Honda Elevate facelift likely to get features from new City

Following the City, Honda is now working on a mid-lifecycle update for the Elevate SUV, which is expected to come with the new features seen in the facelifted sedan. In a recent interaction with Autocar India, Kunal Behl, vice president of marketing and sales at Honda Cars India, said, “We are giving 360-degree camera and ventilated seats on the Elevate via the accessory route currently. But, going forward, we could consider getting them in the main line.”

1. Elevate facelift expected with 360-degree camera, ventilated seats
2. Revisions to bumpers and lighting elements are likely
3. Updated SUV could launch in the second half of 2026

Honda Elevate facelift: What to expect?

Currently, the Elevate offers a 360-degree camera and ventilated front seat covers as optional extras, along with features such as ambient lighting. However, with the facelift, these are expected to be bundled into the mid- and top-spec trims, alongside the new 10.25-inch touchscreen that was introduced on the City facelift. Like on the City, the ADAS suite could be made available on more than just the top trim, and the upcoming Elevate could also receive new trim and upholstery materials.

On the outside, the Elevate facelift could get new front and rear bumpers, revised headlamps and tail-lamps with new lighting signatures, and perhaps a new set of alloy wheels, too. A recently spotted heavily camouflaged test mule, however, did not reveal many details.

The Elevate facelift is likely to retain the engine from the current model – a 121hp/145Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine mated to a 6-speed manual or a CVT gearbox. However, this might remain the only engine option on offer.

The Elevate facelift is expected to launch sometime in the second half of this year at a slight premium over the current model. 

Honda also working on a new compact SUV for 2028

Beyond the Elevate, Honda is working on two more models – a compact SUV and a midsize SUV – that are expected to debut from 2028 onwards. With over a dozen models in the compact SUV space already, it may appear that Honda is late to the party. However, the Japanese carmaker is taking a slightly different approach, banking on an asset that perhaps only Maruti Suzuki has – a captive first-time car-buyer audience in its two-wheeler base. 

“Every year, we sell about 6 million two-wheelers. We have a huge chunk of Honda loyalists among our two-wheeler buyers. When they want to upgrade, they do not have anything from us in the sub-4m SUV space. That’s the reason why we want to come into the sub-4m SUV space and get hold of our loyal customer base of two-wheelers to upgrade,” said Behl.

Honda is not banking on the product alone. The two-wheeler customer base, when upgrading to their first four-wheeler, is still price-sensitive. To make the progression more attractive, Honda established a new financing division, Honda Finance India Private Ltd, last year. It’s a captive finance company providing easy financing and leasing options. Behl said it is already working on financing solutions specifically suited to the Indian market.

In a similar vein, Honda has established a new digital platform called Honda Digital Innovation India. Explaining the idea, Behl said, “The concept is that you have to unify the database of two-wheelers and four-wheelers into a single platform. This application is going to increase our touch base with our customers, and we can offer them tailor-made solutions – it could be finance, it could be used cars, it could be connected services, and so much more.”

“You can’t have growth just by adding more products; it has to be multi-fold. And these investments also outline how committed we are to the Indian market,” remarked Behl.