Would an ex-Honda City owner buy the Honda Elevate

In the sea of cars like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, it has carved out a niche. It's hard to ignore this vehicle when looking for an SUV in the Rs 15-22 lakh segment.

BHPian Met_Jazz recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The Challenge Faced by Long-time Honda Owner

What follows is my perspective, offered with no intention of disrespect.

My cousin is presently exploring options to upgrade from his 2010 Fiat Linea, and I'm assisting him in making an informed decision. In the past, I aided him in choosing the Linea over the Honda City iVtec and Maruti SX4. Now, as the proud owner of not one but two Hondas—a 2010 Honda City iVtec (sold) and a 2016 Honda Jazz 1.2 iVtec—you might expect me to lean towards Honda, right? Well, it's not that straightforward.

Don't get me wrong; I adore my cars. However, post-COVID, the after-sales service from Honda has left much to be desired. Each time I send my car for service, I brace myself for potential upselling rather than receiving accurate advice. Frustrated, I reverted to my trusted FNG (Friendly Neighborhood Garage) for the last service.

Returning to the core of this post, I candidly shared with my cousin what to expect from Honda based on recent experiences. Despite this, he was keen on the Honda Elevate, and we patiently awaited its launch. After the launch, we decided to explore it without my influence, allowing him to make an independent choice.

We visited Viva Honda Santacruz Mumbai, where the staff welcomed us warmly. He was knowledgeable, well-versed in automotive details. Initially, we test-drove the Honda City. My cousin took the first spin, followed by my brief turn. It proved to be a good car with a fantastic 1.5 petrol engine. However, having become accustomed to driving my father-in-law's impressive Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI DSG, the wow factor was somewhat lacking for me. Nevertheless, the new Obsidian Blue Pearl color was stunning, enhancing the car's overall appeal.

After the City test drive, we turned our attention to the Honda Elevate. With no specific expectations, I saw the car up close for the first time and was genuinely impressed—a sensation reminiscent of when I first saw a Honda City in a showroom back in 2010. The test drive car was Golden Brown and looked impressive, although my personal favorites are Lunar Silver and Platinum White.

Opening the door revealed an even more impressive interior. I admired the use of tan color, giving it a distinctly upmarket feel. The interior felt unlike any other Honda currently available in India. Eager to experience how this all-new Honda felt on the road, I hopped into the driver's seat after my brother's test drive.

The magic happened as soon as I started driving. Accustomed to the non-visibility of the bonnet in my Honda Jazz/City, the commanding view from the driving seat felt different. Shifting from P to D, pressing the pedal, and feeling the car roll smoothly was akin to a chariot in motion. As a relatively sedate driver, even with experience in the powerful Slavia DSG, I appreciated the finely tuned engine of this 1.5 NA. The suspension was superbly tuned, effortlessly handling rough patches. Surprisingly, I felt my Jazz was more spacious than the Elevate. Although the service advisor briefed us on the Honda Sensing ADAS system, we couldn't test it, so I refrain from commenting on it. Overall, I was mightily impressed with this car and secretly wished for my cousin to choose it over the Hyundai Verna.

Granted, this car may lack some features, but that's been characteristic of Honda. My 2010 City didn't have a CD player or Automatic Climate Control, features available in other cars at the time. Yet, what Honda does provide is a feel-good factor. You drive a Honda, and there's a smile on your face every time you hit the road. You turn back to admire it, reassuring yourself that it was a worthwhile purchase.

After the test drive, we discussed pricing and details on the waiting period with the sales advisor. We bid our goodbyes and left.

Did my cousin buy the Elevate? Yes, he did. He booked a Meteorid Grey Elevate with delivery expected next year.

Will I buy it?

Now, this is where things get complicated. Since I'm not currently in the market, providing a direct answer is challenging. Nevertheless, I'll attempt to explain.

My relationship with Honda has been less than ideal. I acquired my cars from Linkway Honda and was consistently satisfied with their after-sales service. I chose the Honda Jazz in 2016 purely for the tremendous feel-good factor Honda provided. My father and I were eagerly anticipating the launch of the Civic in 2019, planning to buy it after selling my City in 2018. Unfortunately, Honda discontinued not only the Civic but also the CRV in 2019-2020. Due to COVID and the shift to remote work afterwards, we never felt the need to buy another car, as our mileage significantly decreased.

Returning to the Honda Elevate, it makes a compelling case for itself. In the sea of Cretas and Seltos, it has carved out a niche. It's hard to ignore this car when looking for an SUV in the 15-22 lakh segment. However, I won't be buying it. The reason is that, for me, it's not an upgrade from my 2010 City; it's a purchase in the same segment. I typically keep my cars for at least 8 years, looking for an upgrade and preferring to move up one segment. When we bought the City in 2010, we had planned to transition to the Civic next, as it seemed like the perfect upgrade. Unfortunately, Honda has dashed this hope for enthusiasts like me who love the brand, even with its service hiccups, and are willing to invest in cars one segment above.

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