Honda Amaze

The Practical Choice

While sedans are seeing a decline in sales in India — thanks to the advent of a variety of SUV segments — the subcompact sedan segment is still going strong. The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is the segment leader, with capable rivals like the Hyundai Aura and Tata Tigor attracting many buyers. Amongst these is the Honda Amaze, which offers many things buyers in this segment prioritise. However, the design is polarising. As a package, is it still attractive enough for you to consider buying?

Honda Amaze Pros and Cons 

Honda Amaze Exterior Design 

Moving on from the older fascia which was shared with the Honda Brio, the Amaze has now adopted a boxy design, with strong shoulder lines and sharp edges. This is most evident at the front end, as the flat bonnet ends sharply, merging into a vertically flat front end. The grille gets a prominent chrome band, complemented by sleek slats and LED projector headlights that add a modern touch. The addition of chrome surrounds for the fog lamp housings and chrome door handles injects an extra layer of sophistication to the design as well. Diamond-cut alloys enhance the side profile and give it character, but the Amaze’s stance could’ve been further improved by wider tyres. At the rear, C-shaped LED taillights and a chrome-accented bumper round off the boxy exterior design, which looks muscular, but isn’t as cohesive and handsome as its Japanese rival.

Honda Amaze Interiors 

Inside, the Honda Amaze impresses with a practical and well-thought-out cabin. The dual-tone black and beige colour scheme, along with silver accents spread across the dashboard and door panels, add to the premiumness of the cabin. The quality of materials is also good, but you will find generous amounts of hard plastics. Despite the good build, the interior design of the Amaze has started to show its age, with rivals like the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Hyundai Aura offering significantly better cabins. With the narrow cabin, it isn’t suited for five adults, but practical for four. Despite the absence of a centre armrest at the front, and air-con vents and adjustable headrests at the back, the Amaze's interior remains a practical environment. And with 420 litres of storage capacity, the Amaze also has the largest boot in the segment. 

Honda Amaze Comfort 

Honda has done well to deliver high comfort levels with the Amaze. While the cabin is narrow, both rows can comfortably seat two adults. However, the omission of a standard front centre armrest is a notable miss. The rear seats are slightly tight on headroom, but the legroom is more than sufficient and under-thigh support is also great, ensuring comfort for even taller passengers. Three adults at the back though wouldn’t be a comfortable affair, especially on longer journeys. The suspension adds to the comfort offered by the seats, gracefully absorbing road imperfections and delivering a smooth ride quality that rivals can seldom match. Although road noise can be intrusive at higher speeds, the overall noise insulation and suspension noise management are also commendable, ensuring a serene cabin atmosphere.  

Honda Amaze Performance and Handling

Powering the Amaze is a 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine, which offers a balance of refinement and efficiency. While the engine lacks a strong mid-range punch, it delights with its smooth operation and rev-happy nature. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 7-step CVT. The manual gearbox provides an engaging driving experience catered towards enthusiasts looking for a family car, while the CVT is geared towards convenience, targeting commuters. Handling characteristics are solid too, demonstrating stability through corners and confidence at triple-digit speeds. The steering, though, will be a let-down for enthusiasts, since it is designed to be light to make city commutes easy.

Honda Amaze Key specifications

Honda Amaze Safety Features

Honda has equipped the Amaze with essential safety features across variants, including dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. The top-spec model also gets a rear-view camera, which, along with automatic headlights, adds a layer of convenience and safety to the driving experience. While the safety package is comprehensive, fixed rear headrests don’t offer much whiplash protection for rear passengers. When crash-tested by the Global NCAP, the Honda Amaze scored a respectable 4-star rating for adult occupant protection, but a disappointing 1-star for child occupant protection.

Honda Amaze Technology and Infotainment

The Amaze gets a responsive and functional 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, outside these functionalities, the system isn’t great to use, since it features a dated interface that doesn’t meet benchmarks set by rivals. The inclusion of automatic climate control, steering-mounted controls, and a digital multi-information display in the instrument cluster in higher trims maintains the Amaze's competitiveness in terms of features.  

Is the Honda Amaze for You?

The Honda Amaze is great on multiple fronts, most of which are crucial to buyers in the subcompact sedan segment. It is spacious and practical, has a large boot, gets a refined and powerful petrol engine with the choice of a manual or a CVT gearbox, and is loaded with most features you’d need daily. Outshining all of these pros are the comfort levels, thanks to great bump absorption, well-cushioned seats, and a comparatively quieter cabin. Where the Amaze lacks is flare, which would have sealed the deal for many. For many families, a subcompact sedan is one of their first cars ever, and the Amaze doesn’t feel special enough to spark love in the hearts of first-time buyers, thanks to a plain exterior design and ageing interiors. However, for families looking for a practical car for everyday commutes and weekend drives, the Amaze ticks the right boxes.