And Now For a Honda Completely Different. Meet Elevate
Elevate is a Honda Built More for Third World Markets–does a fine job, too.
Here’s a little Honda you’ve probably never seen or heard of before. Built more for Third World markets, its manufactures in India and joins bargain stablemates, the BR-V MPV and Amaze sedan to offer owners in markets like India and the Orient, Southern Africa and some South American areas a top quality low cost ride.
Best of all, the Elevate brings eye-catching US Honda inspired styling to the bottom end of the SUV scale. Add a ‘comprehensive list’ of standard features and a dependable Honda i-VTec powertrain. Our smart metallic silver sampler competes in the highly competitive South African budget SUV segment.
Bold, Square Boxy Styling Sets Elevate Apart
Boxy styling with bold, square wheel arches and smooth creased lines hanker after Elevate’s larger US siblings. Automatic LED DRL head and foglamps punctuate a bold squared-off chrome-trimmed black grille. It opens up to a spacious minimalistic cabin delivers a solid and comfy premium Honda SUV feel.
Packing a trusty 120 HP 107 lb.-ft 1.5-litre Honda DOHC i-VTec four-cylinder petrol engine turning the front wheels via a stepped CVT, Honda promises a believable 39 miles per gallon. Our test figures prove it to be neither fast nor slow, but it rides and drives well on 17-inch polished face alloy wheels with generous Bridgestone rubber.
Proportions More Generous Than They May Suggest
This Exclusive specification car is striking with dynamic, bold ‘Urban Freestyler’ cues. Elevate has a broad 12.9 foot long, 5-foot wide, and 5’8” tall stance and a class leading trunk. Proportions more generous than first sight may suggest. It’s as big as the latest compatible Toyota Urban Cruiser, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Hyundai Creta, all models most likely foreign to US reader.
Contemporary fabrics and soft-touch materials blend with the practical, perhaps less sophisticated control. As one would expect at this bargain neck of the woods. Topping the bill, an intuitive all-new 8-inch CarPlay, Auto and Bluetooth rich infotainment system floats on the centre of the dash.
Contemporary Fabrics, Simple Controls
It operates as a touchscreen, but also benefits multifunction steering wheel commands. Happily the Elevate also retains those conventional buttons, sliders, and knobs so many other cars have ditched, so normal people can also quite logically operate all those functions.
This top end Elegance adds high-quality 6 speaker Honda audio, a 7-inch TFT multi-information display between its clear, analogue dials, and cordless device charging. Ours even had a power sunroof and eco-friendly leather to contribute to its edgy aura
Elevate a Great Buy With a Special H Badge Behind It
Add automatic air-conditioning, walk-away locking keyless smart entry, rear parking sensors and a multi-angle reverse parking camera. Safety I covered by side & side-curtain SRS airbags bring extra security to Elevate’s latest, stiffer Honda Compatibility Engineering chassis with APS braking and electronic stability control.
All in all, the Elevate Elegance is a mighty step in the right direction for Honda. Because this big little car really is very well positioned in the markets it serves. And makes for great buy with a splendid H badge on its nose.
ROAD TESTED: Honda Elevate Elegance Engine: 89 kW 145 Nm 1.5-litre petrol I4 Drive: CVT AWD TESTED: 0-40 mph: 4.87 sec 0-60 mph: 10.56 sec 0-80 mph: 14.56 sec 0-100 mph: 28.84 sec ¼-mile: 17.4 sec @ 145 mph 50-75 mph: 7.18 sec 75-100 mph: 14.21 sec CLAIMED: VMax: 110 mph Fuel: 39 mpg Range: 440 miles LIST PRICE: $22,000 (in South Africa)
Photos: Michele Lupini
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