What is a Honda Elevate is a fair question to ask because before the first half of 2024 the car
had not been seen on SA’s busy roads.
So what is it – a smaller SUV, a crossover, a compact family car… something like Suzuki Vitara
Brezza or Suzuki Grand Vitara or previous-gen Toyota Urban Cruiser but with more awesome
looks!
Interior
Both Elevate’s two-trim grades, Comfort and Elegance, are big on space, from the floor to the
roof. Talking about the roof, additional pleasure is the lovely sunroof that adds value to overall
driving pleasure.
It can comfortably carry four passengers, with three sitting comfortably in the second row. The
boot is an extensive 458 litres, which can be upped to a far bigger capacity by just folding the
back row as well as the front passenger seat.
The touchscreen system matches the best modern motoring can offer, while the two USB-A
ports at the front and the 12V power socket for the passengers add to the entertainment of the
Elevate. Add the built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, and the 6-speaker sound
system, to the mix and you are in entertainment heaven.
The steering wheel buttons afford the driver complete control of the car while internal storage is
galore, from several cupholders and binnacles for smaller items.
Performance and Safety
The naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine is reliable as well as powerful enough to stick it out in the
fast lane.
Like all modern Honda models, the Elevate also boasts the tried-and-tested CVT gearbox, which
allows for flawless change of gears in largely smooth drives of this great Honda model. The
Japanese automaker is generally respected for building safe cars and both Elevate models
boast features like traction and stability control to complement ABS and EBD. The rearview
camera and rear parking sensors are always on point, while LED daytime running lamps
improve visibility and the LED headlights make the road clear in all hours of nighttime driving.
While the entry-level Comfort model has two up-front airbags, the Elegance model offers six
airbags for heightened safety in the case of a crash.
Engine
The Elevate is powered by a 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder engine which is mated to
a 6-speed manual or CVT (or continuous variable transmission) gearbox. It is front-wheel-driven
and the output for both models is rated at 89 kW with 145 Nm of torque.
The Elevate’s fuel consumption is designated by Honda at 6.7 litres per 100km in the manual
and 6.1 litres per 100 km in the CVT (continuously variable transmission), with a range of 597km
and 656 km respectively. The car’s top speed is 160 km/h.
Pricing
Honda Elevate 1.5 Comfort R371 000
Honda Elevate 1.5 Elegance CVT R430 800
Both with a 5-year/200 000 km warranty and a 4-year/60 000 km service plan (with intervals of
15 000 km).
