Honda Amaze: Simply Amazed

By Nishant Nayyar · May 2013 · 3 min read

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Honda gets the much needed diesel engine that might turn the tables for the declining image of the Japanese car manufacturer.

Honda’s case is quite similar to the speculative bubbles that we got acquainted with in the recent past — the dot-com bubble and the real estate bubble. For those of you who aren’t familiar with what a bubble is, we will happily explain it to you — a bubble is a combination of rapidly increasing stock prices and the market’s confidence that the company will turn future profits, which eventually collapses and causes a big depression (read economic crises). The only difference in the comparison we are drawing here with Honda is that we think they might be saved from the great downfall of their stellar image with the newly launched Amaze, which sports the much anticipated and handsome i-DTEC diesel engine.

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The Amaze is Honda’s first ever oil burning submission in the subcontinent. At first glance, the car’s appearance might not look very impressive, but once you settle yourself in, you might just start loving it. If you choose to ignore the Brio’s existence, this sedan looks like the pretty face for the Indian market. The boot, unlike that of its closest competitor — Maruti Swift Dzire — goes really well with a bit of the fabricated Brio front. Though the boot also reminds you of the fourth generation Honda City, it actually syncs well with the overall design and ground clearance. The car also sports dual tone interiors that give it a plush and elite feeling. From the outside, it might appear to be a little too cramped, but inside, it is a sweet treat for four average sized human beings. We stress on the average sized bit.

There is ample room for head space and the back benchers would not feel trapped either. Although the sedan has been launched keeping in mind price sensitive consumers, it’s loaded with features that will make this car a hit with urban families. Features like EPS, power windows, keyless entry, 2DIN integrated music system, rear defogger, fuel consumption display and exterior styling elements like body coloured ORVMs, and front and rear bumpers add to the overall premium touch on the Amaze and fill in the gap between entry level sedans and premium sedans. And when it comes to safety, we know Honda never compromises. This sedan has been equipped with driver seat belt reminders, a WAVE key and a high mount stop lamp that is being offered as standard across all variants. The Amaze sedan is also available with automatic transmission albeit only in the petrol variant, which if you ignore the convenience bit would also make a deeper impact on your pocket.

Coming to engine specifications, the sedan is available in 1.2 petrol and 1.5 diesel variants, and we managed to take the latter for a quick spin around the city. The new diesel engine seemed to be extremely refined and the noise levels were remarkably low outside, even at high revs. The noise bit wasn’t as impressive inside the cabin, but that is something we have come to expect from a car in this segment. The engine though, seemed to live up to our expectations when it came to delivering power and torque, both of which it did in a very linear fashion. The powertrain has clearly been tuned to deliver the most in terms of fuel-efficiency. Honda cars are known for their superb handling efficacy and this one doesn’t let the company’s name down on that front either. Keeping in mind the target customers, the car is perfectly capable of handling city roads. The suspension is tuned to leave a mark above the rest of the similar entry-level sedans in the country. Thanks to the well-weighted steering, it handles well in heavy traffic and on steep turns.

With the right price and attractive upgrades coupled with Honda’s trustworthy brand image, the Amaze is here to stay and well, give a tough time to its competitors in the segment.

Plush dual tone interiors and height adjustable steering make this car a sheer joy ride.
Abundant 400 litres of boot space can accommodate most of your travel gear.
The powerful 1.5 litre i-DTEC diesel engine churns out good power and torque.
The ample legroom in the rear section makes the car a comfortable family car.