HONDA Amaze :
The Honda Amaze is designed primarily for India & Thailand and appears to meet most of the target markets’ needs. Just as on the Brio, we can expect India-specific changes like a retuned suspension, additional ground clearance and a different interior shade.
Overall :
The Amaze is a sub-four-metre saloon, much like the Maruti Swift Dzire. The new saloon, a car which is an Amaze-ing piece of automobile hatched out of the Brio baby.When I first saw the Amaze in person, my impression was that of a very smart looking sedan. Unlike the boring Etios or quirky Dzire, the Amaze is extremely proportionate. It looks like a chic, proper sedan and not one whose boot seems to be an after-thought.
At 3990mm, the Amaze is significantly longer than the Brio, and 60mm of the length extension is over the wheelbase. It is not about the 3990mm length of the car or its 2405mm wheelbase (50mm more than that of the Brio hatch) but the manner in which the fluidity of the exterior shape has been crafted.
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Engine
It will be Honda’s first diesel engine in India, and though Honda hasn’t revealed the 1.5-litre i-DTEC motor’s power or fuel-efficiency figures, expect around 90bhp and an official ARAI-tested figure in the region of 25-26kpl. The engine is a scaled-down version of the 1.6-litre diesel that Honda sells in Europe, so this four-cylinder unit has a twin-cam, 16-valve head. On the Amaze, this engine will come with a fixed geometry turbocharger.
It pulls well from as low as 1200rpm, and there’s a gentle surge at 1500rpm when the turbo comes on song.
However, hold onto a gear longer than necessary and you will find power fall sharply post 3800rpm on its way up to the 4500rpm limit.
Steering
While driving, we also find the steering has more weight than the Brio’s and this is a good thing
Interior
That’s the beauty of Honda Engineer’s!!!!! The interior is very similar to that of the Brio. Expectedly, the dashboard is identical between the hatchback & sedan siblings. The only real change is the tachometer that is marked till 5,000 rpm only. A pleasant addition is height-adjustment on the driver’s seat. Several Brio owners complain of the low seat positioning, this is definitely a welcome move
Space
Wowwwww!!!! Inside The cabin is far more spacious than you’d expect and kneeroom is really impressive too. Sure, it’s not as spacious as the larger full-size saloons like the Toyota Etios or Tata Manza but it’s certainly a lot more spacious than the Dzire. Honda’s packaging brilliance shines through when you realise that the Amaze’s wheelbase is the shortest in this class,but Legroom at the back is adequate for a 6 foot tall passenger. Seat comfort is really good too, helped by a large centre armrest, though some may find the seat back a tad too reclined. A low centre tunnel helps middle passenger comfort but the cabin’s limited width means sitting three abreast in the back will still be quite a squeeze.
Highlights :
The new 1.5-litre i-DTEC for India is just that very unit but with a shorter stroke and slightly different exhaust treatment
The H-points have been better optimized making for a fantastic seating posture for those occupying the back seats
The light clutch action and the slick shifting 5-speed ‘box are perfectly matched to the engine’s revs
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