Honda Elevate is finally available for purchase in Japan under the WR-V moniker. This marks the first time the carmaker exported a vehicle from India to the company's native market, signifying impressive growth for the Indian auto industry. Even though the original WR-V was phased out in India at the beginning of 2023, the name is still widely used around the world. The firm previously revealed its intention to ship the made-in-India Elevate to Japan. For the uninitiated, the exports began in December 2023 with the model officially going on sale in Japan a few days back.
Sharing his thoughts on the latest launch, Takuya Tsumura, President and CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, “Launch of the 'Made-in-India' Elevate as WR-V in Japan is a proud moment for all of us. This reaffirms our manufacturing potential and the growing importance of Honda Cars India in Honda’s global business strategies. The All-New Honda Elevate has been very well appreciated in the Indian market becoming our key pillar of business. We are confident that we will be able to replicate this success and satisfy our global customers with the best quality and craftsmanship.”
India-made Honda Elevate: Appearance
The Elevate has not undergone any visual alterations. It has the same muscular piano black grille at the front with the company's logo in chrome finish. Also, the SUV has stylish LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) in addition to the same LED headlight arrangement. In terms of dimensions, it measures 4,312mm in length, 1,650mm in height, 1,790mm in width, and boasts a respectable 2,650mm wheelbase.
India-made Honda Elevate: Powertrain
As far as the powertrain is concerned, the automaker has not changed anything. Therefore, a 1.5-litre inline four-cylinder, naturally aspirated (NA) engine drives the Japanese-spec Elevate as well. This unit belts out 145Nm of peak torque along with 119bhp of maximum power. However, in contrast to the India-spec version, which is also available with a six-speed manual, the WR-V can only be had with a CVT transmission.
India-made Honda Elevate: Interior and Features
As opposed to the India-spec Elevate's tan and black cabin, the Honda WR-V has an all-black cabin. Moreover, the fabric on the seats is different, and the Japanese model does not have leather accents on the dashboard. A new touchscreen infotainment system with physical buttons on the right side of the panel is also included with the SUV. The Indian Elevate, on the other hand, is equipped with a more sophisticated 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The Indian version comes equipped with features like wireless charging and an electric sunroof, which are absent from the Japanese one. Nonetheless, there will be several additional features on offer, such as Honda Sensing with all advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
September 2023 saw the global debut of the Elevate and its launch here in India. In the past six months, the brand's sole SUV in the domestic market attracted over 30,000 customers. Besides Japan, the model is being exported to several other nations such as South Africa, Nepal, Bhutan, Mexico, the Middle East, and Turkey. The India-made Elevate was rolled out for the South African market a couple of weeks back. Additionally, Honda offered the car to armed forces personnel at a discounted price at CSD dealerships.
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