The quiet over-achiever
Honda's third-generation Amaze arrived in late 2024 with a strategy nobody else in the compact-sedan class attempted: bring premium-segment driver assistance down to the ₹8 lakh price point. Today the range spans roughly ₹7.51–10.00 lakh ex-showroom across three trims (V, VX, ZX), and it remains India's most affordable car with Level 2 ADAS — adaptive cruise, collision-mitigation braking, lane keeping and auto high-beam, all camera-based Honda Sensing kit.
Add the reported 5-star Bharat NCAP adult-safety rating and the Amaze's pitch is clear: the sensible small sedan, engineered like a bigger one.
One engine, one philosophy
There is exactly one powertrain: a 1.2-litre four-cylinder i-VTEC with 90 PS, paired with a 5-speed manual or a CVT. No turbo, no diesel, no factory CNG. On paper that looks thin against the Dzire's CNG option; on the road, the four-cylinder's smoothness — in a class full of three-cylinders — and the CVT's refinement are the Amaze's calling cards. ARAI figures are strong too: 18.65 kmpl manual, 19.46 kmpl CVT.
The flip side: with four adults and luggage, 90 PS works hard, and inclines expose it. This is a relaxed cruiser, not a brisk one.
The honest assessment
The Amaze is the class's quality pick. The cabin is quieter and better-assembled than the price suggests, the boot is properly large, the rear seat genuinely accommodates adults, and Honda's reliability record is the segment's gold standard. What it isn't is generous on toys — there's no sunroof, and spec-for-spec it prices above the Dzire, which also counters with CNG. You are paying for engineering rather than equipment theatre.
For buyers keeping a car seven-plus years, that trade usually ages well.
The questions buyers actually ask
Amaze or Dzire? The Dzire wins on price, CNG availability and resale liquidity; the Amaze wins on refinement, the CVT, ADAS and four-cylinder smoothness. High-milers on CNG take the Maruti; everyone else should drive both.
Is the ADAS gimmick or genuine? Genuine — the adaptive cruise and collision braking are the same conceptual kit as premium Hondas. On Indian highways the collision-mitigation alone earns its keep.
Manual or CVT? Unless budget forbids it, the CVT. It's the best two-pedal experience in the class and suits the engine's character.
- ₹7.51–10.00 lakh ex-showroom; three trims, petrol-only
- India's cheapest Level 2 ADAS car; 5-star Bharat NCAP reported
- Best-in-class CVT and four-cylinder refinement; 19.46 kmpl (CVT, ARAI)
- No CNG, sunroof or turbo — and it prices above a Dzire spec-for-spec
- Honda reliability and resale strength are the long-game argument
Key takeaways
- ₹7.51–10.00 lakh ex-showroom; three trims, petrol-only
- India's cheapest Level 2 ADAS car; 5-star Bharat NCAP reported
- Best-in-class CVT and four-cylinder refinement; 19.46 kmpl (CVT, ARAI)
- No CNG, sunroof or turbo — and it prices above a Dzire spec-for-spec
- Honda reliability and resale strength are the long-game argument
Sources & further reading
- Honda Cars India price lists
- Bharat NCAP coverage
- ZigWheels and CarDekho specification data, July 2026
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
