New Honda Amaze: In the competitive landscape of India’s compact sedan segment, the Honda Amaze has consistently maintained a distinctive position through its combination of stylish design, efficient powertrains, and the brand’s renowned reliability.
The new generation Amaze builds upon this established foundation while introducing meaningful refinements that enhance both the emotional and practical aspects of ownership.
This thoughtfully evolved model demonstrates Honda’s understanding of the segment’s importance as both a volume driver and a crucial entry point for customers new to the brand.
New Honda Amaze: Strategic Significance in Honda’s Portfolio
The Amaze occupies a pivotal position in Honda’s Indian lineup, serving as both the brand’s most accessible sedan and a strategic competitor in one of the market’s most value-conscious segments.
Unlike larger Honda sedans that may emphasize premium features or performance, the Amaze must balance multiple sometimes contradictory priorities—maintaining affordable pricing while delivering the quality and refinement expected from the Honda badge.
This balancing act requires thoughtful engineering and design decisions that preserve the fundamental Honda character while acknowledging the practical realities of the segment’s price sensitivity.
The latest Amaze demonstrates this balanced approach, introducing enhancements that elevate the ownership experience without compromising the model’s essential value proposition.
Design Evolution: Sophisticated Presence
The exterior design of the new Amaze presents a more sophisticated interpretation of Honda’s sedan design language:
The front features a prominent chrome bar grille flanked by sleeker headlamps with LED elements that create a more premium appearance.
The bumper incorporates redesigned fog lamp housings and air intakes that enhance both visual appeal and aerodynamic efficiency. The hood lines create stronger character definition that communicates solidity despite compact dimensions.
In profile, the Amaze maintains balanced proportions with a strong character line running from the front fenders through the door handles to the taillights, creating visual continuity and reducing apparent mass.
The greenhouse design prioritizes visibility and interior spaciousness while maintaining aesthetic appeal through tasteful chrome accents around window frames.
The rear combines wrap-around LED taillights with a sculpted trunk lid that incorporates an integrated spoiler element. This arrangement creates a more dynamic appearance while optimizing aerodynamics and visual width.
Available in five exterior finishes including Platinum White Pearl, Radiant Red, and Lunar Silver Metallic, the Amaze offers personalization options that complement its position as an aspirational yet accessible choice.
These thoughtful design elements collectively create a vehicle that feels more substantial than its dimensions or price point might suggest.
Interior Environment: Premium Practicality
The interior of the new Amaze demonstrates Honda’s expertise in creating environments that balance aesthetics with functionality:
7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity
Digital-analog instrument cluster with multi-information display
Piano black accents with chrome detailing
Leatherette upholstery option on higher trims
Rear air conditioning vents improving comfort
One-touch operation for power windows
Multiple storage compartments throughout cabin
Cruise control reducing fatigue during highway travel
The cabin architecture adopts a driver-focused layout with controls positioned for intuitive operation. The dashboard design incorporates layered elements with contrasting materials that create visual interest without unnecessary complexity.
The center console features a floating design that improves ergonomics while maintaining clean visual lines.
Particularly impressive is the space utilization, with the Amaze offering rear seat accommodation that exceeds expectations for the segment.
The flat floor enhances comfort for center passengers, while the bench design provides better thigh support than many competitors.
These practical considerations acknowledge the Amaze’s likely use as family transportation despite its compact exterior dimensions.
Material quality shows consistent attention to touchpoints and visual surfaces, with improved textures and panel fitment enhancing perceived value.
The color and trim options include sophisticated combinations that create a premium ambiance while maintaining practicality for everyday use.
Powertrain Options: Efficient Performance
The Amaze offers multiple powertrain options addressing diverse customer priorities:
| Engine Type | 1.2L i-VTEC Petrol | 1.5L i-DTEC Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1199cc | 1498cc |
| Maximum Power | 90 PS @ 6000 rpm | 100 PS @ 3600 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | 110 Nm @ 4800 rpm | 200 Nm @ 1750 rpm |
| Transmission Options | 5-speed Manual / CVT | 5-speed Manual / CVT |
| Fuel Efficiency (Manual) | 18.6 km/l | 24.7 km/l |
| Fuel Efficiency (CVT) | 18.3 km/l | 21.0 km/l |
The petrol engine delivers responsive performance with excellent refinement, utilizing Honda’s renowned i-VTEC technology to optimize both power delivery and efficiency.
The diesel option emphasizes torque and economy, making it particularly suitable for customers prioritizing long-term operating costs or frequently undertaking longer journeys.
Both engines benefit from Honda’s focus on lightweight construction and reduced friction, contributing to efficiency without compromising durability.
