The One that Amazed. (long term review)

Thirteen Reasons Why might be a great Netflix series but the question that I was frequently asking until a few days back was "Thirteen Years, why?" You see our Alto just got into its thirteenth year and I am sorry but 47 bhp and a hatchback body style were just not doing justice to the connoisseur in me. It needed a replacement and fast. So when I had the opportunity to take the keys of the all-new Honda Amaze, I grabbed it. The Amaze had the task of proving itself under my scrutiny but more importantly, it had to convince my Alto-loving family what a good car really is. The Amaze that I had was the top-spec VX variant which comes with keyless entry. It saves a lot of time as you don't have to fiddle with the keys. It also feels like luxury compared to the lift-up door unlock in our ancient Alto. Once inside, you have keyless go, so you press a button and are ready to drive. But before we go anywhere a word on the car's design. I think it looks terrific. Save the Tata Tigor, I have never seen a compact sedan look so brilliantly proportionate. The Amaze also has elements from bigger Hondas in its design. The grille and the taillights look similar to the one in the Civic. The interior is just as impressive. It looks and feels premium. I particularly liked the CR-Vesque design of the aircon vents. What I didn't like was the rubber base for the gear lever. It looks out of place in an otherwise good cabin and reminds me of my old Alto. Nonetheless, both the exteriors and the interiors get a thumbs up from my side. I had the familiar 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine for the test. Sure, the diesel CVT is making all the news but I was glad I had the petrol manual. I feel buying a diesel Honda is a bit like going to a south Indian restaurant and asking if they have Manchurian. Just doesn't feel appropriate. The petrol engine is creamy smooth and very refined at low speeds. It is potent in the bottom end but more than anything else it is rev happy. So much so that I always enjoyed taking off from a green signal. The peppy nature of the engine did make that otherwise mundane city commute quite fun. The gearbox is not as soulful as in some Hondas but the clutch is light and the shifts are precise. The engine produces 88bhp but a modest 110nm of torque. The torque deficit is certainly apparent out on the highways. On the routine Mumbai run, the engine felt a bit worked up, thanks to its somewhat flat midrange. The engine works well at cruising speeds but an urgent overtake demands a downshift. The high-speed stability could have been better too. That said what blew me completely was the car's ride quality. The way it smothered the perennial under construction roads of Pune was noteworthy. The ride is flat and there is a maturity to it that one normally associates with bigger and more expensive cars. I just wish it had increased stiffness at higher speeds. The seat comfort and the driving position are both spot-on. Driving the Amaze during the pre-Ganpati preparations in the heart of Pune was quite a test for the car. But it passed with flying colors. With its responsive engine, light clutch and communicative steering, maneuvering the car in the thick of traffic was a cakewalk. In fact, the handling deserves a mention. I like the steering which feels connected to the road and the Amaze gives you a sense of confidence even at high-speed cornering. For the time I had in the Amaze, I loved it. But as I mentioned the real test was with the family. Afterall they were the ones who were to decide if that aging Alto needed a replacement or not. To start with, my family members were not very impressed. They were fine with the design, just not as excited as I was. For someone who passionately hates the grille on Lexus' cars, I was not expecting my dad to like the one on the Amaze. And he didn't. He felt it was too big and too pronounced for a small car. My mom viewed the car in a more positive light. She loved the fastback like sloping roofline and the design of the alloys. The interiors garnered much praise. Dad found a liking for the high mounted dash. My grandparents didn't complain too much because it was easy for them to get in and out of the car. My mom who is into textiles appreciated the fabric quality of the seats. But she had a question regarding the beige theme of the Amaze. She looked at me and asked, "What if clumsy people (meaning me) spill an entire cappuccino on the way home?". I nodded in approval. The ride quality and the aircon were universally loved. My dad liked the chassis of the Amaze and he told me that the whole experience of driving the Amaze was 'like a luxury car'. My grandparents found the backseat supremely comfortable and admired the generous legroom. My mom loved the boot which swallowed our weekend luggage comfortably. The touchscreen infotainment system was extensively used by the younger chaps in our family. "It responds as fast as our smartphones" they giggled. My car-impaired cousins thought that the Amaze and the Accord use the same engine. I explained to them that the engine used in the Amaze was exactly half in capacity compared to the one used in the Accord. They looked at me in sheer astonishment when I added the price of the car. Indeed, the Amaze is a lot of car for the money. For the 970 kilometers and three weeks, it was with us, it created the magic. When the day came to hand back the keys of the Amaze, I looked at everyone with high hopes. But with the way, they were looking at the car, I knew the answer. It was just a matter of seconds before dad said a resonating 'Yes' to the much-needed Alto replacement. The Amaze had created an impression on my family and believe me it is a bigger achievement than any road test rating. But I am not going to stop here. In a few months' time, Honda is going to launch the Civic. It is one car that I am really looking forward to. I will get the keys of that one too and who knows we might just replace our yet-to-arrive Amaze for the Civic. Because in life one should never settle for something small and always climb higher!