What is it?
This is not a Brio hatchback with a boot anymore; this is an all-new car from grounds up. The first-generation Amaze, when launched back in 2013, had found a number of homes in India. And keeping in mind the strict four-metre length norm, Honda somehow managed to come up with a car that had a roomy cabin and a spacious boot, making it a very practical offering. But the first model having been based on the Brio, did not offer the same levels of premiumness of its contenders, even after some mid-life makeovers in between. So Honda decided to start from scratch with the second-generation model, and it seems to be quite promising.
The looks
The second-generation Amaze’s platform will be a base for all future models of Honda’s. The new car looks smarter and more matured. And it doesn’t look like it’s been made on a budget. It gets a vertical chrome grille up-front, flanked by sleek headlamps. The bonnet has raised definitions on both sides, but the 15-inch wheels seem a bit small for the wheel arches. It gets a sharp crease that runs the length of the entire car, intersecting the C-shaped tail lights, which look inspired by the Honda Civic’s. The rear bumper gets some subtle lines on it too, giving it a somewhat muscular definition.
Look inside
The cabin of the Honda Amaze appears premium, thanks to the beige and black dashboard. There’s also a piano black trim that looks lovely, while the rest of the cabin is beige. It also gets adjustable front neck rests. The passenger’s seat at the front though, is quite low-set. We love the white dials and there are plenty of storage areas in the cabin. At the rear, the seat offers good cushioning and decent support. Legroom and headroom will leave you impressed. Fit and finish levels have improved, but are not at par with some of its rivals. Cabin insulation could’ve been better too. The Amaze also gets rear AC vents. Boot space, at 420 litres, is large. Features include a 7.0-inch touchscreen, climate control, electric folding mirrors, paddle-shifters, projector LED headlamps, rear air con vents, a cooled glovebox and auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Driving it
We’re driving the 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, i-VTEC petrol engined version that produces 90bhp and 110Nm of torque, paired to either a seven-step CVT gearbox or a 5-speed manual. The engine can be heard and it gets quite prominent under hard acceleration. The motor pulls in a linear manner, and the motor picks up pace at 4000rpm.The manual gearbox shifts smoothly and the light clutch makes city driving easy. The CVT gearbox is very convenient to use, and one can shift gear via the paddle-shifters also. The ride quality is much better than what the older car offered. It soaks in bumps well, but the big ones tend to filter through. The steering is light with good feedback, but this isn’t one of those cars that loves corners.
Buying one
The new Amaze is a huge step up from the old car. Everything it offers – space, comfort, refinement and ride quality all add up to making it a very good product. The CVT variant is worth considering for its convenience, and the equipment offered impresses too. Also, grab the latest info on the new cars, only at autoX.