The transmissions receive particular attention, with both manual and CVT options offering smooth operation suited to diverse driving conditions.
The CVT features specific programming that mimics conventional gear shifts during harder acceleration, addressing a common criticism of continuously variable transmissions.
Chassis and Dynamics: Balanced Performance
The Amaze is built on Honda’s modern platform architecture, providing a solid foundation for balanced handling and ride comfort:
MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs
Torsion beam rear suspension with coil springs
Electric power steering with variable assistance
Ventilated front disc and rear drum brakes
175/65 R15 tires on alloy wheels (higher trims)
165mm ground clearance suitable for Indian road conditions
Enhanced sound insulation reducing cabin noise
Optimized body structure improving rigidity and safety
This configuration delivers handling characteristics that strike an effective balance between comfort and control—an appropriate compromise for a vehicle that will serve primarily as practical transportation rather than a performance machine.
The suspension tuning acknowledges the varied road conditions encountered across India, providing compliance over poor surfaces while maintaining reasonable body control during directional changes.
Particularly noteworthy is the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) management, with additional sound-deadening materials and structural optimizations creating a noticeably quieter cabin environment than typical for the segment.
This refinement enhances the premium feel while reducing fatigue during longer journeys.
Technology Integration: Connected Convenience
The technology suite of the new Amaze focuses on features that enhance both convenience and safety:
7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines
Paddle shifters for CVT models enhancing driver engagement
Push-button start with smart entry system
Automatic climate control with dust and pollen filter
LED projector headlamps with integrated daytime running lights
Voice recognition for hands-free control
Remote engine start (on CVT models)
The implementation of these technologies demonstrates Honda’s understanding that feature integration should enhance the ownership experience without unnecessary complexity.
The infotainment system, for example, combines touchscreen operation with physical controls for frequently used functions, acknowledging that purely touch-based interfaces can prove distracting during driving.
Safety Systems: Comprehensive Protection
Safety receives significant emphasis in the new Amaze, with standard features that exceed segment expectations:
Dual front airbags
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
Impact-mitigating design for pedestrian protection
ISOFIX child seat anchors
Rear parking sensors
High-speed alert system
Pretensioner and load-limiting seatbelts
Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure
These systems collectively create a comprehensive safety package that addresses both accident prevention and occupant protection.
The ACE body structure deserves particular mention, using a network of front frame structures to distribute crash energy and reduce cabin intrusion during collisions—technology derived from Honda’s larger models that enhances protection beyond regulatory requirements.
Key Points: The Amaze Advantage
Refined Design: Sophisticated styling exceeding segment expectations
Spacious Interior: Class-leading accommodation despite compact dimensions
Powertrain Options: Efficient choices spanning petrol and diesel
Honda Reliability: Engineering focused on long-term dependability
Enhanced Safety: Advanced body structure and comprehensive features
Premium Features: Technology typically found in higher segments
Balanced Dynamics: Comfortable ride without compromising handling
Value Proposition: Competitive pricing relative to feature content
Ownership Experience and Market Position
The Amaze benefits from Honda’s established reputation for reliability and strong residual values, addressing key concerns for value-conscious buyers in this segment.
The comprehensive warranty package provides additional ownership confidence, while reasonable service costs maintain affordable long-term operation.
The model occupies a somewhat distinctive position in the compact sedan segment, offering a more premium experience than most competitors without the price premium of European alternatives.
This balanced approach attracts diverse customer groups including first-time sedan buyers upgrading from hatchbacks, young professionals seeking quality transportation, and families requiring additional space over hatchbacks without moving to larger vehicle categories.
New Honda Amaze: Thoughtful Evolution
The new Honda Amaze represents a thoughtful evolution of the compact sedan concept, successfully balancing the fundamental practicality that defines the segment with emotional appeal that transcends mere transportation.
By maintaining focus on core Honda values of quality, efficiency, and engineering integrity while incorporating meaningful enhancements to design and features, the Amaze delivers a compelling proposition in a highly competitive market segment.
For consumers seeking a compact sedan that doesn’t feel like a compromise, the Amaze offers a balanced package that satisfies both practical needs and aspirational desires.
The comprehensive feature set, efficient powertrains, and refined driving experience create a vehicle that genuinely punches above its weight class while maintaining the value proposition essential to success in this segment.
As the automotive landscape continues its evolution toward increased electrification and technology integration, the Amaze’s thoughtful blend of essential Honda qualities with contemporary features positions it well for continued relevance, particularly as the brand introduces additional innovations throughout the model’s lifecycle.