Honda Elevate to be launched in Japan as WR-V

Key Highlights

• Honda Elevate will be exported to Japan and sold as the WR-V.
• Its Japanese counterpart will retain the design and engine but will get some tweaks inside.
• WR-V stands for ‘Winsome Runabout Vehicle’.

After making its debut in India in September, Honda Elevate is all set to launch in the Japanese automaker’s home territory. The Elevate will be launched in Japan as Honda WR-V. It will retain the design of its Indian counterpart and rock the same engine as well. Honda currently manufactures the Elevate in India. The midsize SUV will be exported to Japan.

Read Also: Volvo XC40 Petrol pulled from the Indian market

Honda Elevate rebadged as WR-V in Japan: What are the differences?

Honda has not made any changes to the exterior of the midsize SUV. The WR-V has the same dimensions as Honda Elevate – 4,312mm x 1,790mm x 1,650mm, and a wheelbase of 2,650mm. The LED lamps and DRLs on either side of the grille are connected by a chrome bar. At the back, a light strip bridges the LED tail lamps.

Inside, the Honda WR-V gets an all-black colour theme. The Honda Elevate has a dual-tone black-and-beige theme. The infotainment system on the WR-V is a different unit than the one on the Elevate. This infotainment system has a dedicated remote control. In terms of features, the WR-V gets in-car WiFi and theft detection but misses out on an electric sunroof and wireless charging.

There are no changes under the hood as Honda Elevate and WR-V share the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. This engine produces a maximum power output of 121hp and 145Nm of torque. It can be mated to a CVT gearbox. The India-spec Elevate also gets the option of a 6-speed manual gearbox. Manual variants of Honda Elevate offer a fuel efficiency of 15.31kmpl while the CVT variants put up a mileage of 16.92kmpl.

Read Also: Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG responsible for 50% of the automaker’s CNG sales

Conclusion

The WR-V is placed below the HR-V in Honda’s Japanese catalogue. The latter comes with a mild-hybrid powertrain, which is missing from the Elevate as well as the WR-V. More details about the launch of the WR-V will be revealed next month. It is expected to be priced at 2 million JPY. In India, Honda Elevate is priced at Rs 11 lakh and rivals other midsize SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Volkswagen Taigun, Kia Seltos, Citroen C3 Aircross, Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder, and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara.

For the latest car and bike news, car reviews/bike reviews, and auto features follow us on Twitter and Facebook. You can find the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews here.