Upcoming Honda Elevate Facelift Spied In Delhi
One of the most important launches from Honda Cars India this year will be the Elevate facelift. A test mule has now been spotted in Delhi. This is the first sighting of the vehicle in India. Due to the heavy camouflage on it, the mule doesn’t give out many details of the changes.
The latest spy shots have been shared by Motorbeam on their social media handles. These show the SUV moving through a crowded road in Delhi. There is heavy camouflage on it. The pictures show the rear three-quarter view of the vehicle. From what is visible, most areas of the design resemble those of the outgoing Elevate.
The overall stance is the same and most body lines are identical. The cosmetic changes are likely to be kept minimal. At the rear, the bumper could be redesigned and the tail lamps could feature different elements inside. The new model will also come with connected LED tail lamps.
We can also see roof rails, shark-fin antenna and pull-type door handles on the mule. Although no spy image of it has emerged so far, the front fascia could get minor restyling. We could see reworked styling, slightly modified grille section and a revised front bumper.
The facelift is also expected to have its feature list revised. The outgoing model comes with decent kit levels. It comes with features like a single-pane sunroof, a 10.25-inch infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-speaker audio system, wireless charger, a 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster, keyless entry and push-button start, connected car technology, rear parking camera, and a camera-based ADAS.
The safety suite consists of features like six airbags, ABS, EBD, electronic stability control and more. On the Elevate ADV edition launched in November last year, a 360-degree camera was offered as a dealer-level fitment.
The previous SUV used to come with a Lane Watch camera instead of a full 360-degree setup. It used a camera mounted on the left rearview mirror to provide visual feedback to the driver. Clearly, it is not as efficient as a 360-degree system. The facelift is likely to come with a factory-fitted 360-degree camera.
Features like ventilated seats and a full digital driver’s display could also be offered. The infotainment system could also be upgraded on the refreshed model. Such a revision will bring the Elevate more in-line with its competitors.
Competition in the mid-size SUV space has intensified lately. Most models come well-equipped. Closing the gap on the features front can eventually translate to more sales in the long run.
The outgoing Elevate is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated (i-VTEC) petrol engine that makes 121hp and 145Nm. This engine is known for its high refinement levels. Two gearbox options are on offer- a 6-speed manual and a CVT. This engine-transmission combination will likely be retained on the facelift. The current model is also known for its plush ride quality.
There were previously rumours of Honda introducing a cost-effective hybrid on the Elevate. However, these plans seem to have been shelved now. The cost effective hybrid will debut only on the next-generation SUV, expected to arrive later in this decade. The hybrid setup on the next-generation Elevate will use a lighter battery pack and more energy efficient electric motors. It will be heavily localised and cheaper to produce and maintain.
Circling back, the facelifted Elevate is expected to launch sometime around the festive season this year. The outgoing SUV is priced in the range of Rs 11.60 lakh- 16.67 lakh, ex-showroom. The facelift may come with a slight price premium.