Honda’s 2nd-gen Amaze: All you need to know
Honda’s all new 2nd-gen Amaze, from its first impressions, seems to have got a grown-up garb. The new car is marginally longer, wider and taller than the outgoing car, and its wheelbase is a significant 65mm longer than before.
The large signature chrome grille, flanked by the slim headlamps and flat bonnet, is unmistakably Honda. Like the older car, the sides get distinct character lines and the roof seamlessly blends with the boot. Even the alloy wheels are larger at 15 inches. At the rear, the C-shaped tail-lamps give it a mini-Civic look.
The new car comes with a 90hp, 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol and a 100hp, 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, mated to either a five-speed manual or an automatic (CVT). The 100hp, 1,498cc, four-cylinder diesel behaves just like before, and remains very responsive to accelerator inputs.
The five-speed manual has short and precise throws, but gearbox isn’t as slick as some of its rivals have. The clutch, however, is fairly light to use. The talking point of the new Amaze is the diesel- CVT. Although it uses the same 1.5-litre diesel engine, power and torque have been cut by 20 percent to 80hpand 160Nm, respectively.
There’s a prominent spike in performance post-2,500rpm and then again over 5,500rpm. It revs all the way until 6,600rpm too. Although the five-speed manual is easy to drive, there’s also a CVT option which works seamlessly in the city.
When driven hard, it has a tendency to hold the revs at higher rpms, making the engine feel a bit stressed. This becomes even more pronounced when the car is loaded with passengers and luggage.
Ride comfort is one of the key strengths of this Amaze, as it handles rough roads very capably, and doesn’t toss passengers around when driven over broken roads. Body movements are also quite well-controlled.
The steering has a bit of vagueness at centre position, but it remains well- weighted and precise as the speeds build. What further inspires confidence is how sharp the turn-in feels; so this family car can still be a fun around the bends and curves.
The front seats now get adjustable neck restraints. The touchscreen is smooth to operate, and it is easy to navigate through various menus. This system gets Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, as well as satellite navigation. The outgoing car is very spacious at the back and this new one carries that strength forward. The seat is very comfortable, with a good recline angle and ample thigh support. For a car of this size, legroom is huge, and, because the front seatbacks are scooped in, knee room is ample.