Honda Amaze: Honda entered the highly competitive sub-4-meter sedan segment in 2013 with the first-generation Amaze.
This strategic move allowed Honda to capitalize on India’s tax benefits for vehicles under four meters in length while offering customers a sedan experience in a compact package.
The first generation was essentially a sedan derivative of the Brio hatchback, featuring the same front design but with a thoughtfully integrated boot.
The second-generation Amaze, launched in 2018, marked a significant departure from its predecessor.
Unlike the first generation, the new Amaze was developed as a sedan from the ground up rather than being a hatchback derivative.
This approach allowed Honda’s designers to create more harmonious proportions and a distinctive identity for the vehicle.
The current model received a facelift in 2021, bringing refreshed styling elements, enhanced features, and improved refinement to keep pace with evolving customer expectations and increasingly sophisticated competition.
Honda Amaze: Design Philosophy
The Honda Amaze embodies a design philosophy that Honda calls “Advanced Urban Sophistication.”
The front fascia features Honda’s signature solid wing face with a prominent chrome grille and sharp, angular headlamps that convey a sense of premium quality.
The hood features sculpted lines that enhance its visual appeal while improving aerodynamics.
In profile, the Amaze displays well-balanced proportions despite the constraints of the sub-4-meter classification.
The shoulder line runs cleanly from front to rear, creating a sense of forward motion even when the car is stationary.
he design team has skillfully avoided the truncated appearance that often characterizes vehicles in this segment, instead achieving a cohesive and proportionate silhouette.
The rear features wraparound tail lamps with C-shaped LED light guides that provide a distinctive signature, especially at night.
The boot lid design integrates a subtle spoiler element that enhances both aesthetics and aerodynamic efficiency.
Inside, the Amaze offers a cabin that punches above its weight class in terms of perceived quality and space utilization.
The dashboard layout prioritizes ergonomics with a driver-focused design. The use of piano black accents, chrome highlights, and textured surfaces creates a premium ambiance that belies the vehicle’s price point.
Powertrain and Performance
The Honda Amaze is offered with two engine options to cater to different customer preferences. The petrol variant features a 1.2-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine that produces 90 horsepower and 110 Nm of torque.
This naturally aspirated unit is renowned for its refinement, responsive nature, and excellent fuel efficiency.
The engine can be paired with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
For those prioritizing fuel economy and long-distance cruising capability, Honda offers a 1.5-liter i-DTEC diesel engine that generates 100 horsepower and a substantial 200 Nm of torque when paired with the manual transmission.
When coupled with the CVT, output is slightly reduced to 80 horsepower and 160 Nm to ensure transmission longevity.
The diesel engine is particularly noted for its exceptional fuel efficiency, with claimed figures exceeding 24 km/l with the manual transmission.
The driving dynamics of the Amaze reflect Honda’s engineering philosophy of creating cars that are both comfortable and engaging to drive.
The suspension setup—comprising MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear—is calibrated to provide a balanced compromise between ride comfort and handling precision.
The electric power steering offers appropriate weight and reasonable feedback, making the Amaze equally adept at navigating congested urban environments and covering highway distances.
Braking duties are handled by disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear, a common configuration in this segment.
The braking performance is confidence-inspiring, with good pedal feel and progressive stopping power.
All variants come equipped with anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) as standard safety features.
Space Utilization and Practicality
One of the Amaze’s standout attributes is its exceptional space utilization, a testament to Honda’s expertise in packaging.
Despite its compact external dimensions—measuring just under 4 meters in length—the Amaze offers interior space that rivals vehicles from a segment above.
The front seats provide excellent support with appropriate bolstering for both short commutes and longer journeys.
The driving position is commanding, with good visibility in all directions, enhancing confidence during city maneuvers.
Rear seat accommodation is particularly impressive, with generous legroom and headroom even for taller passengers.
The nearly flat floor in the rear enhances comfort for the middle passenger, making the Amaze a genuine five-seater—a rarity in this segment.
Practicality extends to storage solutions as well. The cabin features numerous thoughtfully placed storage compartments, including a spacious glove box, door pockets capable of holding 1-liter bottles, cup holders, and a center console storage bin.
The boot capacity of 420 liters is among the best in the segment, capable of accommodating multiple large suitcases or the weekly shopping with ease.
The rear seats can be folded down to expand cargo capacity further, though they don’t offer the flexibility of a 60:40 split arrangement found in some competitors.
Technology and Features
The current Honda Amaze comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of features designed to enhance comfort, convenience, and connectivity.
The infotainment system centers around a 7-inch touchscreen display that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing seamless smartphone integration.
The system also incorporates Bluetooth connectivity, USB inputs, and steering-mounted controls for safer operation while driving.
Comfort features include automatic climate control on higher variants, adjustable front seat headrests, rear AC vents, and electric adjustments for exterior mirrors.
Convenience is enhanced through keyless entry, push-button start, and cruise control on select variants.
On the safety front, the Amaze comes equipped with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors as standard across all variants.
Higher-spec versions add a reverse camera with guidelines, impact-sensing door unlock, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.
Market Positioning and Competition
The Honda Amaze occupies a distinctive position in India’s compact sedan segment.
While competitors like the Maruti Suzuki Dzire focus primarily on affordability and fuel efficiency, and the Hyundai Aura emphasizes features and technology, the Amaze positions itself as the more sophisticated, refined option that offers a premium driving experience.
This positioning is reflected in its pricing strategy, which typically places it slightly above the Dzire but offers tangible benefits in terms of build quality, refinement, and driving dynamics.
Other notable competitors include the Tata Tigor, which emphasizes style and value, and the Ford Aspire (though now discontinued in India following Ford’s exit from the market).
Despite facing fierce competition, the Amaze has maintained strong sales figures, regularly featuring among the top three best-selling compact sedans in India.
Its appeal extends beyond metropolitan areas to smaller cities and towns, where the prestige of sedan ownership combined with compact dimensions and fuel efficiency creates a compelling proposition.
Ownership Experience
The ownership experience of the Honda Amaze is characterized by the renowned reliability and durability that has become synonymous with the Honda brand.
The powertrains, particularly the petrol engine, are known for their longevity and trouble-free operation when maintained according to the recommended schedule.
Maintenance costs, while slightly higher than some mass-market competitors, are offset by longer service intervals and excellent parts durability.
Honda’s service network, though not as extensive as Maruti Suzuki’s, offers specialized expertise and quality workmanship.
The Amaze also benefits from strong resale value, typically retaining a higher percentage of its original price compared to many competitors.
This factor significantly reduces the total cost of ownership and enhances the vehicle’s value proposition over its lifecycle.
Honda Amaze
The Honda Amaze represents a thoughtful balance between practicality and driving pleasure in the compact sedan segment.
By successfully addressing the core needs of its target market—space, efficiency, reliability, and comfort—
while infusing the product with Honda’s engineering excellence and attention to detail, the Amaze has earned its place as a significant player in India’s automotive landscape.
As urban congestion increases and parking spaces shrink, the Amaze’s combination of compact external dimensions and spacious interiors makes it increasingly relevant to modern Indian consumers.
Furthermore, its refined powertrains, especially the frugal diesel option, address the growing concern about fuel prices and environmental impact.
In a market segment often characterized by compromise, the Honda Amaze stands out by minimizing those compromises and delivering a holistic product that satisfies both emotional and rational purchase considerations.
As Honda continues to evolve the platform with each update, the Amaze seems poised to maintain its position as a benchmark for compact sedans in the Indian market.