3 reasons to buy the Honda Elevate facelift and 3 reasons not to

Honda has priced the 2026 Elevate facelift from Rs 11.80 lakh to Rs 18.58 lakh (ex-showroom). Its list of midsize SUV rivals is pretty long, and includes the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Sierra, Renault Duster, Nissan Tekton, Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq. The Elevate is underpinned by the City’s platform, and comes with a single 1.5-litre petrol engine with a choice of manual and CVT gearboxes. Here’s what works in the updated Elevate’s favour, and what doesn’t.

Reasons to buy the 2026 Honda Elevate facelift

Eager engine and confident road manners

A lively engine, tidy handling and strong brakes are among the Elevate’s fortes

The Elevate's i-VTEC engine provides strong performance, while high-speed stability is good too.

The 2026 Elevate continues with the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder i-VTEC petrol engine of its predecessor, but it’s now WLTP emissions norms compliant. The smooth and eager unit produces 121hp and 145Nm of torque, delivering this power cleanly and progressively all through its rev range. The throttle response is sharp, too. For those looking for a hassle-free urban commuter, the smooth CVT (continuously variable transmission) does the job well. It also gets paddle shifters so you can move through pre-set ratios, offering that extra sense of control.

The Elevate feels planted and offers a good balance between handling and ride quality.

The Elevate has always been an easy car to drive around town, courtesy of a light yet responsive steering that makes parking manoeuvres easy. The steering weighs up progressively as speeds rise, and the Elevate also feels planted out on the open highway, inspiring confidence. A good control on body roll means that, despite its tall SUV stance, the Honda Elevate corners neatly without much drama. The brakes are strong and feel progressive, further inspiring driver confidence. The ride feels firm but the Elevate manages to smooth out surface imperfections with relative ease.

Premium and comfy cabin

Interior retains the model’s practicality quotient while upping the premium experience

The 2026 update has made this interior feel more premium.

The Elevate has been known for providing an ergonomically sound cabin – this hasn’t changed with the 2026 update. The front seats remain nice and supportive, while finding a comfortable driving position is easy. There’s now lighter leatherette padding and stitching on the dashboard, a revised headliner that looks and feels more premium, and an updated HVAC panel with buttons for the front-seat ventilation feature.

Headroom and kneerom for back-seat passengers is good.

It is easy to get comfortable in the back of the Honda Elevate facelift. There’s plenty of headroom and kneeroom for two adults, while conveniences like a centre armrest with cupholders, dedicated AC vents and USB charging ports add to the overall experience. There’s also no shortage of cubbies to store your knick-knacks, plus a roomy 458-litre boot. You also get a spare tyre under the boot floor, further boosting the Elevate’s practicality.

Better equipped than before

Honda has added more features to the Elevate’s equipment list

The Honda Elevate now gets segment-first rear-seat ventilation.

The back seats of the 2026 Elevate facelift are also where you will see the new touch-operated LED reading lamps. The Elevate now offers rear-seat ventilation, which is a first for the segment. Features such as orange ambient lighting, multi-way powered front seats, wireless charging, auto climate control with a built-in PM2.5 air purifier, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, an 8-speaker audio system, a 7-inch MID, and a 360-degree camera are available too.

A 360-degree camera is now a factory-fit option on the top-spec trim.

There’s enough on the safety front, too. The 2026 Elevate facelift is available with front parking sensors, Honda’s LaneWatch camera, and a camera-based ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) suite. This ropes in adaptive cruise control, auto-emergency braking, lane-keep assist and more. The CVT variants get a new low-speed follow function for the adaptive cruise control to tackle stop-and-go traffic conditions, along with rear disc brakes and an electronic parking brake with auto hold. Standard equipment includes 6 airbags, stability & traction control, rear parking sensors, adjustable headrests and three-point seatbelts for all occupants.

Reasons not to buy the 2026 Honda Elevate facelift

Cabin has its shortcomings

Lacklustre noise insulation aside, the Elevate’s cabin still has a few niggles

Some may find the front lumbar support to be excessive.

While the 2026 facelift has made the Honda Elevate more competitive, there’s still room for improvement. For starters, the lumbar support up front can feel intrusive for some, and taller occupants will find the under-thigh support underwhelming. Seating a third passenger in the back wouldn’t be easy, due to the narrower cabin width of the Elevate over some rivals. The raised centre seat doesn’t make this better, either.

Rear occupants will notice vertical movements at higher speeds over undulating roads.

The cabin is quieter than before, but engine and road noise can be heard quite easily at highway speeds. Those at the back will also notice a fair bit of vertical movement over undulating highways at triple-digit speeds.

Only one engine option

The Elevate still doesn’t get a diesel, turbo-petrol, hybrid or CNG option

Lack of engine choices even with the latest update is a definite con for the Honda Elevate.

In a segment where rivals offer multiple engine options (even across fuel types), the 2026 Honda Elevate facelift continues with just the one naturally aspirated petrol unit. This limits its appeal when compared to other offerings in the hotly contested midsize segment. While we are yet to test its mileage, the lack of an automatic engine stop-start system and ‘Eco’ drive mode won’t help boost fuel efficiency.

Latest features reserved for the top trim

Most of the headline features are offered only with the new range-topping ZX+

Only the range-topping ZX+ gets all of the newly introduced features.

If you want all the new bells & whistles that the 2026 Honda Elevate facelift has to offer, you’ll have to stretch your budget to accommodate the new top-spec ZX+ trim. This is where niceties like rear seat ventilation, powered front seats, a 360-degree camera and front parking sensors reside. However, this also means a price tag of between Rs 16.88 lakh and Rs 18.58 lakh (ex-showroom).

The ZX+ trim still misses features like two-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof and rear sunblinds.

Despite the ZX+’s higher price, it still misses out on a panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, a fully digital driver’s display, rear sunblinds and dual-zone climate control. Some similarly priced rivals offer a more comprehensive feature set, more cabin space and multiple powertrain options.

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/590hocW