By Otsile Kadiege

Honda South Africa recently launched the new, fourth-generation Amaze, and we flew down to the ‘Mother City’ to see if the new version is better than its peers. So, what’s new? Well, the sub-compact sedan introduces a new design and styling, upgraded safety and ADAS features, increased ride height, improved cabin insulation, and new tech while retaining its tried and tested engine.

Exterior design and styling

The new Honda Amaze’s design looks more mature and borrows a few design cues from its siblings, like the Elevate and Ballade. Exterior highlights for the top-spec Comfort derivative include LED headlights and LED daytime running lights, 15-inch alloy wheels, five exterior colour options, a 2mm ride height increase, and LED/bulb combination taillights.

Interior design, technology and practicality

The cabin of the new Amaze is simple and straightforward. Standout features of the Comfort derivative include an 8-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, a 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, 2 USB ports, rear air vents, 416 litres of luggage capacity, and a decent 6-speaker sound system.

Powertrain

Powering the new Amaze is the tried and tested 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 66 kW and 110 Nm. The powerplant is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a CVT gearbox. Honda claims a fuel consumption of 5.5 L/100 km for both the CVT and 5-speed manual gearboxes.

It has a 35-litre fuel tank, which Honda claims will offer a range of 636 km when filled to the brim.

Safety features

All Amaze derivatives feature rear seatbelt reminders, Smart Keyless Entry, and rear parking sensors with a reverse camera. The Comfort models also include a full suite of six airbags, while the Trend model comes equipped with dual front SRS airbags. Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) are now standard.

Launch drive impressions

After spending a day with the new Honda Amaze Comfort CVT, there’s nothing particularly amazing or wow about the newcomer, but it does what it’s intended to do pretty well.

We like its grown-up looks and simple interior, which is also comfy and offers best-in-class boot space. It also delivers a decent drive and handles road imperfections quite well. The downside is the 7-step CVT gearbox, which makes the Amaze feel underpowered.

We look forward to spending more time with the new Amaze for an in-depth review.

Pricing and warranty

Amaze 1.2 Trend MT – R254,900

Amaze 1.2 Comfort MT – R274,900

Amaze 1.2 Comfort CVT – R294,900

The Honda Amaze comes standard with a 4-year/60,000 km service plan, a 5-year/200,000 km warranty, and 3-year AA Roadside Assistance.