The quality of the seats, in terms of firmness, softness, and contouring, is top-notch in both rows.
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First Impressions of the Honda Elevate: Three days behind the wheel
Decision cycle:
After nearly a decade of faithful service from my Maruti Ertiga, I decided it was time for an upgrade. Safety, future-proofing, an automatic transmission, and a car that accommodated taller individuals were my top priorities. Last year, I had initially booked the XUV700 AX7L Petrol AT, but two concerns held me back: ongoing niggles and low fuel efficiency.
Earlier this year, I test-drove the 5th generation City and found it almost perfect, with the exception of headroom and ingress/egress. Then came the Honda Elevate, a car I’d been keeping a close eye on since its announcement. Thanks to the valuable insights and debates in this forum, I made my decision. And now, after completing the buying cycle, I’m here to share my initial experiences with the Honda Elevate ZX CVT, which I purchased from Whitefield Honda, Bangalore.
The Buying Experience:
The process of acquiring the car went relatively smoothly, with only a slight delay due to a recent bandh. I opted for basic accessories, a dash cam, and extended warranty. Since it was a weekday, there weren’t many other deliveries, allowing my Sales Advisor to take the time to explain various settings and steering controls.
Special thanks to @nreddy for the advice about the car’s fuel level. I wasted no time heading to the nearest COCO station to fuel up. The meter read 38.5L – should have been delivered with just 2 liters of fuel!
Observations About the Car:
I’m thoroughly enjoying my experience with the Elevate so far, and while my observations may not offer entirely new perspectives, here are a few insights:
Seat Comfort: The quality of the seats, in terms of firmness, softness, and contouring, is top-notch in both rows. However, I did notice that the driver’s seat felt positioned quite low even in the lowest setting, leading to a knee-up position and less under-thigh support. Adjusting the seat height didn’t make a significant difference. Nevertheless, at 6’3″, I find my driving position comfortable, although I’ll have a better sense of this during longer drives.
Engine Performance: The engine operates smoothly and quietly at city speeds. In fact, I found myself checking if the engine was running while parked. During quick accelerations from a standstill, it does make some noise, which quickly settles down. The sports mode offers a distinct, enjoyable sound, and the paddle shift adds an extra layer of fun. At 100 km/h, there was some noticeable tire noise inside the cabin, prompting me to consider switching to sports mode for overtaking on highways.
ADAS: The Lane Keep Assist feature works like a charm on well-marked roads during the daytime. I tried the adaptive cruise control once, but I admit I was a bit puzzled by the set/reset buttons. I received a collision warning on the dashboard twice, once when a scooter unexpectedly overtook me and again when I was at a safe distance from a moving bus on the highway. In both cases, I didn’t feel the brakes engaging. The lane-watch camera is incredibly useful and has quickly become my most-used feature. While a 360-degree camera would have been nice, I may not miss it once I get accustomed to the car’s dimensions.
Audio System: I’m impressed with the quality of the speakers, even as a casual listener. The ability to customize audio settings, including adjusting volume balance between front and rear rows, is a nice touch. Wireless Android Auto paired seamlessly, although I did notice my phone heating up during use on a couple of occasions.
Climate Control and Lighting: The AC system appears to do its job well, although ventilated seats would have been a welcomed addition. The headlight throw seems adequate for city driving, although I’ve yet to experience nighttime highway driving. The auto headlamps consistently function as expected.
Accessories:
- Basic Accessories: I could have saved a few thousand rupees by purchasing mats from an external source. However, some online options suggested by fellow BHPians had delivery lead times, and I didn’t want to risk dirtying the carpet in the first few days.
- Dash Cam: I specifically chose to purchase the dash cam from the dealer to ensure that any electrical work could be covered under warranty. However, it’s worth noting that it’s currently plugged into the 12V socket!
Overall, I’m quite satisfied with my choice of the Honda Elevate so far. It’s been an exciting three days of ownership, and I look forward to many more adventures with this impressive vehicle.
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