[shan_ned]

Originally Posted by amalji

It's a pity that Honda doesn't offer hybrid as an option even after having a sorted hybrid technology.

Along with the hybrid, Honda could have got the Diesel CVT as well to boost their sales. It looks like Honda is sort of happy to play safe with whatever sales they are doing.

Originally Posted by TheHondaLover

The 6 airbags is a BIG miss in my opinion (even swift offers it now!!)

People might not agree with me, but mandatory auto-headlights is the need of the hour. In Delhi, half the traffic is driving without headlights on at 7pm, it's a menace..

It's a great a car, congratulations.

Yes, Honda should have released with 6 airbags as a standard for all the models at the time of launch. Now, they corrected it with the R variants.

Originally Posted by ritedhawan

This paragraph actually sums it up. And you are not in the minority, I am of the same opinion and had I gone for Honda Elevate, my reasons for it would have been the same ones that you have set forth in detail. I dont like feature laden cars and yes a NA engine outlasts a forced induction turbo/supercharged propped engine hands down. When it comes to Japanese car makers, there is no match for the rev-happy nature of Honda engines. You did well by going for MT variant.

While I personally prefer manual transmission, CVT is a different thing when it comes to enhancing the comfort. It is brilliant. If people do back to back test drive of MT versus CVT, they may fall in love with the CVT. This is reflected in the Elevate sales with CVT selling the most. A few are paranoid about the rubber band effect. Once they get used to it, they will love CVT. And with paddle shifters, drivers can get hold of some control. Still, MT is MT

Originally Posted by daredemon

A very detailed writeup. Even I agree for the negligible tyre noise. It doesn't bother me. I have V MT model and I am very happy with my purchase

I forget to mention one more important point in my previous posts. V variant has a better head room compared to VX/ZX. In a way, you took a right decision of going with V (just my opinion).

[daredemon]

I forget to mention one more important point in my previous posts. V variant has a better head room compared to VX/ZX. In a way, you took a right decision of going with V (just my opinion).[/quote]

Hi shan_ned, I believe all models will have the same head room. Please check the seat settings

[Rumblestrip]

Excellent review. Elevate is a no nonsense car with its sorted fundamentals. Unfortunately current market is dominated by cars with too many fancy gizmos. Predominant buyer's prefer these aspirational fancy automobiles.

Only if Honda had launched this vehicle 5-8 years ago then would have find a lot of buyers. When I was looking for my first car in 2021-22 there were hardly any cars that met my requirements. In the end I went with Nissan Kicks which I think was a underrated car. Lack of features and Nissan's patchy ASS killed that car. Would have bought Elevate without any second thoughts if it were launched at that time.

Really loved the way you articulated your requirements and ownership. Happy Motoring

[Ulysses]

Last week when I was in India, I went for the test drive of Elevate in Mysore. My observations are rather disheartening, considering to my expectations from Honda.

The top end CVT version was available for test drive. My observations are; 1) The engine noise was too much, especially at lower gears. I have an i10 NIOS for daily drive, the engine of the NIOS would be super silent, compared to the noise from the Elevate's engine 2) in the CVT version, the rubber-band effect was very prominent. It gets reduced to some extent in the "sports" mode, but otherwise the vehicle just takes ages to pick up speed. 3) the suspension is not suited for bad roads. Every bump and pothole are felt (strongly) inside the cabin, especially in the second row. 4) The AC was good, but probably because the cabin was large, it takes considerable amount of time to cool the entire cabin. So if the car was out in sun, at least for the first 10 minutes, the second row passengers will sweat. I did check with the sales person, whether the particular TD vehicle had any issue with engine or suspension, but he said it was normal!

Otherwise it is a large vehicle, with ample space and legroom and a big boot space. The ground clearance is also sufficient for Indian road conditions, but I cannot imagine driving a car with so much engine noise, lethargic acceleration (can't say how the MT version would be as it was not available for TD) and bumpy suspension. For a car costing close to 2 million rupees (on road in Karnataka), I think customers would deserve something more refined.

