Honda Elevate SUV Variant-Wise Expected Price Calculation With Logic (Updated: Sep 1)

Note: These are our Honda Elevate price estimations based on the information available as of September 1, 2023. We recently got to drive the car and interact with the Honda officials. Based on the interactions, we have only a faint idea about the product positioning of Elevate.

Latest Update: Honda Elevate 2023 Launched In India

We still only know the variant powertrain combinations of the Honda Elevate. Once we get more details like an official brochure containing variant-wise features, we’ll update this article to reflect the revisions based on the new details.

Honda Elevate — Powertrain/Engine Options

We were expecting to see the 1.5L normal petrol engine with manual and CVT automatic transmission with the Honda Elevate. The details Honda revealed during the reveal event of the Elevate confirmed this.

For buyers who have high mileage use, the diesel engine is naturally out of the question as Honda have removed it from their India portfolio. We weren’t really sure if the Elevate would get the hybrid powertrain because they already charge more than justifiable amount for the hybrid. For instance, if you’re thinking of buying the City hybrid for its lower running costs, then the kilometre-to-breakeven is unreasonably high at more than 2,00,000km compared to the normal petrol engine. That’s even after factoring in the higher torque output and better performance.

Since Honda charge so much for the hybrid powertrain, it gave us a hint that Honda probably don’t intend to sell the City hybrid in large numbers. They are perhaps maintaining this approach with the Elevate as well. That’s why the Elevate is not getting the hybrid powertrain as we expected — at least not when it goes on sale.

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Honda Elevate Variants

We were not sure if Honda would keep the variant lineup simple like the City and offer only 4 variants or add one more affordable variant to the mix. Once the bookings opened, we found out that the Elevate would come in 4 variants — just like the City. While we still don’t know the exact variant-wise features of the City, after driving the car and interacting with the Honda’s top officials, we could speculate its variant-wise prices with a slightly better accuracy.

Honda Elevate Price Range

Since the Elevate is following the exact same 4-variant lineup as the City, with the petrol-manual powertrain, it could start at Rs. 12.20 lakh (ex-showroom). The Elevate petrol-manual variants could top out at Rs. 15.70 lakh.

Just like the Honda City, the automatic transmission variants could carry about Rs. 1.30 lakh higher ex-showroom price over comparable petrol-manual variants. In the City, automatic variants cost Rs. 1.25 lakh more than manual. Since the base model won’t get the automatic transmission, we would say that the Elevante’s petrol-automatic range could cost between Rs. 14.60 lakh and Rs. 17.0 lakh (ex-showroom).

With a higher starting price, the Honda Elevate could establish itself as a premium alternative in the C-SUV space. However, knowing their weaknesses in their higher variants, we believe the top variant should cost a little less than the Creta SX (O) 1.5L normal petrol-automatic (CVT). The Creta SX (O) automatic currently costs around Rs. 17.50 lakh.

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Now let’s look at the variant-wise expected prices of the Honda Elevate to find out how we arrived at these numbers.

Honda Elevate SV Expected Price - Rs. 12.20 lakh

Since Honda aren’t planning to sell an affordable, entry-level variant of the Elevate, it’s clear that they want the Elevate to come across as a premium SUV. Since Elevate’s competitors like the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Kia Seltos facelift and Hyundai Creta offer a basic variant, Elevate can’t compete with those.

Naturally, the Elevate will also offer a richer ownership experience even in its base variant. So, we should expect it to start at around Rs. 12.20 lakh. This will also help them position it a little higher from the City while allowing buyers to upgrade from City to Elevate for a nominal premium. The City currently starts at around Rs. 11.60 lakh (ex-showroom).

Some of that premium may be offset by the SUV design and higher ground clearance while the rest could be justified with a few additional features.

Honda Elevate V Expected Price - Rs. 13.30 lakh (Manual), Rs. 14.60 lakh (Auto)

V variant onwards, Honda Elevate gets a CVT automatic transmission option along with the 6-speed manual. Assuming that the feature spread of the Elevate V will remain more or less aligned with that of the City, we should expect it to cost around Rs. 13.30 lakh. With the automatic transmission, the Elevate V variant could cost around Rs. Rs. 14.60 lakh.

Honda Elevate VX Expected Price - Rs. 14.50 lakh (Manual), Rs. 15.80 lakh (Auto)

Similarly, the VX variant of the Honda Elevate could cost around Rs. 14.50 lakh with the manual and Rs. 15.80 lakh with the automatic transmission.

Honda Elevate ZX Expected Price - Rs. 15.70 lakh (Manual), Rs. 17.0 lakh (Auto)

Finally, the top-spec ZX variant could stretch up to Rs. 15.70 lakh with the manual. The ZX automatic variant of the Honda Elevate could cost around Rs. 17.0 lakh.

With these prices, it could undercut the Creta SX (O) CVT to make up for fewer features. It’s worth noting that the Creta will also get a mid-life update sometime next year. This will include feature additions as well along with a design refresh. So, the Elevate will need to remain competent enough to challenge the Creta facelift. If the Elevate earns the tag of “overpriced”, then it’ll lose all credibility to sustain and maintain high utilisation of the production capacity.

2023 Honda Elevate Expected Price Summary

Based on the powertrain and variant lineup information, we believe that the Honda Elevate petrol-manual variants could cost between Rs. 12.20 lakh and Rs. 15.70 lakh. Meanwhile, the 3 petrol-automatic trims could start at Rs. 14.60 lakh and top out at Rs. 17.0 lakh.

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Honda Elevate Vs C1-Segment SUVs — Engine Spec Comparison

The engine specs suggest that the Elevate could become the most powerful SUV in its class — at least if you ignore the larger, turbocharged powertrains. However, most of its power is accessible only if you’re revving the engine hard as its 121PS figure comes at a high 6600rpm.

Its torque output of 145Nm, however, peaks somewhat early for a normal petrol engine at 4300rpm. So, it won’t offer the kind of drivability like a turbocharged engine but it's certainly acceptable for its class.

Honda Elevate Vs C1-Segment SUVs — Dimension Comparison

In terms of dimensions, the ground clearance is one thing about the Honda Elevate, which stands out. At 220mm, it’s better than even that of the Harrier, which has a 205mm clearance. Otherwise, it's a fairly standard affair in terms of dimension as it’s about as big as a typical C1-segment SUV.