2018 Honda Amaze Review
Car Tested: 2018 Honda Amaze; Road Test No. 943
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 7.2 lakhs – Rs. 12.2 lakhs (est.)
The 2018 Honda Amaze looks more mature and has good road presence
Honda entered the compact sedan segment with the Amaze in the year 2013. It was a very important product for Honda as it was debuting their first ever diesel engine for India. The 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine propelled the Amaze into the second best selling car for the Japanese automaker in India (first being the Honda City). Now, Honda is set to launch the second generation Amaze in India. We have already seen the car at the 2018 Auto Expo and expectations are high. Moreover, for the first time in India, Honda is bringing a diesel-CVT engine-gearbox combination.
Motor Quest: The first generation Honda Amaze was based on the Brio Platform which was developed by Honda R&D Japan. However, the second generation Amaze is based on a completely new platform developed by Honda R&D in Thailand. The global production of this car was started in India at Honda’s Tapukara Plant in Rajasthan. The Amaze is exclusively made for the Asia Pacific market and this new platform will see a host of new products in the near future.
The 2018 Amaze is longer and wider which gives it more road presence
Exteriors – In terms of styling, the 2018 Honda Amaze sees a radical shift from its predecessor. It has grown up and how. The new Amaze’s design is now in line with other cars from Honda’s stable. The front fascia is more upright and resembles the larger City and even the Accord to some extent. It is now wider and has a longer wheelbase by 65 mm which means more cabin room. Ground clearance has been been increased by 5 mm and this car now rides on 15-inch wheels as opposed to 14-inch wheels on the previous gen car. This design literally grows on you with time and this car looks better in flesh than in photographs. Chrome is used in the right amount on the front grille. Headlamps come integrated with LED positioning lamps while the regular antenna is now replaced by a shark fin one.
The cabin of the 2018 Honda Amaze is a big step-up from the previous generation car
Interiors – The second generation Amaze gets a completely new dashboard. Everything inside is new, starting from the 3-spoke multi-function steering wheel, instrument cluster with MID display, automatic climate control buttons, design on the AC vents and a DIGIPAD 2.0 touchscreen infotainment system. The materials used inside the cabin too feel more premium. Needless to say, the dual-tone black and beige treatment on the dashboard makes the cabin feel airy and large. The steering feels good to hold and in terms of features, the new Amaze offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, MirrorLink, cruise control, steering-mounted audio and cruise controls, push-button start, rear parking camera with sensors and electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs.
Wheelbase is up by 65 mm and the space inside is best-in-class
The Amaze scores high on practicality, is the most spacious car in its segment
The front seats provide great comfort and support, the side bolstering deserves a special mention. Cabin space is much improved in terms of headroom, shoulder room, legroom and knee clearance. The rear seat is a much more comfortable place to be in. However, under-thigh support is strictly average for both the front and rear seats. Ingress and egress are comfortable too. The almost flat floor at the rear seat also makes the new Amaze a comfortable 5-seater compact sedan. The AC is pretty impressive and cools the cabin quickly. Honda has increased the capacity of the compressor to ensure quick cooling in our country’s tropical climate. Boot space is up by 20-litres and now measures 420-litres, which is best-in-class.
Performance – Powering the Amaze are the tried and tested engines – 1.2-litre petrol and a slightly reworked 1.5-litre diesel. The petrol i-VTEC loves to be revved and produces 90 PS of power and 110 Nm torque. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission which has been tweaked for improved transmission efficiency. Shifts are smooth and slick with maximum power available in the mid-range and high-end of the rev band. Power seems adequate in the city but you do wish that the more powerful 1.5-litre i-VTEC from the Honda City would do more justice on the highways. But then, fuel efficiency is also a matter of concern for us Indians. You also have an option of a petrol CVT which offers smooth acceleration but does have the usual rubber band effect. Good thing is that you get paddle shifters with this variant.
