Honda made its foray in the compact sedan segment with the Amaze in 2013, and has managed to find many homes ever since. The brand realised that they had to come up with a car that is spacious, practical and capable. The first-generation model was based on the Brio’s platform which was manufactured keeping in mind cost constraints. It didn’t feel as well made as some of its rivals, and for the price it was offered at, it simply didn’t feel on point. However, the second-generation Amaze promises a lot more with its fresh, new appeal. For this year’s festive season, Honda has launched a Special Edition model at a price of ₹ 7.00 lakh. This Special Edition model is based on the ‘S’ variant.
The inside story
In terms of equipment, it features a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a sliding centre front armrest, Special Edition badge, body graphics on the doors, unique seat covers, height adjustable driver’s seat, steering mounted audio controls, power adjustable and foldable ORVMs with turn indicator, ABS with EBD, dual airbags, shark fin antenna, rear parking sensors and wheel covers. The dashboard is different from the old car and comes in a beige-and-black theme along with piano black accents. The quality of plastics has improved marginally but there are still a few bits that feel tacky.
Amazing power
The Honda Amaze Special Edition is powered by a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, petrol engine that produces 88bhp and 110Nm of torque and a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel motor that makes 98bhp and 200Nm of torque. Both engines come either with a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic gearbox. We drove the one with the diesel engine mated to the manual gearbox. The motor pulls with enthusiasm and comes with a good mid-range. The gears shift well and smoothly, but engine noise does seep into the cabin at high speeds. The diesel CVT, in comparison feels more silent and the CVT model doesn’t feel strained. The 1.2-litre petrol motor is refined but not all that responsive.
On the road
Thanks to the larger wheels and heavy steering, the handling is quite good. The tyres provide good grip and don’t take corners rather well. The ride quality is very impressive and the Honda cars strikes a perfect balance between ride and handling. It absorbs bumps seamlessly but tends to get bouncy at times. The brakes bite with confidence.
Buying one
The Amaze is a surprisingly capable car and has made a step-up in almost every manner. But we still wish it came with a peppier petrol engine and a more refined diesel engine. However, the matter is very easy to drive, and then, there’s the CVT which makes driving in the city a breeze. Also, grab the latest info on the new cars, only at autoX.