New Honda Amaze VS Maruti Dzire

The new Honda Amaze is the only sub-4m sedan to offer ADAS, providing a tempting proposition to buyers when it comes to safety.

Although the Indian automobile market is geared towards vehicles marketed as SUVs, automakers are still betting big on entry-level sedans under 4 million meters. For Honda Cars India Ltd, the bet on Amaze is much bolder, given that Amaze is their best-selling vehicle in the domestic market, bringing in volumes.

It has to take on rivals like Hyundai Aura, Tata Tigor and the new Maruti Suzuki Dzire. It is very interesting to see how well two Japanese manufacturers in India have launched their sub 4m sedans in India. In this comparison, let’s take a look at how Amaze compares to Dzire in terms of features, specifications, dimensions, and price.

Honda Amaze VS Maruti Dzire

In terms of pricing, Maruti Suzuki has an edge as it starts from Rs 6.79 lakh (Ex-sh). In comparison, Amaze gets an introductory base price of Rs 8 lakh, which will be increased after 45 days of launch. Mass production and economies of scale along with the cheaper 3-cylinder engine allowed Maruti to price the Dzire aggressively.

Dimensions-wise, the new Amaze is identical in length, 2mm narrower in width and 25mm shorter in height. But it fights back by offering a 20mm longer wheelbase and a larger 416L trunk, 34L more than Dzire’s 382L. In their top-end trims, both Amaze and Dzire come with larger 15-inch alloy wheels.

Both sedans are equipped with 185-section tires. Although Dzire offers a larger 65 profile tire than that of Amaze 60, the ground clearance is higher on Amaze at 172 mm compared to 163 mm of Dzire. Amaze is also slightly heavier than Dzire when it comes to curb weight.

Specifications and performance

Although the price is not Amaze’s strong point, the specifications and performance are in its favor. We say this because the new Amaze retains the 1.2L iVTEC 4-cylinder engine capable of delivering 88 PS of peak power and 110 Nm of peak torque. Dzire’s new 3-cylinder engine is underperforming and is significantly more prone to vibration and is not an exciting package.

Even the gearbox choices with Amaze are a cut above as they offer a CVT automatic option with paddle shifters whereas Dzire offers a very slow AMT. The fuel efficiency figures are higher with Dzire, but it should be noted that Honda has a habit of underestimating mileage figures and over-delivering in the real world. Amaze does not have a factory CNG option, which all its competitors offer.

Features

Crash safety is an area where Honda promises a lot, thanks to the added ESC and 6 airbags. Dzire proved its mettle by scoring 5 stars in the recent Global NCAP crash tests. The main advantage of Amaze is that it now offers the ADAS suite, which is the first in the segment. Amaze offers dual-projector LED headlights and projector LED fog lights. Dzire LED lighting is based on reflectors.

Both vehicles benefit from single-zone automatic climate control with rear vents. The Amaze doesn’t have a sunroof, which is a smart choice. Amaze offers an 8-inch infotainment system, an inch smaller than that of Dzire. Both vehicles feature wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Amaze strikes back with a better instrument cluster with a larger 7-inch TFT MID.

Where Dzire offers a 360-degree camera, Amaze only offers a LaneWatch camera on the left ORVM. Amaze offers a headrest for the 2nd row middle passenger, but it still doesn’t have adjustable headrests on the 2nd row unlike Dzire. Comparing these vehicles, it is very clear that there is more to like about Amaze than Dzire despite the pricing strategy.