slightly shorter than the Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, and MG Astor. The Elevate does lack in width, being one of the narrower options and wider only than the Taigun and Kushaq. Despite that, it has good headroom and the longest wheelbase compared to the Creta, Seltos, Grand Vitara, Hyryder, and Astor.

Honda Elevate vs others: Boot space and ground clearance

The boot space of the Elevate surpasses the Seltos, Kushaq, and Taigun. The vehicle offers a generous boot capacity of 458 liters[6]. Ground clearance is also a strength of the Elevate, as it offers the highest clearance at 220mm among its rivals.

Honda Elevate vs others: Engine and transmission

The Honda Elevate is powered by a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 121PS of power and 145Nm of torque. It's paired with either a 6-speed manual or CVT transmission. Unlike some of its rivals, it only offers petrol options, whereas turbo-petrol engines are available in the Taigun, Kushaq, Creta, Seltos, and Astor. The Grand Vitara and Hyryder utilise strong-hybrid technology for improved fuel efficiency while the Elevate has an all-electric variant in the works currently. 

Honda Elevate features

The Honda Elevate boasts several features, including a touchscreen infotainment system, lane-watch camera, wireless charging, and Honda Sensing ADAS tech with autonomous safety features. Many of these features are similar to what the Creta, Seltos, Astor, Taigun, and Kushaq offer. The Grand Vitara and Hyryder step it up a notch by offering advanced features such as a panoramic sunroof and a 360-degree view camera.

Honda Elevate Pricing

The Honda Elevate is competitively priced, beginning at Rs 10.99 lakh and going up to Rs 16.53 lakh. This puts it in a similar range to the Creta, Seltos, Kushaq, and Taigun. The Grand Vitara, Hyryder, and Astor, on the other hand, have a higher starting price.

Price range: Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, MG Astor & Citroen C3 Aircross

• Hyundai Creta: Rs 10.87-17.7 lakh
• Kia Seltos: Rs 10.89-15.9 lakh
• Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara: Rs 10.7-17.07 lakh
• Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder: Rs 10.73-17.31 lakh
• Volkswagen Taigun: Rs 11.62-17.35 lakh
• Skoda Kushaq: Rs 11.59-18.09 lakh
• MG Astor: Rs 10.82-17.30 lakh
• Citroen C3 Aircross: Rs 11-16 lakh

Honda Elevate offers a comprehensive package of features, engine power and comfort, making it a strong contender in the compact SUV segment. While it faces stiff competition from other brands, the Elevate's unique selling points – including high ground clearance, generous boot space and the Honda Sensing ADAS tech – will likely help it carve out its niche in the market.