Honda Elevate facelift starts at Rs 11.80 lakh; Rs 2 lakh down payment means EMI of about Rs 25,000

For those planning to buy an SUV in the Indian market, the Honda Elevate facelift could be an important option. The ex-showroom price of the updated SUV starts at Rs 11.80 lakh, while the top variant costs Rs 18.40 lakh. Its design, spacious cabin, modern features and safety equipment are drawing buyers' attention.

However, looking at the price alone is not enough when buying a new car. The on-road price, the down payment and the monthly EMI need to be understood as well. The price, features, engine and loan calculation are taken up one by one below.

First, the on-road price in Delhi. Taking the base variant, the ex-showroom price is Rs 11,80,000. On top of this, RTO charges of Rs 1,29,800, insurance of Rs 54,965 and other charges of Rs 11,800 have been assumed. Added together, the total on-road price comes to Rs 13,76,565. The figure is given as an example. The actual on-road price can vary with the city, the dealership, the insurance and applicable charges.

Now the EMI. Suppose a buyer makes a down payment of Rs 2 lakh on the base variant; a car loan of Rs 11,76,565 would then be needed for the rest. If the interest rate on the loan is taken as 10 per cent a year and the repayment period as five years, or 60 months, the monthly EMI would be about Rs 25,000. On this basis, the instalments over 60 months total Rs 15,00,000 and, with the down payment, the overall outlay is shown as Rs 17,00,000. These figures are estimates. The actual EMI and total repayment may differ according to the bank's interest rate, processing fee and loan terms.

On design, the Elevate facelift has a bold mesh grille, tri-bar signature LED position lights and full-width connected LED tail-lamps. The SUV has a ground clearance of 220 mm, which could prove useful on the varied condition of Indian roads.

Inside, the cabin has a dual-tone ivory and black theme with an emphasis on a premium look. The top variant has ventilation for the front and rear seats, an 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat and a 4-way power-adjustable seat for the co-passenger. There are also a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, connected car technology, a sunroof, an 8-speaker sound system and USB-C charging ports. Features can differ by variant.

For safety, the Elevate has six airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), hill hold assist and ISOFIX child seat mounts. The top variant also has a 360-degree camera. According to the information provided, select variants include Level 2 ADAS features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist.

The Elevate is powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 121 PS of power and 145 Nm of torque. Buyers can choose between a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed CVT transmission. According to ARAI, the mileage is 15.31 km per litre for the manual variant and 16.61 km per litre for the CVT variant. Actual mileage will depend on driving style, traffic and road conditions.

So is buying the Elevate a good deal? The Honda Elevate facelift tries to balance comfort, features, engine capability and safety. Even so, a buyer may still have to pay a monthly EMI of about Rs 25,000 after a Rs 2 lakh down payment. Before buying a car, it is therefore important to take monthly income, household expenses, other loans and maintenance costs into account. Before making a final decision, buyers should check the latest price, loan terms and available offers with the bank and an authorised dealer.