Honda Elevate

Positives:

The Honda Elevate has an amazingly quiet and vibration-free (at idle) 1.5-liter i-VTEC mill, which produces 119bhp/145Nm.

• This is a naturally aspirated (NA) engine that has predicted power delivery with robust low- and mid-range torque.

• It has sufficient power, which makes it suitable for city driving or highway cruising.

• As to the choice of transmission, it has a 6 manuals that has a smooth clutch travel and has a comfortable gear shift. The CVT option is not left behind as well.

• The manual gearbox is very effective in eliminating the frequent downshifting requirements on steep hills, even in the third gear.

• The steering is good with good weight, acceptable feedback, and returns to the initial position once a U-turn is made.

• The suspension makes the ride plush through medium-speed uneven roads as the suspension is well-judged.

• The Elevate is fairly stable and steady at triple-digit speeds.

Negatives:

One must select a rev of the engine above around 4,000 rpm to optimise the performance during sporty driving or a fast overtake.

• On winding roads, the steering is marginally slower, and more turn-in is needed to make the driving experience interesting.

At locations where it will have bumps, its occupants will have some upward and downward velocity at increased speeds, after which they shall stabilize.

Honda Elevate Key specifications:

• Fuel Type: Petrol

• Engine: 1498 cc

• Transmission: Manual and Automatic (CVT)

• Mileage (ARAI): 15.31 to 16.92 kmpl

• Power: 119 bhp

• Torque: 145 Nm

Positives:

• The car has a sunroof and a floating 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

• The seats are well-bolstered, giving them sufficient cushioning and support during long drives.

• The Honda Elevate has better ergonomics and visibility to the outside, hence making it easy to drive.

• The rear legroom and headroom (scooped roof), large windows, and reclining backrest in the second row contribute to the ease of the second row.

• It has a 458 litre boot space that can further be increased with the 60:40 split-folding bench.

Negatives:

It does not have luxurious automobile functions such as adjusting seats electrically, the 360 camera, and other storage areas on the second row.

• The touchscreen is present but does not have the advanced interfaces as they are observed in competitor models.

• Honda does not have the so-called magic seats, and this is regarded by many as a failure, as it would have made the interior more versatile.

Positives:

Honda Sensing ADAS has features, like Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), adaptive cruise control, and Lane Keeping Assistance System (LKAS).

• It also has a multi-angle rear-view camera equipped with guidelines and parking sensors and an auto-dimming IRVM.

There are standard safety features such as six airbags, stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, and brake assist.

It also receives a LaneWatch camera that serves well in minimising blind spots to reduce accidents.

JNCAP authorities have also put it through a five-star crash test safety rating.

Negatives:

It is limited in terms of ADAS, e.g., no rear cross-traffic alert.

Positives:

• It possesses a front design that is imposing, and has an upright grille, flat bonnet, and the unusual squared-off SUV appearance.

Likewise, all the proportions are well-sorted, which accentuates the good presence of the road without being oversized.

•  There is a wooden piece in the dashboard and soft-touch items that increase the luxury in the cabin.

Single-tone colours include Phoenix Orange Pearl, Obsidian Blue Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Golden Brown Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, and Meteoroid Gray Metallic.

• The three dual-tone finishes include Phoenix Orange Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, and Radiant Red Metallic with Crystal Black Pearl roofs.

Negatives:

Various design elements, such as the floating touchscreen, are outdated when compared to certain competitors.

• The charging tray limited visibility of the phone, and the slots available should have been usable, but they are placed too inconveniently at the side of the handbrake.

In this case, it has a very dark interior colour palette, and overall, it could be a little claustrophobic, especially during cooler and darker times of the year.