Compact SUV Potholes Bad Roads

Last Updated on: 26 Sep 2026
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The Honda Elevate uses one engine across the whole range, so the specification story is about what that engine does rather than which one to pick. The 1498cc petrol makes 121hp at 6,600rpm and 145Nm of pulling power at 4,300rpm. Both figures arrive high in the rev range, which is why our review found it short of pull when pushed hard.
Key facts for the Elevate:
Gearboxes are a 6-speed manual and a 7-step CVT automatic.
The car measures 4,312mm long, 1,790mm wide and 1,650mm tall.
Boot space is 458 litres with 60:40 split rear seats, which is one of the largest in this class.
Six airbags are fitted.
Our testing recorded 10.8 seconds from 0 to 100kph and a top speed of 161kph.
Honda Sensing driver assistance covers collision mitigation, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control.
Our review found cabin insulation the weak point, with engine noise at higher revs and road noise present throughout.
I have been using the Honda Elevate for 3 years now and have covered 47,000 kms. If you are looking at mileage per day, it's lesser as I get 11/12 km/l since it's automatic. But if you are a peaceful driver, you will get the most out of it.
The ideal car if you want to see it running for 10 years without a problem, it is fun to drive, comfortable to ride and no hassle to maintain
Driving experience was never an issue, everything is better and more reliable than the Koreans and Germans. The only shortcoming is Honda itself, because of poor marketing and a lack of new products.
The Honda Elevate hardly crosses the 12 km/l bar. Though the steering of Honda Elevate is fluidic, the overall usage and driving feedback is not as good as Toyota.
The Honda Elevate is generally considered a good car to buy, especially if you value a comfortable and reliable SUV with a spacious interior and good ground clearance.
Elevate has a better petrol engine, more reliable with better suspension and mileage.
Honda Elevate is really a good car. It is performance packed car, features are secondary.
The Honda Elevate is the most spacious in its segment. If you are above 5.8" in height, you will notice the difference during test drives.
If you want a car with classy interiors, SUV exterior with classy looks and good ground clearance with the NA iVTEC engine of Honda, you are looking for Elevate. Compared to all the compact SUVs at this price point, Honda Elevate will never disappoint you.
My Honda Elevate is an amazing car, and the iVTEC engine is reliable. The good part is definitely the engine, which is fun to drive. The Elevate has numerous features that even the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos lack on a budget.
Space and comfort
Ride and handling
Features not up to class standards
Needs a turbo or hybrid engine option
Hear from the
I am planning to buy a car but need an opinion between the Bayon and the Elevate.
It is difficult to give a meaningful opinion on the Bayon against the Elevate without actually seeing and driving the India-spec Bayon. The India model is quite different from the European Bayon, and while we now know it will sit between the Venue and Creta, its exact positioning, ride quality, performance and real-world usability can only really be judged once the production car is driven. It is expected to use Hyundai's 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, with CNG also likely to be offered.There is another reason not to rush into the Elevate right now. The Elevate facelift is just around the corner, with the India debut expected in early October. It is expected to get styling and equipment updates, while retaining the existing 1.5-litre petrol engine and CVT. Potential additions include ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera and an updated touchscreen.So this is one of those situations where waiting a little gives you a much clearer picture.
Hi, as a first-time car buyer, which car would be preferable around a Rs. 15 lakh budget? The budget is not a hard ceiling and is slightly flexible. Requirements: I’m looking for a long-term family car for the next 6-8 years, but it should be fun to drive as well. It should have adequate power with passengers and luggage, especially on hills. My monthly running is approximately 800-1,100 km, mostly in the city. We usually take a trip every 3-4 months, and most of these trips are to hill stations. I’m looking for good automatic petrol options only. My shortlist: 1. 3XO RevX-A AT - Drawback: Boot space (I have experienced this firsthand). 2. Seltos HTK(O) - preferably the Turbo DCT Drawback: Slightly above budget, but I can consider it if it is really worth the extra cost. 3. Elevate V CVT Drawback: Feels like it is missing some premium features. I’m open to other suggestions as well.
For your usage, the Seltos HTK(O) Turbo DCT is the strongest fit if the additional stretch is comfortable. It gives you the performance you will appreciate on hill trips, particularly with passengers and luggage, while offering a spacious, well-equipped cabin and an enjoyable driving experience.The Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI AT is also worth adding to the shortlist. It stays comfortably within your budget and is arguably the most natural alternative if you want something compact, fun to drive and easier to own within the original budget. Its turbo petrol and torque converter automatic are well suited to both city driving and occasional hill trips. It has a big enough boot too for your weekend trips.The XUV 3XO RevX-A AT remains a strong option, particularly for performance and rear seat space, but the limited boot is a genuine compromise for family trips. The Elevate V CVT is the simpler long-term choice, with a smooth naturally aspirated engine and good boot space, but it does not have the same punch as the turbocharged options, and the V variant misses some desirable features.
