HONDA AMAZE 1,2 COMFORT
We take delivery of Honda’s entry-level sedan offering. Can it prove itself over the next three months?
SLOTTING in just above Honda’s entry-level Brio hatchback, the Amaze range (made up of three models) is the most affordable sedan from the Japanese importer. Our test unit for the next three months is the Comfort variant. Equipped with a ve-speed manual transmission, it’s set apart from the base Trend model by body-coloured door handles and side mirrors as well as front and rear mudguards. On the inside, the Comfort sports chrome vent rings and silver door handles, while the side mirrors are both electrically adjustable and foldable. Thankfully, there is also Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming.
At rst glance, the Amaze offers a somewhat unusual design with its squared-off front and rear ends. The upside is a commodious boot offering more space than Honda’s Jazz, HR-V and Civic. The cabin design is basic but it does at least feature a twotone colour theme throughout, including no-cost optional fauxleather seat covers. The sound system and the small dot-matrix display are positioned above the air-conditioning controls for easy viewing. In front of the gearlever are two cupholders and 12 V and USB sockets.
The Honda arrived shortly before our deadline, which means I still need to settle into the ownership experience. However, what was immediately apparent during my rst outing was the liveliness of the engine and the fairly comfortable ride. The latter is assisted by a plump 175/65 R15 tyre-and-wheel combination. On the highway, the Amaze feels nicely stable.
Two main gripes are that, at 1,87 metres tall, I feel slightly too big for the car; I look through the windscreen close to the header rail, even with the driver’s seat at its lowest setting. The other niggle is the audio system’s screen that is simply too dimly lit. It is better at night, but is a real challenge to read in daylight. If, like me, you switch on the headlights during the day, it is even worse. Such an oversight seems rather curious in a modern vehicle.
Fuel consumption is currently hovering at the 6,7 L/100 km mark, which matches CAR’S fuel index gure, although I hope to lower this during the following two months. Make no mistake, this is a car designed to get you from A to B perfectly reliably at little cost.