The new, third-generation Honda Amaze is now on sale and Honda has afforded the compact thrift sedan its hallmark attributes of solid engineering and buying sense.
It’s available in three trims: Trend manual, Comfort manual and Comfort CVT.
The new model carries the same air of budget motoring as the first two generations, sentiments shared by its Suzuki Dzire, Kia Pegas and Hyundai Grand i10 sedan rivals.
Honda launched the Amaze in 2013 and sold more than 10,000 units in SA to date.
The company continues to bet on the dwindled sedan segment with a car that’s just as stocky as its forebears, with a bluff façade and similar Honda Elevate styling. It's 3,995mm long, 1,733mm wide, 1,500mm high with a 2,470mm wheelbase. It feel spacious and Honda says it can accommodate five passengers. Functionality is assured through a 416l boot.
The three trim levels are well stocked as standard, and include dual airbags, engine start button, rear-view camera and parking sensors, climate control, an eight-inch colour display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bi-LED lights with DRLs and more.
Opt for the mid-tier Comfort manual and you find roof and side curtain airbags, auto headlights, a wireless phone charger, fog lamps and 15-inch alloy wheels. Upgrade to the CVT model and you’ll find remote engine start and steering wheel paddle-shifts.
All models are powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.2l four-cylinder petrol engine with outputs of 66kW and 110Nm driving the front wheels. The manual is a five-speed unit and the auto has seven steps. The former is said to have optimised ratios for sprightlier pick-up and it certainly did the job down at the coast at this week's media launch, able to scramble effortlessly up steep Western Cape roads.
The automatic represented itself well, too, even though its smoothness is spoilt by droning on the open roads. It’s bearable in urban conditions and the drive in both derivatives is fairly refined and secure on good surfaces, but unsettled when driven faster on uneven tarmac. Safety systems include vehicle stability assist, ABS brakes and hill start assist.
All models have a well-sized, chunky steering wheel with light responses, which was a joy to use, with the semi-analogue driver’s information binnacle glowing bright and clear. The interior may lack the panache of high-end Hondas, with a mix of scratchy plastics, but it is attractive and the build quality seems beyond reproach.
Initial grumblings extend to the manually adjusted seats. Though unquestionably comfy and well-padded, it was a struggle to find a good driving position in both cars. The on-paper claimed fuel consumption is 5.5l/100km in both models but the day’s programme and conditions weren’t ideal to test these claims.
The new Honda Amaze is offered in a choice of five colours: Pearlescent platinum white, Obsidian blue, Radiant red, Meteoroid grey and metallic Lunar silver.
All are sold with a four-year/60,000km service plan, and five-year/200,000km warranty with three years' roadside assistance.
Pricing
- Amaze 1.2 Trend MT — R254,900
- Amaze 1.2 Comfort MT — R274,900
- Amaze 1.2 Comfort CVT — R294,900
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