The diesel CVT variant makes 20 PS lesser power and 40 Nm lesser torque and yet doesn’t feel underpowered
Honda has worked on the diesel motor which is much quieter than before
The 1.5-litre diesel motor produces 100 PS of power and 200 NM torque. The 5-speed manual transmission has well spaced out ratios and there is plenty of power on tap. Gearshifts are smooth and you will really have fun pushing the car as the i-DTEC doesn’t disappoint when it comes to performance. But the biggest talking point is the all-new CVT gearbox. With the CVT, the diesel engine runs a lesser tune and produces 80 PS and 160 NM and on paper, you wonder, is that enough? But once you get behind the wheel it doesn’t feel underpowered at all. This has been done in the interest of smoother and more linear power delivery.
NVH levels on the new Amaze are highly improved
There is no jerkiness and we were surprised on how well this diesel CVT performed. Most impressive was the elimination of turbo lag completely and the linear power delivery is a boon in almost every situation. The sad thing, however, is that CVT is not available in the top trim. Reason being the cost and it will escalate the price by a considerable margin. The Japanese automaker’s diesel motor wasn’t known to be the quietest one and Honda has tweaked the engine to reduce friction and NVH levels and it has worked. There is no diesel clatter now and along with better cabin insulation, it means that NVH levels are far better than we have known in the past.
While the ride has improved, we wish Honda offered bigger tyres
Driving Dynamics – Longer wheelbase, larger wheels and the use of more rigid high tensile steel has certainly improved handling from the previous generation car. The steering offers good feedback at both high and low speeds. The diesel has a better steering feel and is more fun around the corners but tends to understeer on hard cornering. Ride quality has drastically improved, especially for the rear passengers. The Amaze takes potholes well at low speeds but the deep ones do creep inside at high speeds. The suspension is tuned slightly towards the stiffer side but dynamics, like any other Honda are well balanced. Grip from the 15-inch tyres is great while the brakes offer good stopping power.
The new Honda Amaze comes fairly equipped in terms of safety features
Safety and After Sales Service – In terms of safety features, the 2018 Honda Amaze continues to get dual airbags and ABS with EBD but now as standard across the range. The Japanese automaker’s after-sales service has been great and the network is wide-spread too.
The Honda Amaze is a more practical and desirable package now
Verdict – The 2018 Honda Amaze is a much more accomplished package now. Not only has it grown in size, it gets a good number of features and comes with engines which shine on both performance and efficiency front. The icing on the cake is the diesel CVT transmission which is smooth and far superior to the competition. The new Amaze offers ample amount of practicality and we think it should find many takers in the compact sedan segment.
The front profile is the best looking angle having resemblances to other Honda cars
What’s Cool
* Looks like a mini City
* Space in the cabin
* Diesel-CVT combination is perfect for Indian metros
* Refinement of the diesel motor
What’s Not So Cool
* CVT gearbox not available in the top trim
* Boxy proportions
Alternatives: Maruti Dzire, Tata Tigor, Hyundai Xcent, Ford Aspire and Volkswagen Ameo
The DIGIPAD 2.0 gets all sorts of connectivity options you can think of
2018 Honda Amaze Specifications
* Engine: 1199cc, 4-Cyl, i-VTEC (Petrol) | 1498cc, 4-Cyl, i-DTEC (Diesel)
* Power: 90 PS @ 6000 RPM | 100 PS (MT), 80 PS (CVT) @ 3600 RPM
* Torque: 110 Nm @ 4800 RPM | 200 Nm (MT), 160 Nm (CVT) @ 1750 RPM
* Transmission: 5-Speed MT / CVT | 5-Speed MT / CVT
* Fuel Consumption: 19.5 km/l (MT), 19 km/l (AT) | 27.4 km/l (MT), 23.8 km/l (CVT)
* Fuel Type: Petrol | Diesel
* Suspension: McPherson Struts (Front), Torsion Beam (Rear)
* Tyres: 175/65/15 (V and VX trims), 175/65/14 (E and S trims)
* Brakes: Discs (Front), Drum (Rear), ABS
* Safety: 2 Airbags, ABS with EBD
2018 Honda Amaze Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 3995 mm X 1695 mm X 1501 mm
* Wheelbase: 2470 mm
* Ground Clearance: 170 mm
* Kerb Weight: 905-1039 kgs
* Boot Space: 420-litres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 35-litres
Which compact sedan would be your pick?
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