Honda re-entered the Indian SUV market after a long time earlier in September this year with the Elevate. Now, the carmaker has taken the SUV to its home market, however, there’s a small catch. In Japan, it has adopted the name ‘WR-V’. And before one gets confused, no it doesn’t have any connection with the earlier India-spec WR-V.
For reference, the India-spec WR-V was a subcompact crossover based on the same platform as Jazz which got discontinued at the start of this year. On the other hand, the Elevate is based on the fifth-gen Honda City platform. However, Honda hasn’t yet confirmed if the Japan-spec WR-V (or Elevate) has been manufactured in India or not.
Honda Elevate in Japan: What’s different?
Besides the WR-V nameplate, there are minor differences between the Japan-spec and the India-spec Elevate. For starters, the former gets an all-black cabin interior as opposed to the dual-tone brown interiors in India. Also the equipment on offer in the WR-V is different from the one offered in the India-spec Elevate.
It gets a slightly larger infotainment system with physical controls on its edges as opposed to the 10.25-inch unit available here. That said, the Japanese Elevate also misses out on a couple of features like single-pane sunroof and a wireless phone charger. In terms of safety, LaneWatch camera, reversing camera, and multiple ADAS features including forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control.
Honda Elevate in Japan: What’s similar?
Barring the attributes mentioned above, everything else available in the India-spec Elevate has been carried over to the Japan-spec WR-V. It gets the same 1.5-litre i-Vtec naturally aspirated petrol engine that puts out 119 bhp and 145 Nm of peak torque. Although officially not announced, but this motor is likely to receive the same transmission options as Elevate– a 6-speed manual or a CVT automatic.