Launched originally in 2013, the Amaze was Honda’s sub-4 metre sedan sharing its platform with the Brio. It did fairly well in the market but the competition kept on increasing. In addition to Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and Hyundai Xcent, it also had to deal with the Tata Zest and VW Ameo that entered the segment.
Five years later in 2018 Honda Amaze comes in its second generation with a completely new platform built from ground up. Once again there are both petrol and diesel engine options and both of them now come with 5 speed manual transmission and CVT variants.
The 1.2 litre petrol engine churns out 89 bhp and 110 Nm of torque. The 1.5 litre diesel engine generates 99 bhp and 200 Nm of torque. With the CVT variant the specs of 1.5 litre diesel engine are 79 bhp and 160 Nm of torque.
With a new chassis, there has been a reduction in the kerb weight of the car. The diesel weighs 17 kg less and the petrol 23 kg less than their corresponding older models. Meanwhile, the length has increased by 5 mm and width by 15 mm albeit the height is less by 5mm in the modified design. So the revised dimensions for Honda Amaze are L = 3995 mm, W= 1695 mm, H = 1501 mm. The designers have also pushed the front and rear wheels apart to create a longer wheelbase that now measures 2470 mm.
The old two slat grille design has been revised to a broader grille with single, thick chrome strut with Honda logo in between. It connects the headlamps making the pair look like a compact unit on the grille. As against the rounded appearance on the bonnet of last model, this new version features a more angular hood. The swept back headlights are also styled differently and give the Amaze a refreshed look. These have integrated LED daytime running lights (DRLs).
For its wheels with the top end variant, the sedan gets 15 incher alloys shod by 175/65 R15 tyres. The lower variants have 14 inch steel wheels with the same tyre size 175/65 R14. This second generation model has cleaner door panels with only one character line at the bottom. The doors have pull type handles and the outside rear view mirrors (ORVMs) have integrated side turn indicators. We also see the same ORVMs on Jazz, WR-V and BR-V. The B pillar has been blackened.
Moving over to the rear while the boot is stubby and high set, it does not make the new amaze seem disproportionate. It gets C – shaped split tail lamps. There are cuts and creases on the boot and bumper. The boot’s capacity has increased to 420 litres from 400 litres.
When Honda exhibited the Amaze at the Auto Expo earlier this year, there was a thick chrome strip seen on the boot gate with the Honda logo in between. While the logo stays at the same position, the chrome has gone from the production models. Unlike the Dzire, the tail lamps for Amaze do not have LED elements.
The cabin of the new model has also been refreshed as enthusiastically as the exterior. There is a new dashboard and steering wheel although the ambient theme is still black and beige. The quality of parts has improved as compared and it is comparable to Ford Aspire and Suzuki Dzire.
You will find the dashboard lower set as compared to the 1st model, particularly near the driver’s side. It feels airy and the windscreen offers a better view upfront.
For infotainment there is Digipad 2.0 which has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It is better to use than the older Digipad 1.0 that’s used currently in BR-V, WR-V and City. The only issue is that visibility gets affected in direct sunlight. The lower trims have a simpler audio system with Bluetooth and it looks similar to the unit on the older model.
The Japanese car maker has also improved the seating of Amaze appreciatively. Those tacky looking thin seats with integrated headrests have been replaced by broader seats that have adjustable headrests. They have improved bolstering and the headrests also offer whiplash protection as in Honda’s other cars.
For the rear part of the cabin the space and seating were appreciated in the older model too and in the new Amaze too they do impress. With more of width and wheelbase, things are even better. The seat base and lumbar support are good. There is adequate legroom but taller occupants may find the headroom tad less due to slope of the roof.
The rear centre armrest has two cup holders and all doors get pockets that can hold one litre bottles. In the front, the glovebox is also spacious and there are quite a few cubby holes in the centre console too for knick knacks. We’d only wish that Honda offered a front armrest too at least in the automatic variants. Even the cruise control provided for the first time in Honda Amaze comes only with top-end VX trim.
You get paddle shifters – a segment first feature – with the petrol CVT but not with diesel. The latter has a low gear mode marked L – it lets the car to get into the lowest possible gear ratio and that helps on steep inclines.
Honda does offer automatic climate control for this compact sedan. And the second generation model also brings front window demister vents – this is missing on other Honda cars in India except the luxury segment models Accord and CR-V.
Safety elements in form of dual airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, ISOFIX child safety seat anchor points and reverse parking sensors are standard across all variants.
