Honda launches Elevate cheaper than Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass, and Volkswagen Taos in Brazil, with a 1.5 i-VTEC engine of 121 hp, manual or CVT transmission, and Honda Sensing; SUV shows a simpler, more rational, and accessible global Honda in India.

Written by Valdemar Medeiros

Published on 20/05/2026 at 00:23

Updated on 20/05/2026 at 00:24

3 people reacted to this.

Honda Elevate combines 1.5 aspirated engine, Honda Sensing, 220 mm ground clearance, and aggressive pricing in the Indian market.

While medium and compact SUVs have become increasingly expensive in Brazil, Honda decided to take a different path in some Asian markets. The Honda Elevate has become one of the brand’s most talked-about launches because it combines a 1.5 aspirated engine, Honda Sensing package, generous interior space, and a relatively low price by current automotive industry standards.

In India, the model starts at around ₹11.6 lakh, approximately R$ 60,000 in direct conversion as of May 2026, without considering Brazilian taxes, freight, or import costs. Even in this range, the SUV already offers six airbags, multimedia center, rear camera, and one of the highest ground clearances in the segment.

The Elevate stands out because it represents exactly a type of Honda that has practically disappeared from the Brazilian market: a rational SUV, focused on space, mechanical reliability, and cost-effectiveness, without relying on small turbo engines or overly sophisticated proposals.

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The Honda Elevate was created to compete in India’s most competitive segment

The Elevate was launched to face models like Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Toyota Hyryder, and Suzuki Grand Vitara in the Indian market. Honda knew it needed to quickly enter the country’s largest automotive segment: urban compact SUVs.

Unlike some competitors focused on aggressive looks and multiple turbo engine options, Honda chose a more traditional strategy.

Honda launches Elevate cheaper than Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass, and Volkswagen Taos in Brazil – Photo: Toyota Motor Indian

The Elevate uses a platform derived from the Honda City and bets on interior space, elevated height, mechanical robustness, and comfortable drivability. The result is an SUV that tries to balance simplicity with modern technology.

The 1.5 i-VTEC engine maintains Honda’s classic formula

The heart of the Elevate is a well-known 1.5 i-VTEC engine aspirated four-cylinder. According to official data from Honda India, the engine delivers approximately 121 hp and 145 Nm of torque, and can work with a 6-speed manual gearbox or CVT transmission.

Honda clearly prioritized smoothness and reliability over extreme power. While many automakers have migrated to 1.0 turbo three-cylinder engines, the Elevate maintains a traditional naturally aspirated set that often appeals to consumers concerned with long-term durability and maintenance.

This type of engine still has an enormous positive reputation in emerging markets.

The SUV bets on interior space and elevated height to tackle bad roads

One of the strongest points of the Elevate is its dimensions and practical proposal. The SUV is approximately 4.3 meters long, with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm and a trunk capacity of 458 liters. Additionally, the ground clearance reaches 220 mm, a number higher than many SUVs sold globally.

This makes a difference especially in countries with irregular infrastructure, high speed bumps, and bad roads. Honda also worked on the rear interior space, trying to create a comfortable cabin for families without turning the car into a too-large SUV for urban use.

Honda Sensing has become one of the main differentiators of the model

Another important point of the Elevate is the Honda Sensing package. According to Honda, the system includes advanced driver assistance technologies such as autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and road departure mitigation.

This type of technology usually appears in more expensive vehicles in various emerging markets. The presence of the ADAS package helps the Elevate appear more sophisticated without abandoning the rational proposal of a family SUV.

In higher versions, the model can also feature LaneWatch camera, electric sunroof, wireless charger, and larger multimedia system.

The fuel consumption of the Honda Elevate tries to balance performance and efficiency

Honda claims a fuel consumption of approximately 15.31 km/l in manual versions and up to 16.92 km/l in locally homologated CVT configurations.

