Amaze was a revolutionary model for Honda. It was the first car of the company which had a diesel model and was one of the leading models of the company. Introduced back in 2013 the car received a lot of love in the mass market and was the second highest bought car in its segment. The design, the functions and driving all was loved by the customers. It was also a strong alternative to the Maruti Dzire, which was by far the strongest car in the segment. This vehicle might not have created waves but was the first car of Honda to break in the segment. The car market in India is speeding up. With a major section of the population is moving towards Sports UVs and SUVs, the sedan section is becoming tighter. With an increase in the number of options and a major section already gone, it’s going to be very difficult for the brand to establish the same command it once had. However, the audience in recent times has rewarded good cars, does this car have it? Will it live up to the hype? Let us take a closer look at the vehicle to understand all of this.
EXTERIOR
The car takes a new design. Honda dropped the Amaze design and has decided to not use the older design. They have opted for a new design which has been built from scratch. The car is way lighter than the earlier one as the material used to build allows the car to cut 40-50 KG. It makes the car tougher and lighter at the same time making it an important feature. Thus the exterior already has seen an upgrade. Like the older generation, the sizes of the Amaze have been restricted to under four-meter. It has been done to make sure it qualifies for lower tax structure. The new car is 5mm longer and 15mm wider than the older version. The front and rear track have been enlarged by 23mm and 28mm, respectively. Resulting in its stance feeling more planted and proportionate than before. The wheelbase has also gone up by a significant 65mm to 2,470mm.Unlike the previous model, this car looks like a mature sedan. The car has become a bit richer. It takes up a smart design, clearly keeping the audience it is catering to in mind. One of the talked about aspect of the design is a vertical grille. Some say that it gives the car a look as it has rammed into a wall. However, some say that the chunky chrome grille looks really good. Even though the wheels are an inch larger than before, at 15 inches, they appear a size smaller and don’t fill the large wheel wells nicely and the design, which otherwise is fair, looks dull. The most highlighting change can be seen in the tail lamps which now take up a c-shape.
Interior
The Dashboard looks royal, the company has put up the piano black trim quite nicely. The rest of the cabin is beige, which lifts the feeling of space inside. The car also has adjustable front neck rests. The seats are rather well shaped, offering good side and shoulder support. Taller drivers might need to raise the seat height as otherwise, they’ll end up sitting in a knees-up position due to the low-set seats. The front passenger’s seat, however, is fixed and is placed very low. This takes adds a certain amount of stress while driving for tall side passengers. The rear seats are way better place. The recline angle, the cushioning and the support all is fair and in its place. There is a lot of leg room which makes it a choice if you are looking at a chauffeur-driven ride. Cabin width has been increased by an extra 80mm of rear shoulder room than on the older car, but it is still best for two passengersThere are some flaws. The headroom is tight for taller passengers, making the ride for them claustrophobic. Something especially important which stands out is the absence of adjustable rear neck restraints. The ones offered now are too short and can result in an injury in case of an accident. The plastic could have been of better quality, especially since the car at first look gives a sense of richness. The vehicle also needs better insulation. At a higher speed, the sound of wind becomes way too loud for one to ignore. The car offers ample storage space. There is space in the front and around the seats. The things which stand out in the car is the large boot. At 420 litres, the car provides better storage room than the older version by 20 litres and the Dzire’s by 42 litres. Space is enough to carry luggage even for a weekend long-drive.
Driving
Honda Amaze is powered by the familiar 1,199cc, four-cylinder petrol engine and a 1,498cc four-cylinder diesel engine. The car on paper provides a ground clearance of 70mm but when the car is packed with luggage and passenger the rear suspension compresses. The car des fairly okay in dealing with bumps but still place for improvement. The steering is a bit heavy and it feels as if you have to wrestle with the car while turning. It is something other cars in the same segment don’t have much problem with. Overall the driving otherwise is smooth.
Should I buy One
The car is overall good. It is for sure a major upgrade from the earlier versions of the car. It is more premium has a better style and is an upgrade in every segment. The rear seats are very comfortable. However, some minor changes in the front would have made upgraded the driving experience by several notches. The riding part is fair. The steering can be a bit heavy but otherwise, the car delivers. The car was loved back when it was first released and should receive the same amount of love. It is a good car if you have a small family or if you have a chauffeur driving it.