2016 Honda Amaze Facelift Test Drive Review

Honda Amaze Facelift Review

Car Tested: 2016 Honda Amaze Facelift; Road Test No. 661

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 9.90 lakhs

The Honda Amaze facelift now looks upmarket and comes with much needed improvements

A few years ago Honda decided to restructure their product portfolio to reach a larger number of customers. The focus changed from premium offerings like the Civic and Accord to smaller cars like the Brio and Amaze. This was a smart move since the volumes lie in the smaller car segment when it comes to India. The Brio, by itself, may not have done too well for the Japanese manufacturer but more than half of Hondas products are based on the same platform. (Amaze, Mobilio and the upcoming Honda BR-V). Indian regulations of excise benefits to sub 4-metre cars and the love for 3 box design has made compact sedans very popular and Honda entered this challenging segment with the launch of the Amaze in 2013.

Motor Quest: The Amaze is a very important product for Honda as it is their highest selling model after the erstwhile City. Honda had updated the Amaze with an AVN last year and this is the first major update to the Amaze since its launch. Competition in the compact sedan space is fierce and newer products like the Figo Aspire are fighting for the same piece of cake. Keeping this in mind, this update to the Amaze couldn’t have come at a better time.

The sharp new styling elements add freshness to the appearance

The exteriors are more or less the same barring few aesthetic upgrades. Dimensionally speaking, the Amaze sits comfortably under 4-metres with a proportional profile. The front gets a new dual-chrome grille which takes heavy inspiration from the upcoming Honda BR-V. The front bumper now gives a wider perspective to the car and the fog lamps now have a sportier housing making the front look quite aggressive. At the rear, Honda has brought in new clear type combination tail lamps and a revised bumper design. It’s the front profile though, which makes the Amaze looks quite fresh. Honda has also introduced a new blue paint for the Amaze.

The quality feels consistent now and the dashboard looks neat and tidy

The biggest change comes in the interior department. Honda has done away with the Brio dashboard which was looking pretty aged by now. Replacing it is an all-new dual-tone dashboard which is similar to the City and Jazz. The new dash also gets silver accents and piano black finish in the centre. The new dashboard layout not only looks more premium but adds an integrated audio unit which supports Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming. Replacing the manual AC is an automatic climate control which gels well in the central housing. Interior quality, fit and finish feels better all around. There are a few practical touches like a recess under the air-conditioner to keep odds and ends. Complementing the new dashboard is Honda’s 3D speedometer with multi-information display.

Powering the updated Amaze are the same set of engines as before. The diesel is powered by the 4-cylinder, 1.5-litre i-DTEC which produces 100 PS of power at 3600 RPM and 200 Nm torque at 1750 RPM. This motor fares quite well in terms of performance and fuel efficiency but was known to be noisy when compared to the competition. Honda claims they have improved upon the NVH levels with better insulation. This oil burner performs very well in the low and mid range of the rev band which makes it quite practical in most driving situations. Power fades off as you go to the higher end of the rev band. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission which offers decent shifts but isn’t the smoothest shifting box in the segment.

The petrol engine revs freely while the diesel offers good mid-range grunt

Under the hood of the petrol version is a 1.2-litre, i-VTEC engine producing 88 PS at 6000 RPM and 109 Nm at 4500 RPM. This comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Honda is known for gasoline powertrains and this i-VTEC is quite rev happy and performs very well in the mid and high end of the rev meter. Low end grunt is average as with most petrol engines. This engine loves to be revved and pulls quite cleanly once you give it the beans.

Previously Honda was offering the Amaze with a 5-speed automatic transmission but the Japanese manufacturer has done away with this and has now slotted in a CVT transmission. This makes more sense as the CVT has infinite number of gear ratios making it more practical in most driving situations. We had a short spin in the CVT variant and it was quite easy navigating through peak hour Delhi traffic. However, it gets too noisy as you go higher up the rev band and progress isn’t brisk as you would get in a manual. The CVT version is more fuel efficient than its manual counterpart and produces 90 PS at 6000 RPM and 110 Nm torque at 4800 RPM.

The Honda Amaze offers well balanced ride and handling characteristics

There are no mechanical changes done to the Amaze facelift and hence the driving dynamics remain exactly the same. This means that the ride quality is comfortable and flat as the speed rises while the handling is brisk and quite enjoyable on a set of corners. The steering wheel offers decent feedback, it’s light and easy to operate at low speeds and weighs up nicely as the speed increases. Overall a very well balanced chassis for the Indian road conditions. The brakes are strong as well offering effective stopping power with reassuring pedal bite.

With the launch of new rivals in the compact sedan segment, the Honda Amaze started looking old amongst the fresher lot that come with new styling and latest equipment. However, getting some drastic changes inside out, the Honda Amaze facelift now offers a much more appealing package that can fend off some of its competitors. The heavily revised interiors are a fresh breath of air but the only chink in its armour is the lack of rear parking sensors that are only available as an accessory. The updated front and rear profile get sleek design elements that give it a broader stance and makes the Amaze’s presence felt on the road. Honda has marginally increased the price but it’s worth the extra penny spent.

The Honda Amaze had a great beginning for itself in the compact sedan space having a frugal diesel engine and well balanced compact styling. Maruti Suzuki had updated the DZire and recently Ford launched the Figo Aspire, which made some buyers overlook the Amaze. Now the Amaze is back with a bang and comes with some desirable changes that makes a strong point for itself in the competitive compact sedan segment.

What’s Cool

* Drastic cosmetic changes makes it look fresh and contemporary
* New dashboard design is a big leap forward and quality has been improved
* Automatic climate control system and Bluetooth audio system add to the convenience
* Space and practicality has always been a plus point for the Amaze

What’s Not So Cool

* Rear parking sensors not offered as standard, it is an optional accessory

Alternatives: Maruti Swift DZire, Hyundai Xcent, Ford Figo Aspire, Tata Zest

Testers’ Note:

Further Reading –

2013 Honda Amaze Test Drive Review

Honda Amaze Long Term Review – Final Report

Maruti DZire vs Honda Amaze vs Tata Zest vs Hyundai Xcent – Shootout

Honda Amaze vs Ford Figo Aspire vs Hyundai Xcent vs Tata Zest – Shootout