New Honda Elevate SUV unveiled

The Honda Elevate is an affordable new small SUV that could be just what Honda Australia needs to attract new customers and reverse its sales slide.

The only problem is it’s only been confirmed exclusively for India at this stage.

If the cut-price Indian-built compact SUV did get the green light for the Aussie market, it could potentially slot in underneath the Honda HR-V and rival top-sellers in the price-sensitive small SUV segment like the Mazda CX-3, which starts at $26,800.

Powered by a modest 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (89kW/145Nm) shunting power to the front wheels via six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic CVT, it’s kitted out with a reasonable equipment including a 10.25-inch central touch-screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus tan-coloured leather seat and dashboard upholstery.

Options include wireless phone charging, an electric sunroof and rear air-vents, all of which would likely be standard if it came to Australia.

Traditionally, one of the major hurdles facing exports of Indian-market vehicles has been a lack of safety equipment, but the Honda Elevate comes with a full complement of passive and active safety features including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), radar cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, a reversing camera and six airbags.

Honda insists the Elevate “meets the global safety standards of Honda cars sold around the world” and has plans to export the vehicle internationally.

As more mainstream car-makers court India’s burgeoning auto market and a growing middle-class seeking higher-quality vehicles, expect to see more vehicles like the Honda Elevate manufactured in India and exported to global markets including Australia.

Honda Australia said the new model hasn’t been green-lit for the local market but hasn’t ruled it out either.

“We continue to see a shift in the SUV segments and while we do see potential growth in SUVs, it [Honda Elevate] hasn’t been confirmed for the Australian market,” a Honda spokesperson told carsales today.

Expect to see a more SUVs from the Japanese brand, including an all-new electric Honda SUV by 2026 – but Honda Australia’s first EV won’t arrive until around 2028, says the car-maker’s new local boss.

Developed at Honda’s Asia Pacific R&D Center in Bangkok, Thailand, the Elevate will be manufactured at Honda’s Tapukara plant in Rajasthan. It will be one of five new Indian-built SUVs to target sub-continental buyers by 2030.

Featuring sporting a somewhat bluff and rugged exterior design, the Honda Elevate comes with a veritable cornucopia of storage cubbies throughout the cabin, a fairly large 458-litre boot and lots of ground clearance.

Its 220mm ride height is on par with some 4x4 dual-cab utes and reflects the requirements of many Indian buyers who need a vehicle that can traverse rough terrain and roads.

There was no mention of a hybrid powertrain – which Honda has promised to offer in all new models released in Australia going forward – but Honda did confirm an EV version will arrive in the next three years.

Pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle’s Indian showroom arrival in July.

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