The numbers are not record-breaking for a modern compact SUV, but they remain competitive considering the naturally aspirated 1.5 engine and the size of the vehicle. Honda’s focus seems to be more on smoothness, linearity, and reliability of the set rather than extreme efficiency.

This behavior also reinforces the traditional identity of i-VTEC engines.

The Elevate shows how Honda still bets on naturally aspirated SUVs outside Brazil

While the Brazilian market accelerates the transition to smaller turbo engines and increasingly expensive SUVs, the Elevate follows a different philosophy.

Honda kept the naturally aspirated engine, 6-speed manual transmission, ample interior space, and focus on mechanical robustness. Instead of betting solely on performance or sporty appearance, the SUV tries to convince through overall balance.

This ends up creating a curious feeling for the Brazilian public: the Elevate seems like a modern, technological, and rational SUV at the same time, something that many consumers miss in the current national market.

Technical specifications of the Honda Elevate

Item	Honda Elevate
Category	Compact SUV
Engine	1.5 i-VTEC naturally aspirated
Cylinders	4 inline cylinders
Displacement	1,498 cm³
Maximum power	121 hp
Maximum torque	145 Nm
Fuel	Gasoline
Manual transmission	6 speeds
Automatic transmission	CVT
Drive	Front
Manual consumption	up to 15.31 km/l
CVT consumption	up to 16.92 km/l
Length	4,312 mm
Width	1,790 mm
Height	1,650 mm
Wheelbase	2,650 mm
Trunk	458 liters
Ground clearance	220 mm
Fuel tank	40 liters
Airbags	6
Honda Sensing	available
Sunroof	available
Multimedia center	up to 10.25 inches
Android Auto / Apple CarPlay	Yes

Data may vary according to version and market.

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Honda launches Elevate cheaper than Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass, and Volkswagen Taos in Brazil, with a 1.5 i-VTEC engine of 121 hp, manual or CVT transmission, and Honda Sensing; SUV shows a simpler, more rational, and accessible global Honda in India.

Honda Elevate combines 1.5 aspirated engine, Honda Sensing, 220 mm ground clearance, and aggressive pricing in the Indian market.

The Honda Elevate was created to compete in India’s most competitive segment

The 1.5 i-VTEC engine maintains Honda’s classic formula

The SUV bets on interior space and elevated height to tackle bad roads

Honda Sensing has become one of the main differentiators of the model

The fuel consumption of the Honda Elevate tries to balance performance and efficiency

The Elevate shows how Honda still bets on naturally aspirated SUVs outside Brazil

Technical specifications of the Honda Elevate

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Honda launches Elevate cheaper than Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass, and Volkswagen Taos in Brazil, with a 1.5 i-VTEC engine of 121 hp, manual or CVT transmission, and Honda Sensing; SUV shows a simpler, more rational, and accessible global Honda in India.

Honda Elevate combines 1.5 aspirated engine, Honda Sensing, 220 mm ground clearance, and aggressive pricing in the Indian market.

The Honda Elevate was created to compete in India’s most competitive segment

The 1.5 i-VTEC engine maintains Honda’s classic formula

The SUV bets on interior space and elevated height to tackle bad roads

Honda Sensing has become one of the main differentiators of the model

The fuel consumption of the Honda Elevate tries to balance performance and efficiency

The Elevate shows how Honda still bets on naturally aspirated SUVs outside Brazil

Technical specifications of the Honda Elevate

Mother and daughter build a 70 m² house with more than 8,000 discarded glass bottles and impress with their creativity; known as the Casa de Sal, the property is located on Itamaracá Island, in Pernambuco.

Workers were opening a new road connection near the Marginal Tietê when they found, in the underground of the construction site, remnants of locomotives, wagons, and boilers from the 19th century linked to the forgotten history of Lapa.

Instead of burning or burying old tires, an American city is transforming about 2,000 of them into the street itself, paving its first sections with a quieter and more durable rubber asphalt.

China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

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