- Honda has teased a mild facelift for the Elevate SUV in India.
- Updates include a new grille, full-width LEDs, and fresh trim.
- The naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter engine might be carried over.
The HR-V might be Honda’s entry-level SUV in the US market, but other regions around the world have access to much smaller and much cheaper options. One of them is the Honda Elevate for the Indian market, also exported to Japan as the WR-V. Three years after its debut, Honda announced a mild facelift, keeping it fresh against the fierce competition.
The automaker shared a teaser video of the facelifted Elevate, hinting at mild exterior and interior upgrades. The front end adopts a redesigned grille with segmented LEDs between the DRLs, and dark trim similar to the Toyota RAV4 Adventure. The Honda emblem has been moved on the hood, while the headlights and the side bumper intakes appear to be carried over from the current model.
More: One Of Honda’s Smallest Sedans Has A Manual And Starts From $12,500, Just Not Here
The rear end has also been updated with full-width LED graphics on the pre-existing clusters. While we can’t see the rest of the vehicle, Honda could introduce new designs for the alloy wheels, and maybe expand the color palette with fresh shades.
The teaser also gives us a quick glimpse inside the cabin. The passenger side of the dashboard gains more white leatherette padding instead of wood trim, alongside ambient lighting. The infotainment is not visible but in the current setup the display measures either 8 inches or 10.25 inches in diameter. Honda will likely improve the equipment with new features, making its proposal more attractive to Indian buyers.
More: For $17K, You Might Forgive Honda’s Elevate ADV For Faking It
The Elevate rides on the same underpinnings with the Honda City sedan. The 4,312 mm (169.8 in) long SUV is exclusively offered with a naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine producing 119 hp (89 kW / 121 PS) and 145 Nm (107 lb-ft) of torque which is expected to be carried over. Power is transmitted to the front wheels, via a six-speed manual or a CVT.
Honda India
The official debut of the Honda Elevate in India is scheduled for October 6. Pricing will be announced later but the current model ranges between ₹11.81-16.36 lakh ($12,300-17,000). Rivals include the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Renault Duster, and Nissan Tekton.
More: Nissan’s New $11K Baby Patrol Is A Dacia In Disguise
The mild facelift of the Indian-spec Eleveate will most likely be mirrored by the Japanese-spec WR-V which is also manufactured in India. Back in late 2023, Honda unveiled the Elevate Field Explorer concept with similarly rugged features and accessories.