As a Honda Elevate ZX-MT owner, I am considering installing a CNG kit, but I am confused about whether it could cause any issues with the ADAS features.
Honda itself currently lists a government-approved CNG retrofit facility for the Elevate through its dealers, although it is offered only on selected variants.The CNG system should not interfere with the Elevate's Honda Sensing ADAS because the ADAS functions are camera-based and the CNG installation does not alter the camera or its calibration. However, the important distinction is that this applies to a Honda-approved dealer-fitted kit, not an independently installed aftermarket kit. Autocar's advice on dealer-fitted CNG conversions also notes that the Elevate is offered with an approved Lovato kit.There is one bigger issue in your case: the ZX is not among the variants Honda currently lists for its CNG retrofit programme. Honda's current information says the retrofit is available with V and VX trims. So before proceeding, check with your Honda dealer whether your particular ZX MT is officially eligible.If Honda approves the installation for your car, there should be no specific reason to worry about ADAS. Avoid a third-party kit simply to get around variant restrictions, particularly on a ZX equipped with Honda Sensing.
Hi, I want to buy my last car as I am 66 years old. I have been driving a Honda City for the last 12 years without any major hiccup. The Honda City engine and its reliability is excellent although its ground clearance is an issue. I have looked at Elevate and given its ground clearance as an SUV, I am impressed although the issues on E20 and abrupt blending issues are surely technical issues. Windsor EV was a great test drive but all controls on screen could be a bottleneck for me at my age and am planning to move to an automatic. Please recommend as experts. My monthly running will not be more than 500 km. Should I also look at Seltos. I will appreciate a feedback from experts. I want a reliable, easy to drive car with low maintenance cost and good family value with. There won't be any great pick ups or many highway drives will not be there.
Given your 12 years of trouble free City ownership, the Elevate is the most natural replacement. It retains Honda’s simple 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, adds substantially better ground clearance and gives you the easier ingress and SUV driving position you liked. The CVT is also very well suited to your low speed, low running usage and should make the transition to an automatic easy.On your E20 concern, we would not treat it as a reason to avoid the Elevate. Honda says all its cars manufactured in India since January 2009 are E20 material compatible, and the current Elevate is officially certified for E20. Honda also says E20 should not cause durability concerns or require any component changes. There can be a marginal reduction in fuel economy because ethanol contains less energy than petrol, but with your 500km monthly running, that is unlikely to be significant.The Seltos is worth a look, particularly if you want a more feature rich and premium cabin, but given your priorities of reliability, easy driving, low maintenance and long term ownership, the Elevate fits your requirements more naturally. The Windsor EV is also an interesting option, but at just 500km a month, there is little financial reason to move to an EV, especially when you have concerns about its touchscreen heavy interface.
Hello Autocar, I have shortlisted three cars: the Honda City 1.5 naturally aspirated, Honda Elevate and Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI. I am looking for a peaceful ownership experience and plan to keep the car for a long time, possibly around 10 years. I really like the Honda Elevate, especially the ADV Edition, but I keep hearing about its NVH levels. Is it still a good choice for long-term ownership? I also like the Skoda Slavia 1.5, but I am a little concerned about its long-term ownership and reliability. I have not yet driven the facelifted Honda City, although I particularly like its looks, especially in silver. Most of my driving will be in the city, in Bangalore, with a highway trip roughly once every two months. I do not drive every day and generally use the car for commuting to the office two or three days a week. Considering my usage and my priority of hassle-free long-term ownership, which of these three would be the right choice for me?
For your usage and a planned 10-year ownership, the Honda City is the most sensible choice. You don't drive every day, most of your usage is in Bangalore, and your priority is peaceful ownership, so the City's smooth naturally aspirated engine, comfortable cabin, proven reliability and relatively simple powertrain make it the safest fit. The 2026 facelift also gets useful improvements while retaining the same mechanical package.The Honda Elevate would be the choice if you specifically want an SUV. It has good ride comfort, excellent ground clearance and a spacious cabin, and the NVH isn't bad enough to rule it out. However, the engine can sound coarse when revved hard, so do take a proper test drive in Bangalore traffic before deciding.The Skoda Slavia 1.5 is the most enjoyable of the three and considerably quicker, but for a 10-year ownership, its turbo-petrol and DSG combination is more complex than the City's naturally aspirated engine and CVT. That doesn't make it unreliable, but it isn't the obvious choice when peace of mind is your primary requirement.














