Honda Elevate facelift gets more tech, new ZX+ trim; prices start at Rs 11.80 lakh

Honda Cars India has launched the facelifted Elevate at a starting price of Rs 11.80 lakh, giving its midsize SUV its first major update since its introduction in 2023 with new exterior detailing, additional safety and convenience equipment and a new range-topping ZX+ variant.

Prices extend to Rs 18.30 lakh for the ZX+ CVT, while the ZX+ Black Edition CVT costs Rs 18.40 lakh. Significantly, Honda has retained the outgoing model’s Rs 11.80 lakh entry price despite the updates, while the top end of the range has become substantially more expensive.

Prices start unchanged

The Elevate continues with five core trims — SV, V, VX, ZX and ZX+ — although the ZX+ is a new addition. The SV manual costs Rs 11.80 lakh, while the V is priced at Rs 12.29 lakh for the manual and Rs 13.79 lakh for the CVT.

The VX costs Rs 13.93 lakh with the six-speed manual and Rs 15.39 lakh with the CVT. The ZX is priced at Rs 15.39 lakh and Rs 16.89 lakh for manual and CVT versions, respectively. The new ZX+ costs Rs 16.80 lakh with the manual and Rs 18.30 lakh with the CVT. A ZX+ Black Edition costs Rs 16.90 lakh and Rs 18.40 lakh, respectively. All prices are ex-showroom.

Fresh face

Honda has concentrated much of the exterior redesign around the Elevate’s lighting and grille. A new segmented LED daytime-running light strip stretches above the grille and visually connects the LED headlamps, while the grille itself gets a new mesh pattern with a gloss-black finish.

The Honda badge has moved upwards from the grille to the leading edge of the bonnet, while the fog-lamp housings now receive a body-coloured finish. At the rear, the tail-lamps are linked by a new illuminated LED light bar, although the SUV’s overall silhouette and alloy-wheel design remain familiar.

Honda has also introduced a new Nordic Forest Pearl paint option. Along with the new shade, the Elevate continues with Obsidian Blue Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Meteoroid Grey Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl. Selected colours can also be specified with a contrasting black roof.

Rear seats get ventilation

The more substantial changes are inside. The headline addition is a segment-first ventilation function for the rear seats on the ZX+, while both front seats are powered and ventilated on the range-topping trim. The driver gets eight-way electrical adjustment and the front passenger a four-way powered seat.

Honda has also introduced a factory-fitted 360-degree camera and front parking sensors on the ZX+. Higher variants get revised cabin trim with additional white leatherette padding and stitching, replacing the earlier faux-wood treatment, while ambient lighting is now integrated into the equipment list rather than being offered only as a dealer-level accessory.

The familiar 10.25-inch touchscreen, semi-digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charger, wireless smartphone connectivity, single-pane sunroof and six airbags continue on applicable variants.

More safety equipment

The updated Elevate also receives additional safety and driver-assistance equipment. Honda has introduced rear disc brakes on applicable CVT variants, while an electronic parking brake with auto-hold is also available with the CVT.

The Honda Sensing ADAS suite continues to offer collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assistance, road-departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beam. Adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow is offered on the CVT.

Six airbags are standard from the base SV, along with electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, rear parking sensors, ISOFIX child-seat anchors and three-point seatbelts with reminders for all occupants.

Engine unchanged

Honda has made no mechanical changes to the Elevate. It continues with the 1.5-litre, four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 121hp and 145Nm of torque.

The engine is paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic. The base SV is manual-only, while the V, VX, ZX and ZX+ are available with both transmissions. Honda claims fuel efficiency of 15.31kpl for the manual and 16.61kpl for the CVT.

Despite speculation around electrification, the facelift still does not receive the 1.5-litre strong-hybrid system available with the City.

Feature-led update

The facelift is therefore primarily a design and equipment overhaul rather than a mechanical reinvention of Honda’s midsize SUV. The company has retained the Elevate’s existing petrol powertrain and fundamental architecture while addressing gaps in its feature list.

The Elevate continues to compete in one of India’s most crowded passenger-vehicle segments, against SUVs including the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq.

Pre-bookings for the facelift opened on October 1. With the base price unchanged at Rs 11.80 lakh but a considerably better-equipped ZX+ now sitting at the top of the range, Honda is using the Elevate’s first major update to broaden its appeal without altering the mechanical formula that has underpinned the SUV since its 2023 launch.