Honda Amaze Five People Review With Luggage; The Actual Best Compact Sedan?

The Honda Amaze received a facelift not too long ago, as an attempt by the Japanese car maker to keep it relevant against the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, which had also been updated around the same time. Since we tested the Dzire back then, it was only natural that we also put the new Amaze to the test, right?

Hence, we did just that. With the new Amaze on our hands, we tested it in our own special way. Before going any further, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community to keep up with the latest news and automotive updates!

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New Honda Amaze Full Load Test: The Prep

We began prepping up the Honda Amaze with our usual load of luggage; a full-size suitcase, a lightbox, a night stroller, a backpack, another small bag containing the Tiago EV's portable charging setup, another backpack, a gimbal box, a large GoPro pouch, and a sling bag. Even after loading up the boot with this luggage, there was still plenty of space to fit in some small bottles or pouches.

A closer look at the boot also revealed some form of insulation present, which was welcome. The reason we mention this is because the Dzire's boot does not get any insulation, and that makes the car feel like it is built to a cost; not something buyers would like to see when upgrading to their first big car.

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Getting Into The Car

It was time to get in. In case you haven't noticed by now, this time we are doing this test with five people, and not four. This meant that Prashant, our newest test-passenger was subjected to sitting in the middle of the bench, while the rest of us occupied our usual positions; Bunny Sir in the driver's seat at just over 6 feet, Shipranshu at 5'10", Julian at 5'9", and myself at 5'6".

The Drive Experience

Despite our taller team members in the front, we had about more than enough legroom, and there was plenty of space to rest our feet under the seats as well. This is also further complemented by the fact that the front seats have been scooped out.

The rear bench offered decent under-thigh support, but while the Dzire's backrest felt quite plush, the same cannot really be said about the Amaze. In fact, Shipranshu also observed that the seats even at the front could have had better bolstering.

With three people in the rear, things were quite tight, Given the lack of shoulder room, our shoulders were consistently rubbing against each other, and we had no choice but to sit in an uncomfortable position. This also resulted in the side of my head brushing against the area just above the window. However, to Honda's credit, the Amaze comes with headrests for all three passengers, which the Dzire does not get.

With a full load of luggage and passengers, the Amaze showed no signs of bottoming out, and it tackled speed breakers with ease. The car does not let you know much about what is happening underneath, keeping things fairly comfortable. The suspension absorbs bumps nicely, and body roll is also well-contained, but the hard bolstering of the seats makes things a little awkward. The air-con, even with a full load, worked fairly well, ensuring that the cabin does not feel stuffy at any point. Our experience did change by quite a margin when we dropped off Prashant, the rear cabin proving that while a third passenger is manageable for shorter distances, it is meant mainly for two.

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While the Amaze comes with many new changes, it retains the 1.2-litre, nat-asp petrol engine, paired to either a 5-speed manual or a CVT. The car that we had was fitted with the CVT gearbox. Much like the Dzire, the Amaze also leans more towards comfort and daily driveability rather than spirited driving. Hard acceleration makes things a little loud in the cabin, and the power delivery feels rather relaxed, but it will be a boon for newer drivers, and also for those who will be using the car on their daily commutes, with a mix of city and highway conditions. The steering is a bit on the heavier side, and there are paddle-shifters available as well, if you want to get more hands-on with the car.

While personally I liked the feel of the heavier steering wheel as an enthusiast, a majority of people will feel that it requires a bit more effort when compared to cars like the Dzire and the Aura, and it may not be as practical on a daily basis. Visibility is great all around thanks to the large glass area, and there are no major blind spots either. The beige upholstery lends to a certain airy feeling as well, and thankfully the tri-tone treatment ensures that the cabin will not get soiled as easily. The resolution of the cameras, however, could have been better.