'Amaze'ing Honda

Honda's first diesel for the Indian market comes in the form of the Amaze sedan. Based on the Brio hatchback, the Amaze has been designed to meet the small car norms of being under 4m in length. This lets the car enjoy small car tax benefits and hence can be priced in the same range as the Maruti Dzire, its direct rival.Amaze comes  with both a 1.2-litre petrol and an all-new 1.5-litre diesel engine. Looks wise, the Amaze is more or less a Brio with an added boot. However, the wheelbase has been increased for more cabin space and the boot looks neatly integrated into the body. The end result is a pleasing looking sedan with the rear tail lamps hinting at design cues taken from the City sedan. The front looks same as the Brio with the only changes being the grille and the bumper. Side profile of the car is also sporty with two strong shoulder lines running from each end (front and rear), finishing in parallel in the front door.

The wheelbase is 60mm more than the Brio (unlike the Dzire that doesn't get an increase in wheelbase from the Swift). This liberates a lot of extra rear passenger room (more on it later) and also results in a longer rear door and taller roofline. The 14-inch alloy wheels are standard in the top variants but are smaller than competition and could have been larger. The petrol and diesel models get differently designed 10-spoke wheels, with the latter getting a slightly wider rim. A thick chrome strip runs across the boot to give it a premium air and the bumper is very City like with many lines running around but has been kept flat to keep the car under four metres. However the bumper is smart, well integrated and adds to the overall character of the car.

There is good headroom up front (upto 1000mm) while the driver's seat offers height adjustment as well. However, move to the back and it turns into an even more spacious cabin. Honda definitely is one of the best when it comes to space management and it's no different in the Amaze. The car puts Honda's 'man maximum machine minimum' concept to good use. This approach has let engineers maximise the space available for passengers and minimised the space required for mechanical components such as a smaller engine bay. The increase in wheelbase and clever designing has resulted in a maximum rear knee room of 930mm (70mm more than the Dzire) making it as roomy as the larger Honda City. The floorboard is almost flat and there is enough space for the middle passenger, though they will be slightly cramped for room. Rear passengers will also be able to comfortably slide their feet under the front seats while the seat back angle is relaxed with good support making this easily the most comfortable sedan in its segment.
Bringing the bantamweight saloon to a halt very effectively are disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear. The pedal feel is great and the ABS and EBD system (standard on the diesels, but available on the A/T and VX petrol variants only) is very well calibrated. However, only the VX variants get a pair of airbags to round off the safety kit.
The dashboard looks basic for the most part. It isn't very deep like in other cab forward designs. Strangely, the stereo is positioned and angled towards the front passenger, and away from the driver. As is typical with Honda cars, most buttons are from the XL size parts bin, including those for the stereo and air-conditioner. Even the outdated fresh air  recirculate lever is big. If you have driven a Honda City before, you will find familiarity with the meter fonts & their orange illumination. The meter cluster stays illuminated during the day and is very easy to read on the go.

The steering is a standard 3 spoke design, unlike the Jazz & the City whose wheels are Civic-inspired. The Amaze’s steering is small in size and wonderful to hold. The A-pillar is thick, but doesn't obstruct visibility that much, partly due to the low positioning of the ORVMs (wing mirrors). Frontal & lateral visibility is top notch, further aided by the huge greenhouse. The ORVMs are decently sized and have a wide field of vision. The interior mirror, on the other hand, is narrower than I prefer. The front seats have phenomenal knee room, thanks to the large travel range of the seats and scooped in dashboard. Plus, with the huge front windows, the cabin feels very airy. The front seats have integrated neck restraints (cost-cutting). They protrude out enough for you to comfortably rest your head on them from time to time. The thin front seats also get decent lateral support by C1 sedan standards. 

Test drive report

Diesel 1.5 l
The all-new 1.5L i-DTEC motor will debut in the Honda Amaze. This engine is from a new family of diesels that consists of 1.5L, 1.6L and 2.2L displacements. The 1.6L & 2.2L are primarily for the European market. The 1.6L i-DTEC will power the European Civic and the 2.2L will find its way into the CR-V and Accord (including in India).
The clutch is very light and extremely "un-diesel" like. The Amaze moves swiftly from a standstill with no throttle input at all. A gentle release of the clutch is enough. There's hardly any turbo lag, with the Amaze pulling easily from as low as 1,200 rpm. Post 1,500 rpm is when the engine is in its element and performance becomes stronger. Driveability is simply fantastic and the 1.5L diesel will be amazing to drive in urban traffic conditions. You'll seldom need to downshift, unlike the several other models running 1.3L MJD engines. The Amaze has very linear power delivery with no kick from the turbo. This car can comfortably potter around town in 3rd gear @ 20 kph without undue vibrations or lugging.
The brakes were reassuring and the sedan stopped well in the one corner we tested braking on.The gear shift seems to be unfriendly as the lever is little bit tight.Even though engine is silent compared to other diesel vehicle,noise insulation to inside cabin is poor .

Positive:

• An all-rounded compact sedan that does most things well
• Packaging brilliance. Roomier backseat than the Dzire, and a larger 400 Liter boot
• 1.5L i-DTEC engine offers segment-best power & performance. Excellent driveability too
• Diesel's 25.8 kpl fuel economy rating is the highest of any car sold in India
• Light controls, slick gearshift and easy maneuverability for in-city commuting. AT gearbox available
• Honda's reliability & fuss-free ownership experience

Negative:

• Diesel's NVH is a full level lower than the refined Maruti Dzire
• Brio's unconventional dashboard is too basic for this class of car
• Not as dynamically accomplished as the Ford Fiesta Classic, Toyota Etios and others
• Honda's production capacity of 10,000 cars / month (for all models) will inevitably result in waiting periods
• Diesel isn't as high-rpm friendly as the 1.3L MJD

The Honda Amaze has been launched in India at a price of between Rs. 4.99 - 7.60 lakhs (ex-Delhi).