Honda Elevate

The Elevate's seats are simply the best with generous underthigh support all around and finely judged foam density, which is not too hard and not too soft.

- Vivek Venugopal

Honda took its sweet time to get to the midsize SUV party but as the saying goes, it’s better late than never. The segment has seen the demise of the Duster which started it, Nissan Kicks which kicked the bucket too soon, two generations of the Creta, a facelift of its immediate relative – the Seltos, the addition of the MG Astor and the twins Grand Vitara, Hyryder and the Taigun, Kushaq. Honda did try its hand with the BRV earlier, but that was more of a kitted-out MPV than a proper crossover.

Unlike the BRV which was a stretched Brio platform, the Elevate is based on the City. It is quite tall at 1,650mm and has a class-leading ground clearance of 220mm. That coupled with the butch front end gives it good road presence. The vertical grille and high bonnet line give it a proper two-box look. The side profile is less dramatic but the 17-inch wheels make it look well-balanced. The rear has an extended tail lamp that makes it look wider. The overall design isn’t like any Honda we have seen, and isn’t very exciting but for most buyer’s this will do the job. The 2,650mm wheelbase is 50mm more than the City’s and the 5.2 metres turning circle is better than the City.