Yes, the SUV fever may be gripping everyone but it is extremely hard to beat the comfort and ease of driving a compact sedan. Honda has reintroduced its compact Amaze with a redesign that aims to deliver a premium experience within the sub-four-metre segment. The new Amaze combines safety, dynamic performance and thoughtful design to cater to aspirational buyers seeking functionality and reliability in an affordable package.
Honda has also bumped up the safety element with stronger steel elements in the chassis, and level-2 ADAS in this segment. We were able to drive the manual and CVT versions through the bustling streets of Goa to get a feel of how all the engineering changes make the new Amaze feel to drive.
Aesthetic Design With Functional Elements
The third-generation Amaze has a more mature and progressive design language. It’s wider with elongated character lines and LED bi-projector headlamps look good and classy. The rear combination lamps create a distinctive signature, ensuring a stylish yet functional aesthetic. The clear design influences of the Elevate at the front and City at the rear are visible in the Amaze, but that is what adds to its charm. Honda has placed great emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency and enhanced lighting for safer night driving, which is a significant evolution over its predecessor.
Inside, the Amaze is a nice place to be in, with a good fit and finish, and a combination of quality plastics. It has a wide, slim cabin design that maximises space. Features such as a 7-inch TFT metre and an 8-inch infotainment system highlight Honda’s focus on intuitive technology. Enhanced shoulder, hip, and headroom for passengers are the most impressive bits.
It feels comfortable for four, with a good amount of equipment for longer journeys. The six-speaker setup is a giant improvement in terms of audio performance. Wireless connectivity on Apple and Android devices is an added bonus. The wireless charger might have an attitude and the phone keeps sliding off the slot.
Enjoyable Driving Dynamics & Performance
The engine powering the Amaze is the tried-and-tested 4-cylinder 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine which now comes equipped with an upgraded engine management system to support ADAS functionalities and compatibility with E20 blend petrol. The manual transmission, as always, offers optimised gear ratios for decent acceleration. The CVT’s response has been considerably improved with its upgraded software. It feels lively and quicker to respond to your inputs. However, both the 89 bhp 110 Nm engine and transmissions have been designed for comfort and smoothness, so do not expect quick acceleration.
The vehicle’s suspension has been re-tuned to provide a plush ride, even on rough roads. We were able to run it on mixed surfaces and a few twisting back roads of Goa; glad to report that the Amaze feels much more taut and active than its predecessor now. Yes, you can enjoy driving it on curvy roads. The chassis sees significant improvements with the inclusion of ultra-high-strength steel reinforcements, enhancing both rigidity and safety.
Honda says ground clearance has been raised marginally to 172 mm (+2mm over its predecessor) offering better driveability on Indian roads, but it still managed to scrap itself on a few high-set speed breakers. This is not a problem actually, all you have to do is be careful with a loaded car, like we always did with Honda sedans. This is blame directed towards our road quality, and not sedans per say. Lower-slung cars are a sign of better road building, which in our case of increasing SUV sales, is the exact opposite. These dichotomies are getting tiring!
Flaunting Safety Features
Honda has made safety a focal point in the new Amaze. It is equipped with Honda Sensing making it the most affordable ADAS-enabled passenger car in India. The safety suite includes lane watch cameras, hill-start assist, and vehicle stability assist, alongside six airbags and three-point seat belts for all passengers.
But keep in mind the engine and transmission combinations are entertaining and in true Honda tradition you must become a better driver to enjoy driving and not merely rely on electronics. Yes, there is a blind-spot detection camera, and a reversing camera for added convenience, but the rear-view mirrors along with great all-around visibility allow you to drive and park the Amaze easily. So practise and get better.
Practicality
With a boot space of 416 litres, the Amaze offers ample storage, maintaining its practicality for families. The inclusion of features like rear AC vents, a PM 2.5 cabin filter, and noise-reduction techniques such as spray foaming further elevate the driving experience. No really, it’s quiet inside the cabin. The doors sometimes don’t shut in one go, which is kind of annoying at times. Honda Connect though, offered with a five-year free subscription, enhances connectivity with real-time vehicle tracking, geo-fencing, and remote operations.
The Amaze will be offered with over 38 accessory options, including ventilated seat covers with massagers, tyre pressure monitoring systems, and ambient lighting. These customisation options ensure that buyers can personalise the car to suit their preferences to make their journeys more pleasurable.
Honda’s Strategic Approach
Honda has tactically positioned the Amaze to balance affordability and luxury. The car is offered in three trims—V, VX, and ZX—available in both manual and CVT variants. This lineup caters to varying customer preferences, ensuring broad appeal, where even the base variant gets a good amount of equipment. The ZX trim, with its ADAS features, takes the cake in the sub-four-metre sedan category. Another starting variant with a more affordable price tag would have further improved walk-ins for Honda dealerships because the competition is stiff in this category. Amaze has to battle other established compact sedans and now a relentless range of compact SUVs to stay ahead of the game.
The new Honda Amaze represents a great step for the compact sedan segment in India. By blending aesthetics, safety features, and a practical design, Honda has created a vehicle that stands out for quality and reliability in a highly competitive market. While certain features like the omission of a sunroof may spark debate, the focus on functional appeal ensures the Amaze remains a compelling choice for buyers seeking value and reliability. This elite booster sedan is poised to stand up to expectations, making a strong case for Honda’s engineering and design philosophy.
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