Honda’ First Ever Diesel Car Amaze Review

One of the strongpoints of Honda is that it takes hold of the dirt kicked up by the more fortunate wheels of other manufacturers who surge ahead with profits for their clever concepts, and converts that into gold dust, just magically. Well, its not all magic, but Honda does get things right ultimately. Now its all shaped in the form of the first diesel car by the Company.

When excise laws were revised to allow benefits for under 4m cars, many Companies snipped off the protruding behinds of their popular cars and brought in saloon A-class mobiles, which buyers lapped up. Honda too brought in its Jazz and later its Brio, both being under 4m hatchbacks. Continuity in demand for these cars, and consistent profits sparked innovation in Honda, ultimately culminating in the birth of the under 4m saloon, the Amaze. This car gives you saloon type feel, at hatchback pricings.

Honda, for reasons best known to the Company itself, has steered clear of diesel cars. When petrol prices soared high, Honda was still reserved about bringing in diesel cars. We are confident that Honda worked out calculations with experts which drove this decision. Now with petrol pricing practically equating with diesel rates, paradoxically Honda has decided its time to capatilize on the diesel demand.

Honda Amaze is tailor made according to Indian needs, likes and demands. Without sparking the plug, the car sounds truly amazing seemingly offering the most efficient engine in terms of fuel efficiency in India.

Autocar India was given the opportunity to check the prototype out, close on heels to its official release on 11 April. We too tested the car and read on to see what we think.

It isn’t a new fact, that Honda manages to create space within close quarters of a restricted bodyline, in the best way without resulting in cramping. The Amaze has some antecedents. The Brio hatchback certainly left its traces in the Amaze particularly in the front, barring the difference of a twin bar chrome grille, against the single bar unit. Chopping off form from a hatchback to make a saloon could yield disastrous results. Honda doesn’t lack in this regard, and the back smoothly transitions into a boot at the end, with finesse.

The wheelbase of Honda Amaze has been elongated by 60mm, to accomodate more legspace for passengers at the back. Ground clearance for this baby has been upped too, as required for a smaller car, to handle even the worst of speed breakers, so famous around India. Interiors are not at all tacky and sub-standard. A completely new and fresh design is found in the rear seat, which has an added padding of soft cushion, plus the use of higher quality fabrics. Another noticed feature is that the incline was more toward the recline making the seats positioned to offer comfort. You can even nestle your elbows in the arm-rest. The other idle arm can find its sweet spot on the armrests found on the doors the lengths of which have been increased, keeping in mind taller folks.

The boot of Honda Amaze has a 400 litre capacity which by normal standards is supra-normal. There is sufficient space to fit in a weekend’s worth of luggage of a medium size family who will have no reason to feel queezy during long drives, since there is ample headroom, and stretch space. The dash and other details are decent, and not overstated with faux wood and garish materials.

The i-DTEC diesel engine, first time in India, hails from the genius found in the 1.6-litre motor, sized down to less than 1500cc displacement to make it conform to what the government proclaims is size enough to benefit from excise rules and laws. With a bit of engineering and improvements on it basing the calibrations on Indian fuel quality, the drive is smooth. A few tweaks and the outcome is the most powerful diesel motor being 98.6 bhp. Honda is also asserting that it is the most fuel efficient giving 25.8km per litre.

The Honda Amaze diesel engine is also practically noiseless, while running and in idle. The 1.5 i-DTEC is truly a masterpiece. Nil lag when flooring the accelerator and tapping the same lightly through traffic is also smooth and easy. The clutch offers the right amount of resistance and the five speed manual gearbox is easy to use.

The Amaze assures space and comfort and proper dynamics for best on-road driving experience and easy handling. The interiors and details could have been a notch better to make it feel premium. Fuel efficiency being high, the car is sure to be booked out. The Amaze may possibly be prized from Rs.5 lakhs for the petrol varient and Rs.6.5 lakhs for the diesel varient, which are both well priced. If all this be true, the Swift has a very equipped contender to watch out for.