Summarize

Honda Amaze

Honda’s stylish entry sedan set to impress

Honda has released its all-new Amaze in South Africa as it chases a bigger slice of the compact sedan market recently relinquished by the demise of the best-selling VW Polo. Designed specifically as a sedan from the ground up, Amaze is larger in every dimension with a bold Honda family face and an impressive, sophisticated and spacious cabin at this entry price point

Packing legendary Honda i-VTEC engine tech, Amaze gets the go to match the show in a 66kW 110Nm 1199cc intelligent valve timed mill and weighs in at just 900kg thanks to an all-new high-tensile steel Advanced Compatibility platform to see it to a claimed 12.3 second 0-100km/h dash (it feels quicker) and exceptional 5.6 litre/100 km fuel efficiency. 

Driving the front wheels with a slick 5-speed manual or a paddle-shifter CVT autobox, Amaze gets 15-inch alloy wheels, McPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension for confident handling and a refined ride, alon g with an electric power steering for crisp steering response.

Being 5mm longer and 15mm wider and riding on wheelbase that has grown by a substantial 65mm with shorter overhangs, Amaze has significantly more interior space in two Trend and Comfort equipment levels with a choice of features, both boasting a high level of standard active and standard safety features. That includes ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution, while dual front airbags, inertia reel seatbelts front and rear and IsoFix child seat anchors add to that safety. 

Set apart by a bold Honda 'solid wing’ grille set between a pair of halogen headlights, a sharkfin roof antenna and a high-mounted third brake light are standard and Comfort models add harmonious colour coding in four new pearl white, metallic silver, steel and radiant red hues.

A thoroughly modern and spacious cabin has generous storage features is impressively equipped with smart cloth or genuine Honda synthetic leather seat covers as a no-cost option offset by piano black detailing on the ergonomic dashboard with its driver-centric instrument binnacle with a speedo, rev counter and a digital trip computer. 

Add four-speaker  FM/AM sound with MP3 playback, USB, AUX and Bluetooth controlled by the multifunction steering wheel for hands-free motoring, never mind a best-in-class 420 litre boot, while Comfort spec adds automatic air-conditioning, power wing mirrors and automatic door locking.

Well backed too, Amaze packs Honda’s full five-year/200 000km warranty, two-year/30 000 km service plan at 15000km intervals and three-year AA Roadside Assistance package.

I found Amaze quite pleasing to drive -- its buzzy nature, a lovely manual gear-change and spacious, smart cabin defy both its affordable price and its little 1.2 naturally aspirated engine to deliver a pretty good first impression. Honda has delivered an impressive little car here -- it deserves a fair slice of that market vacuum it is chasing...

Honda Amaze Pricing
1.2 Trend — R179K
1.2 Comfort — R193K
1.2 Comfort CVT — R208K