Japan: Made-in-India Honda Elevate debuts as next-gen WR-V

The JDM-spec Honda Elevate will be manufactured in India and will go on sale in Japan in April 2024.

Honda has launched the next-generation WR-V in the Japanese market. It is a rebadged version of the Elevate sold in India.

The next-gen WR-V looks identical to the Elevate. It carries forward the same upright grille flanked by LED headlamps and L-shaped wraparound LED taillights connected by an LED light bar.

It is the same story with the interior. While the overall dashboard layout is the same, it gets a new touchscreen infotainment system with physical buttons, unlike the Elevate, which comes with a 10-inch head unit. The SUV does get different seat upholstery but the leather inserts on the dashboard have been given a miss.

Interestingly, the WR-V doesn’t get a sunroof and wireless charger either. Honda Sensing is part of the standard package though. The ADAS suite includes features like collision mitigation brakes, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping support system, auto high beam and lane watch camera; among others.

The next-gen Honda WR-V is powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine offered in the Elevate. This engine produces 119 BHP and 145 Nm and is paired with a CVT.

The JDM-spec Honda Elevate will be manufactured in India at the company’s Tapukara plant in Rajasthan. It will go on sale in Japan in April 2024.