Here’s a car choice down to individual tastes and needs
Sometimes it becomes apparent that entities are watching each other. Like Honda and Suzuki with the Amaze and the Dzire. Two well-priced and popular subcompact sedans that offer a fine blend of great value and impressive features. And since hailing app Uber opened up to smaller engined cars, they are both now major players in the, let’s still call it taxi industry.
Both have been around for a while and both have also recently benefited major makeovers to make them more attractive and interesting. No, believe us, these are two most intriguing cars. They may be Japanese by badge, but like most affordable small cars these days, both are built in India. The Amaze at Honda’s in Greater Noida and Tapukara, Rajasthan plants, and the Dzire at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar facility.
The Suzuki’s main Dzire comes mainly via more features for the price, including standard cruise control and a more advanced 6 airbag safety. The Honda Amazes with a more spacious and comfortable cabin featuring automatic climate control, push to start and LED headlights. Both are powered by 1.2-litre engines. These two have five-speed manual gearboxes turning the front axles and both offer CVT options too.
Amaze & Dzire do not really fight toe-to-toe
Interestingly, there’s actually something of a truce in that these cars do not really fight toe-to-toe. The Honda is sat slightly more premium and brings more spec at a higher price. Which is probably pretty clever because they likely attract a slightly different buyer profile. They also compete with a few pretty serious rivals, not least the locally built Polo Vivo sedan, which slips between these two on price, but is a bigger car.
Digging down into more detail, the subtly more affordable Suzuki Dzire still offers an impressive bang for buck feature list. Thay standard cruise control and six airbags in this higher spec, for instance. That said, its cabin trim is a little more basic in areas. The infotainment screen appears a little lost in that fat frame, but our tester also featured pretty neat white trim. Even if that’s a bit of an acquired taste.
Some may say its perhaps more advanced normally aspirated 60 kW 112 Nm 1.2-litre petrol 3-cylinder lacks a little sophistication, while its lesser NCAP rating and some spec like automatic climate control only being available in higher trims like this, may be a concern. But six airbags, stability control and ABS still stand it in good stead. As do LED headlights and rear camera with parking sensors, all of which match the Honda.
Amaze tips the scales in a cabin, boot space
On paper, the 66 kW 110 Nm four-pot Honda Amaze looks the better performer and those Auto test figures down below bear that out in the real world. That’s hardly a thrashing though. In fact, once mobile there’s hardly a difference between them. Amaze is more spacious inside; we think cooler finished and carries a higher NCAP rating with 6 airbags available in this higher trim. But that’s what you’d expect for the price difference.
The Honda is also more spacious and a little more comfortable with automatic climate control and push-button start, while its slightly broader, cushier rear bench and a tad more knee room may better please Uber riders. The Amaze also has a larger 420 litre boot versus the Suzuki’s 382. And better ground clearance to mount those kerbs for a nap while waiting for that next call out.
In that Uber, or taxi sense, the Suzuki has a certain value, price and fuel economy advantage, while it could be said that the subtly more sophisticated Honda’s refined driving experience, more powerful engine, better performance and build quality would be an advantage.
Dzire will be more frugal to run
Cheaper to buy, the more fuel efficient Dzire should be more frugal to run month to month too. And features like cruise control and a reverse camera are a bonus to the driver. The Suzuki is also less powerful, but also slightly lighter than the Honda, which is still the more responsive and sprightlier performer. The Honda however comes further back in build quality and a more quality feel.
Both cars are spacious enough, although the Honda has a small advantage there and its boot has a reasonable advantage too, which will come in handy in hotel or airport type runs. Both also hold their value well and prudent owners can expect reasonable resale value too, boast well established parts and service networks and dealer networks in South Africa.
So it’s a split decision in the end. If its value, fuel efficiency and reasonable specification and safety that floats your boat, the Suzuki should be your Dzire. But if it’s more power, extra refinement, enhanced quality and more engaging driving experience you’re after, then the Honda will Amaze.
It all boils down to a split decision
This one’s going to boil down to individual tastes and needs because while they may seem to be direct rivals, each has a specific set of strengths and everyone should win in the end. What do they call it again… horses for courses…?— Michele Lupini
Images & test data: Giordano Lupini
Auto Shootout: Honda Suzuki
Amaze 1.2 Dzire 1.2 GL
Comfort manual + manual
Engine: 66 kW 110 Nm 60 kW 112 Nm
1.2-litre 1.2-litre
petrol I4 petrol I3
Drive: 5-speed 5-speed
auto FWD. auto FWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 4.48 sec 4.55 sec
0-100 km/h: 10.66 sec 11.21 sec
0-120 km/h: 15.08 sec 15.74 sec
400m: 17.0 sec 17.6 sec
@ 129 km/h @ 126 km/h
80-120 km/h: 8.20 sec 8.42 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 180 km/h 175 km/h
Fuel: 5.5 l/100 km 4.4 l/100 km
CO2: 131 g/km 101 g/km
Range: 640 km 840 km
Warranty: 5y 200K 5y 200K
Service Plan: 4y 60K km 4y 60K km
LIST PRICE: R274K R246K
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