ARAI fuel efficiency for manual petrol version is 19.5 km/litre and for CVT it is 19 km/litre. In diesels, the manual variant offers an impressive economy of 27.8 km /litre and CVT has been rated at 23.8 km/litre.
The price for petrol range starts at Rs 5.59 lakh (E- MT) and goes up to Rs 7.99 lakh (V – CVT). For diesel it begins at Rs 6.69 lakh (E –MT) and the top end V - CVT variant is priced at 8.89 lakh. (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).
For body colours, there is a choice between Radiant Red, Orchid White Pearl, Modern Steel, Golden Metallic Brown and Lunar Silver.
Do read our Expert Review for a report on the performance and road manners of the All New Honda Amaze!
The new edition is priced at Rs 5.29 lakh for base petrol and Rs 6.41 lakh for diesel variant (ex-showroom, Delhi). The car initially launched in 2013 got the sales of Honda to a new high. Changes on the outside and inside are quite substantial. Front fascia is heavily altered with new grille, headlamps and fog lamps bezels. Inside the changes are even more perceptible with new dash and Jazz-inspired instrumentation taking the center stage. Unlike the outgoing model, automatic climate control is also on offer. Under the hood, however, things remain similar. This means 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel will continue to do duty in new Amaze. Power and torque output of the motors are pegged at the same level as before though Honda claims to have tuned the motors to deliver more fuel efficiency than before. Both engines will be mated with 5-speed manual transmission and additionally CVT option will also be on offer.
The Japanese car maker Honda has been in India since long but its presence was only in the petrol car segment. Based on the popular Brio hatchback, Honda launched its first diesel car, Amaze, in India on 11th April’13. Even before the car was launched it got 4500 bookings in advance thus clearly reflecting its popularity. In the market the main competitor of Honda Amaze is the Maruti DZire.
Honda has always been on the receiving end when it comes to the growing popularity. Its car, Amaze, has been one the most awaited cars of the year as with its launch the latest i-DTEC engine is also making its debut.
Honda Amaze is available in two engine options: the petrol variant and the diesel variant. Petrol variant comes with 1.2 L i-VTEC engine while the diesel version comes with 1.5 L i-DTEC engine. Both the petrol and diesel variants are coupled with 5-speed manual transmission while the automatic transmission is available in petrol variant only and has 5 speed gearbox. The petrol engine delivers maximum power of 86.7 BHP @6000 rpm and torque of 109 NM @4500 rpm while the diesel engine is can deliver maximum power of 98.6 BHP @3600 rpm and maximum torque of 200 NM @1750 rpm. In terms of fuel efficiency, the petrol version of the car can yield deliver around 18 kmpl for the manual transmission versions and 15.5 kmpl for the automatic transmission versions while the diesel engine with manual transmission variants promises to deliver an excellent mileage of 25.8 kmpl.
The Amaze is based on Brio but is a slightly longer, wider and a bit taller than that. The length of Amaze is a sub-four-meter sedan that qualifies it to avail excise sops for small cars and make it available at an affordable price for the consumers. From the front, Amaze has a new twin layered chrome grille, pointed headlights and bumpers that have got sharp creases that make the car appear longer then it really is. The shoulder lines and the wheel arches on the sideways, enhance the sportiness of Amaze. In the rear, the car is completely different from Brio and features tail lights and a broad rear bumper. The chrome plate on its trunk gives an impressive look to the car. Besides, it has a massive boot space for capacity of 400 L.
Enter inside the car and the first thing you will notice is the familiar look that has been taken from the Brio. It has the same dual tone black and beige interiors. The plastic quality doesn’t looks to be that appealing. The dashboard has a small central console with circular AC vents on either side, an integrated glove box that can be used to keep your essential things and an audio system with USB and AUX-in for entertainment. It has an adjustable steering wheel that that can be tilted as per the driver’s convenience and also has mounted audio controls on it.
The Honda Amaze has a seating capacity of 5 people and is quite spacious and comfortable. The rear seat also has an armrest and a cup holder. The only interior difference between Amaze and Brio is the Tachometer that is marked till 5000 rpm only.
In terms of safety and smooth driving, Honda Amaze comes with McPherson Strut suspension in the front and torsion beam suspension in the rear which lets it drive smoothly. The car is well equipped with ABS, EBD, engine immobilizer, fog lamps, central lock and keyless entry. The SRS airbags are available only in the higher VX variant.
Overall, the car is certainly going to rock in the price segment in which it has been launched. Way to go Honda Amaze!!