Honda Cars India has launched its entry level sedan, Amaze, in India. Developed by Honda’s Asia Pacific R&D at Thailand, the car measures under 4-metres in length, and is based on the Brio platform. Comparable in size to the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, the appearance of Amaze does not give the impresion of the car having being carved out of the Brio hatchback. Well proportioned, the Amaze may adapt the front portion of the Brio with its ‘winged’ grille, two slashes dominate the sides. The lower slash originating later than the one above, and merging with the tail lights as its travels to the rear. Presenting the car with a cohesive design, the Amaze, despite looking quiet compact on the outside, offers a boot with 400 litres of storage space apart from a spacious cabin. With a local content of 90%, the Amaze is Honda’s first diesel car in India. Employing a 100PS, 1.5-litre ‘open deck, all-aluminium’ high-pressure die cast common-rail motor, or a 88PS, 1.2-litre petrol motor borrowed from the Brio, the Amaze can seat four people in good comfort. The dashboard and other trim parts borrowed from the Brio, apart from the slender front seats with integrated head rests may point at an effort to keep costs down, they also rob the Amaze somewhat from offerring a upmarket sedan image. There’s good room inside, especially at the rear, which contains a seat with thick cushioning and a foldable central armrest. Offering good driveability in either engine mode – diesel or petrol, the Amaze offers good fuel efficiency. The diesel version claims to offer a class leading fuel efficiency of 25kpl. Also on offer in the petrol range is a 4-speed automatic transmission. The petrol variants of the Amaze are priced between Rs 5,35 lakhs and Rs 8.00 lakhs ex-showroom Mumbai. The diesel variants are priced between Rs 6.49 lakhs and Rs 8,01 lakhs ex-showroom Mumbai.
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