Honda Elevate vs Hyundai i20 Active [2015-2018]

We spent time with the Honda Elevate to see if it is a case of 'better late than never' or 'too little, too late'.

Ease of driving, convenient dimensions and good fuel economy make hatchbacks a sensible purchase for an urban dweller and we may attribute a certain percentage of hatchback sales primarily for the above mentioned requirements. But, the humble hatchback might not be on everyone’s shopping list. For people with money to spend, they might just opt for a sedan or an SUV, and now we also have to take into account the new “in things” – crossovers. Still, if a large crossover doesn’t figure on someone’s list, they might just settle for the next best segment. Now, we have another segment that has reared its head - the hatchback-based crossover. This segment is still in its nappies and currently there are only three cars in this segment – Fiat Avventura, Toyota Etios Cross and VW Cross Polo.

Honda has finally stepped into the fierce mid-size SUV segment with the Elevate. And the Japanese carmaker aims to change its fortunes in the country with it. The Elevate SUV has been developed and engineered from the ground up in India with more focus on the domestic market. So what is Honda bringing to the table where Korean giants like Hyundai and Kia are leading the pack? Let’s find out.