
The new Honda Elevate is going on sale in South Africa on 23 February and will replace the WR-V nameplate, certified dealer Motus confirmed.
The new crossover sits on the same platform as the Ballade sedan and is therefore slightly larger than the vehicle it is replacing, and it is expected to be slightly more expensive, too.
At 4.3m long, the Elevate will compete with the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Toyota Urban Cruiser – the most affordable of which sells for R342,500.
Its architectural twin, the Ballade, goes for R389,900, however, the Elevate will have a somewhat less premium stature than its sedan sibling putting its ballpark starting price somewhere between the above points.
Elevate specifications
The dimensions of the new Elevate come in at 4,312mm long, 1,790mm wide, and 1,650mm high with a wheelbase of 2,650mm, meaning despite sharing the same foundation as the Ballade, the crossover is shorter than the sedan but simultaneously wider and, naturally, taller.
It boasts a ride height of 220mm which Honda reckons is “more than adequate” for light off-road excursions, and reaffirming its adventurous persona is a boot space of 458 litres.
Under the hood, it sees the same 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol powerplant as found in other Honda vehicles generating 89kW and 145Nm, and power is transmitted to the front axle via either a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT.
All the features and technologies that the new Elevate will get in South Africa have yet to be disclosed, though looking at other markets in which it is already on sale, there is a lot to look forward to.
Depending on the model, the crossover is expected to be equipped with a 7.0-inch digital driver display, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, a wireless charger, a reverse camera, cruise control, hill assist, and a two-tone interior.
The Honda Sensing package is also anticipated to be available, bringing abilities such as adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam assist, vehicle stability assist, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, and six airbags.
The exact local specification, powertrain details, model range, and pricing will be made public at the launch of the Elevate in the final week of February.
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