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by shan_ned

As far as I know, only the rear seat backrest is foldable. I will double check and confirm. And, the backrest can be split folded.

Yes, it folds in a 60/40 manner.

[G13BB]

Originally Posted by shan_ned

“UNIX is basically a simple operating system, but you have to be a genius to understand the simplicity.”
---- Denis Ritchie

In a nutshell about the design of Unix:
The beauty of Unix is the simplicity in its design.

This is the best way to describe the Elevate! Loved it! It's truly a "Function over form" philosophy and it works really well.

Looking at all the features provided with the VX variant, I guess it makes little sense to go for the ZX, however, since you mentioned you would be using it only for highway runs, cruise control is going to be missed badly. With all the AI cameras coming up on the Highways and the E-ways, you have to be extra careful to not cross the speed limit. Especially the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway with a speed limit of 100kmph which is really pathetic and tough to maintain!

I know it is very tempting, but try not to take it to the 7200 RPM redline in the break-in period!
Happy motoring and wish you loads of redlining!

[hondadriver]

Originally Posted by daredemon

I forget to mention one more important point in my previous posts. V variant has a better head room compared to VX/ZX. In a way, you took a right decision of going with V (just my opinion).

Hi shan_ned, I believe all models will have the same head room. Please check the seat settings[/quote]

I have personally checked it with a measuring tape when I was buying my elevate. Took the V-MT because of a ~1.5" more headroom.

Think of it this way:
1) The outer dimensions of the car is the same in all models.
2) The VX and ZX have a sunroof. The sunroof's glass has a thickness.
3) Sunroof's mechanism has a thickness.
4) Both these things are sandwiched between the other body and the inner roof.
5) Hence, some headroom will be cut from VX and ZX models.

This is not a problem unless you are 6'+ in height.

[Arun_S]

Originally Posted by shan_ned

Though my car is safely parked inside the garage, I am very nervous about rats getting inside. A few years back, Honda cars were the favourite cars for the rats to get in and chew the wires. The reason was that Honda moved to bio-degradable soya based insulation wires. More than Honda fan boys, rats do have more liking for the Honda cars . I am not sure whether Honda moved away from those soya based insulation wires. So, I am actively exploring ways to have a second level of defence from the rats.

Excellent Review on the Elevate.

Couple of months before when i did a trip to Kodaikanal, rats Chewed my Honda City 5G Wires, inspite of spraying with 3M Rat Spray. Had a tough time.

I have installed Ultrasonic Rat Repellent for Car, for now no issues, only time will tell whether it is working or not.

[shan_ned]

Originally Posted by Ulysses

The top end CVT version was available for test drive. My observations are; 1) The engine noise was too much, especially at lower gears. I have an i10 NIOS for daily drive, the engine of the NIOS would be super silent, compared to the noise from the Elevate's engine 2) in the CVT version, the rubber-band effect was very prominent. It gets reduced to some extent in the "sports" mode, but otherwise the vehicle just takes ages to pick up speed. 3) the suspension is not suited for bad roads. Every bump and pothole are felt (strongly) inside the cabin, especially in the second row. 4) The AC was good, but probably because the cabin was large, it takes considerable amount of time to cool the entire cabin. So if the car was out in sun, at least for the first 10 minutes, the second row passengers will sweat. I did check with the sales person, whether the particular TD vehicle had any issue with engine or suspension, but he said it was normal!

Otherwise it is a large vehicle, with ample space and legroom and a big boot space. The ground clearance is also sufficient for Indian road conditions, but I cannot imagine driving a car with so much engine noise, lethargic acceleration (can't say how the MT version would be as it was not available for TD) and bumpy suspension. For a car costing close to 2 million rupees (on road in Karnataka), I think customers would deserve something more refined.

Thanks for your observations.
Regarding the CVT, i test drove within the city and i didn't check about its performance. Reviews do mention that MT is preferred over CVT if performance is a main criteria. I choose MT not for performance reasons. CVT is for sedate driving. Having said that, paddle shifter is provided if you want to extract more performance, especially during quick overtake.

