Honda Amaze facelift First Drive Review

Honda’s compact saloon has been in the Indian market since 2013 and has been doing decent numbers. Though HCIL has sold more than two lakh units till date, times have changed. Buyers have started to expect a lot from their cars. In an effort to offer a more competitive product, Honda compiled its existing owner’s feedback and evolving market requirements. And what the end user gets is a more complete product. If you sum it up, exterior changes coupled with interior revisions, and an updated auto gearbox is what this facelift brings to the Indian market.

While the gearbox has shifted to now being a CVT from the earlier five-speed torque converter, power and torque figures have also seen a mild surge. The 14-inch alloys continue to be offered in separate wheel designs for the petrol and diesel models. Exterior changes include a new dual chrome grille (unlike the earlier twin beam grille) with a redesigned bumper for the front. And the rear end is characterised by the restyled tail lamps that look like they mould onto the chrome strip of the boot lid. A new shade called bluish titanium metallic has also been added to the already existing line up of colours.

The most important update that owners will appreciate of the new Amaze is the dashboard. It looks like a miniature version of what goes into the Honda City. It lends a fresh breath of contemporary design that the outgoing version lacked. What you now get is a dual tone dashboard that comes draped with silver accents. A metal black look-alike finish has been blended onto the dashboard and makes it look elegant. Piano black finishes can be seen on the centre console that hold the automatic air-con controls and the multimedia system. The three dimensional look of the speedometer and tachometer on the instrument cluster complete the visual stance of the new dashboard.

Even with the revised dashboard design, the driving position continues to provide the same levels of visibility as the outgoing car. While everything about the seats remain unchanged, a new seat fabric has been used. This means that you get the same comfortable slim front seats that could have offered a bit more shoulder support. Cabin space in the rear continues to be roomy even though a third passenger may still be a tight fit. Rear seats offer ample support for your thighs and back, while accommodating enough legroom and headroom overall. 400 litres of boot space can swallow most of your luggage requirements.

New features that come equipped on the upgraded Amaze is the much awaited automatic air conditioner with temperature display, analog-digital instrument cluster with multi information display and a new infotainment system with bluetooth, USB and AUX. Also featured on the Amaze is the Honda Connect with a range of features like impact alert, share my location, locate my car, vehicle health monitoring and trip analysis to name a few.

While most of the mechanicals remain the same, the real change can be seen on the automatic version. A CVT box replaces the earlier five speed torque converter unit, and power for this auto version now stands at 90bhp, up from the manual version’s 88bhp. Torque has also increased from 109Nm at 4500rpm to 110Nm at 4800rpm. Honda says fuel consumption has decreased due to the tweaked ratios and reduced friction. The weight of the gearbox has also been reduced by 16 per cent. A quick spin on the CVT equipped petrol variant revealed that the power delivery is much smoother than in the earlier five speed torque converter. It may not feel extremely quick but the transmission works well with the motor to offer a seamless and jerk free drive. City commutes should be an easy affair and there’s enough response at hand. We noticed that the motor tends to get noisy if the pedal is floored. Honda claims that the new CVT version on the Amaze will deliver 18.1kmpl (earlier 15.5).

Honda has also slightly revised the fuel economy figures for the petrol manual version that was 18kmpl and now stands at 17.8kmpl. Other than this everything is the same. Power to the wheels is still taken care of by the 1.2-litre petrol motor that makes 88bhp and 109Nm of torque with a five speed gearbox. And the 1.5-litre diesel mill that produces 100bhp and 200Nm of torque which is mated to a five speed transmission. Performance from the 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine is adequate for most situations, and a quick shift of gears can nullify the slightly weak mid-range when overtaking on highways. A light clutch with the precise gear shifter makes a breeze out of any driving situation. Honda’s 1.5 i-DTEC mill continues to make a bit of noise but you tend to forgive this in light of the great driveability this engine has to offer. City driving in bumper to bumper traffic calls for hardly any effort and there’s barely any turbo lag. Power is served in a very linear fashion. Though the clutch and gear shifting is a little heavier when compared to the i-VTEC transmission, it’s still a joy to drive in the city.

On the road the Amaze continues to handle large undulations well thanks to the properly tuned suspension setup. However, the slightly stiff intent is evident and it shows at slower speeds when some bumps filter through. The suspension handles all its duties in a silent manner. Handling has not been affected while getting the damper setting right, and it continues to be direct. Feedback from the steering is accurate enough for you take the Amaze around bends with confidence at street legal speeds. More assist works better in the favour of the diesel version thanks to the extra weight it carries.

When you take a peep into the segment, Honda’s Amaze was always in a class of its own. But most aspects that dampened the buying appeal has been reviewed and this update brings back some sheen to this humble saloon. So with the fresh looks, revised interiors and the new CVT transmission addition, we think that Honda has gotten itself back on track with a contemporary product. However, with a price range that fits between Rs 5.29 lakh (base petrol variant) and Rs 8.19 lakh for the top end VX diesel version, it is bang on territory with the segment leader, the Swift Dzire. If you were looking to break away from the monotony of the regular mainstream buys in the segment, you now know where to head.

The Honda Amaze locks horns with segment leaders like Maruti Suzuki’s Swift Dzire and the Hyundai Xcent. It will also compete with the likes of the Ford Figo Aspire, Tata Zest and the Toyota Etios.

Pictures: Kapil Angane

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