TOTES AMAZE

The new Honda Amaze has some very welcome changes and additions. Can these help it top the sales charts?

- Kurt Morris

The Honda Amaze has always been a strong contender in the compact-sedan segment, but the latest iteration truly ups the ante by focusing on safety, a crucial aspect for the Indian automotive market. With the rising awareness of and demand for safety features, manufacturers are racing to integrate advanced technologies into their offerings. Honda has made a significant move in this direction with the Amaze, making the top-end variant the most affordable car to offer Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS). This marks a substantial leap forward in democratising safety in the Indian market.

Seeing the car outside the glitz of stage lighting at its launch offered a true sense of its design and road presence. The updated Amaze retains much of the familiar form factor of its predecessor, with a few changes that add a fresh appeal. The new front and rear bumpers, a redesigned grille, LED headlamps with integrated DRLs, LED fog lights, and City-inspired wraparound LED tail lights stand out as notable upgrades. The revised boot lid and the new alloy wheels complete the aesthetic refresh.

From the front, the Amaze exudes a bolder and more upright stance with its vertical grille, which kind of resembles its SUV cousin, the Elevate. The profile retains its earlier clean, simple lines, while the rear has a resemblance to the Honda City, which is a compliment, considering the City’s sophisticated design. However, Honda could have added more character by incorporating sharper design elements and bolder creases, to further distinguish it.