Regarding the rubberband effect, a few may not like it. Then, many are happy with CVTs without any issues.

On the suspension part, though it can soak the potholes at higher speeds, slow speed driving on bad roads may cause rocking side movements. This is the case with most of the tallboy cars/SUVs.

Hi shan_ned, I believe all models will have the same head room. Please check the seat settings

I am 5'9'' tall. Only when i keep the driver seat at the top most position, i do see a lack of space above my head. Otherwise, there is no issue. Tall drivers need to lower their seat height.

[amalji]

Originally Posted by shan_ned

Along with the hybrid, Honda could have got the Diesel CVT as well to boost their sales. It looks like Honda is sort of happy to play safe with whatever sales they are doing.

Diesel has no future with the strict emission norms. Even today's BS6 engine's soot burning is kind of a 'jugaad' for me which is going to make the ownership experience a pain in the long run especially if you drive mostly in the city or mountains. With stricter emission norms, this is going to get even worse.

Originally Posted by shan_ned

Yes, Honda should have released with 6 airbags as a standard for all the models at the time of launch. Now, they corrected it with the R variants.

+100 on this.

Originally Posted by shan_ned

While I personally prefer manual transmission, CVT is a different thing when it comes to enhancing the comfort. It is brilliant. If people do back to back test drive of MT versus CVT, they may fall in love with the CVT. This is reflected in the Elevate sales with CVT selling the most. A few are paranoid about the rubber band effect. Once they get used to it, they will love CVT. And with paddle shifters, drivers can get hold of some control.

Can completely relate to it. I mostly drive an Innova Crysta 2.8 L Diesel Torque Converter with 176 PS and 360 Nm torque ( 1200 - 3200 rpm ) in Bangalore. But, when I go to my home town, I get to drive the Yaris 1.5L CVT and I have fallen in love with that experience. It's the smoothest drive you can ever experience on typical city traffic conditions. Even on the highway, you just need to learn how much you need to push the pedal to get the optimal balance of acceleration and refinement. If you floor the pedal, the CVTs can downshift crazy and take the rpm to peak in no time. The car will then accelerate keeping the rpm at the max power band. The problem with this is that even though theoretically the car does accelerate the hardest this way, most drivers feel that this is slow progress because of the disproportionate engine noise. It's just a matter of learning to modulate the A-pedal to get the optimal output from the car.

TLDR: Driving an automatic is a different art compared to a manual gearbox. In a manual gearbox car, when you press the A - Pedal, only the fuel flow changes. In an automatic, the speed with which you press the accelerator and how much you press determines the aggressiveness of gear downshifts as well. So, you need to be more mindful about that. And each type ( DCT/DSG, Torque Convertor, CVT ) has a different character. So, there is a learning curve for each to get the best performance and smoothness out of it.

Originally Posted by Ulysses

1) The engine noise was too much, especially at lower gears. I have an i10 NIOS for daily drive, the engine of the NIOS would be super silent, compared to the noise from the Elevate's engine

I got a similar feeling when I first switched from driving the 1.0 l 4 cylinder Maruti Suzuki Zen to the 1.6l Maruti Suzuki Baleno(old) Sedan. The Baleno made a sound whereas the Zen was very refined. That was because the Baleno engine was more free revving and the rpm needle climbed aggressively. It's kind of similar with even the Elevate. The i-vtec engine means that the rpm climbs even more aggressively and it will make a sound. But, I felt the tone sporty than noisy.

Originally Posted by Ulysses

2) in the CVT version, the rubber-band effect was very prominent. It gets reduced to some extent in the "sports" mode, but otherwise the vehicle just takes ages to pick up speed.

It's a relative thing. If you are comparing against Turbo charged engines, then you are right. It is not comparable. But, among the NA engines, the Elevate provides decent performance. But, CVTs can give an impression of slow progress due to the disportionate noise thanks to its ability to downshift fast and increase the RPMs. Even more so with the i-vtec. But once you get a hang of how much to modulate the accelerator to keep the rpm at certain levels, this feeling will start coming down.

