Honda Cars India has been struggling to compete with its rivals as the sales figures continue to dwindle. Currently, the Japanese automobile manufacturer offers three vehicles in the Indian market, starting from the City, the Elevate and its best-seller, the Amaze. The City is the only sedan that is available with hybrid technology, and Honda has confirmed that its SUV, the Elevate, will soon get the same powertrain. The carmaker also revealed that the Elevate Hybrid will be launched around the festive season in 2026.
Honda Elevate Hybrid: What to expect?
Moneycontrol’s sources have revealed Honda will introduce a mid-size hybrid SUV in 2026, which will compete against the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Toyota Hyryder. The production of the Elevate Hybrid is already in works at Honda’s Tapukara plant in Alwar, Rajasthan. With the City hybrid, or as Honda calls it, the City e:HEV, contributing 12% of the City sales figures, according to Moneycontrol, the hybrid version of the SUV should help Honda propel its numbers and be competitive in the market.
The City hybrid is powered by a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine with an Atkinson cycle, two electric motors and a battery. It has a total output of 125 bhp and a fuel economy of 27.26 kmpl. Like the City Hybrid, the Elevate Hybrid will come equipped with Honda Sensing or Level 2 ADAS. It will offer features like Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), adaptive cruise control with low speed follow, Lane Keeping Assist System, Lead Car Departure Notification System, Road Departure Mitigation System and auto high-beam. It also comes with a Lane Watch camera, all four disc brakes, a multi-angle rear camera, rear parking sensors, ABS, Brake Assist (BA) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with an electronic stability and traction control system, hill start assist and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Electric SUV on the cards
Honda had announced earlier that it would enter the electric vehicle segment with a new SUV. Contrary to popular belief, the EV is not going to be based on the Elevate. Honda’s new President & CEO, Takashi Nakajima, confirmed this and further said that the EV will be made in India for the local market. It will go up against the Hyundai Creta Electric, Tata Curvv EV and the upcoming Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara.