Originally Posted by Ulysses

3) the suspension is not suited for bad roads. Every bump and pothole are felt (strongly) inside the cabin, especially in the second row.

This is a very interesting observation. Not a single review has called out the ride comfort as bad. In fact, all of them has mentioned it as one of the best in the segment. I felt the same too. So, I am not sure about this point.

Originally Posted by Ulysses

Otherwise it is a large vehicle, with ample space and legroom and a big boot space.

I am not sure about this as well. For me, Elevate is a 4 seater if you prefer comfortable seating. If you push in 5, it's going to make it uncomfortable for all 3 on the 2nd row. This is also in part due to the headrest design which has a curve on the sides which forces you to keep the head inside of it rather than on any part of the headrest. So, if you sit on both sides with your head aligned inside the headrest, there is practically no space left for the middle passenger. Even a child might find it uncomfortable to sit in the center. But boot space is huge and I guess is is the best in class.

[Dsanji]

Originally Posted by amalji

This is a very interesting observation. Not a single review has called out the ride comfort as bad. In fact, all of them has mentioned it as one of the best in the segment. I felt the same too. So, I am not sure about this point.

What I have felt is that the suspension is very good on potholes in general. But on speed bumps, both front tyres must cross it together. If you go on a speed bump at an angle, then there is immense body roll/shake

[shan_ned]

Originally Posted by amalji

Diesel has no future with the strict emission norms. Even today's BS6 engine's soot burning is kind of a 'jugaad' for me which is going to make the ownership experience a pain in the long run especially if you drive mostly in the city or mountains. With stricter emission norms, this is going to get even worse.
...
TLDR: Driving an automatic is a different art compared to a manual gearbox. In a manual gearbox car, when you press the A - Pedal, only the fuel flow changes. In an automatic, the speed with which you press the accelerator and how much you press determines the aggressiveness of gear downshifts as well. So, you need to be more mindful about that. And each type ( DCT/DSG, Torque Convertor, CVT ) has a different character. So, there is a learning curve for each to get the best performance and smoothness out of it.

The Autocar India test results say that CVT has better in-gear acceleration.

https://www.autocarindia.com/auto-re...iew/tech-specs

Originally Posted by Arun_S

I have installed Ultrasonic Rat Repellent for Car, for now no issues, only time will tell whether it is working or not.

Can you please tell us the brand/model that you purchased ?

[aaren]

Excellent report!! Am happy for your vehicle. Your report has more or less convinced me that this will be next vehicle - as a replacement for Honda Jazz that is running still good after 12.5 years! I will take a call after the next service - post monsoon, though.

Wishing you miles of safe and happy driving!

[shan_ned]

2nd service update :

Service centre: Magnum Honda at Kanakapura Road (Bangalore).

1) Regular prescribed service was carried out.

2) Infotainment firmware update to the latest version.

3) Engine oil replacement: Though not required, I requested for changing the engine oil. From the second year, I will be following the 1 year oil replacement interval. They are using fully synthetic 0w20 oil.

4) Got the anti-rust coating for the exhaust system. Had an opportunity to have a very good view of the car underbelly.

—————

Before anti-rust coating for the exhaust:










After anti-rust coating:






Looks like the CatCon.





———

I also had a close at the suspension though I couldn’t take photos of it. The suspension is supplied by Munjal Showa. Showa Corporation of Japan has tied up with the Hero group for supplying OEM suspension systems to both Honda and Suzuki cars. Having said that, Honda has tuned it well for Elevate.

Once the service was complete after 4 hours, I spoke with the service head. I asked why Honda cannot import the rat repellent insulation tape which is sold as a genuine Honda accessory in other markets. He said that he will pass on the suggestion to Honda Cars India. I am not sure whether Honda will do it. Let’s see if there is any update on this in future.

[saket77]

Originally Posted by shan_ned

2nd service update :

2) Infotainment firmware update to the latest version.

Thanks for the update.
Do you notice any change in the infotainment system after software update?