The Honda Amaze is a 4-door subcompactsedan produced by Honda slotted below the City. It is the sedan version of the Brio hatchback for the first-generation model and followed the same design and architecture with it, while the second-generation model is built on its own platform. Honda launched the Amaze in India in April 2013 and was developed at Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co., Ltd. located in Bangkok, Thailand. The Amaze is available in petrol and diesel engine. It is the smallest sedan in Honda's line-up.
First generation (DF1/2; 2013)
The Amaze is being manufactured at the company's facility in Greater Noida, with a localization level of more than 90%. The Amaze is Honda's first diesel offering in India. The car is also available with the L12Bi-VTECpetrol engine that is used in the Fit/Jazz and Brio hatchbacks. Apart from being the company's first diesel car in India, the Amaze is slotted in the lucrative sub 4-meter entry-level sedan segment, where it competes against the Maruti Swift DZire, Tata Indigo eCS, Tata Tigor, Tata Zest, Volkswagen Ameo, Ford Figo Aspire and Hyundai Xcent. In the Philippines, the Brio Amaze also competes with the Mitsubishi Mirage G4. Honda provides a new India-specific diesel engine in the Amaze. This engine gets the i-DTEC moniker and it is a derivative of the new Civic diesel engine recently launched in Europe. This India-specific derivative was developed around excise/taxation rules which offer a favorable tax regime for cars of sub 4-meter cars with engines of less than capacity. Honda claims this all-aluminum engine is the lightest diesel engine in its class. The turbocharger used in the Amaze's i-DTEC diesel engine was designed and built by Honeywell.
2016 facelift
The first generation Amaze received its facelift in 2016. This facelift includes a new grille, dashboard design, new taillights and the use of continuous variable transmission, replacing the 5-speed automatic one. The engine choices remained the same. Similar to the pre-2016 update models, both the engines can be had with a 5-speed manual transmission, while the CVT is offered on the petrol variant only.
Markets
India
The Honda Amaze was launched in India with April 2013 with four trim levels: E, EX, S and VX. In January 2014, an additional trim known as the "SX" variant was launched and positioned in between the "S" and "VX" trims. In conjunction of the first anniversary of the Honda Amaze in India, an "Anniversary Edition" was launched. The updated Amaze is offered in E, S, SX and VX trims in the Indian market. A limited edition "Privilege Edition" was launched in July 2017 and in January 2018, a special edition named the "Pride Edition" was launched.
Thailand
The 2016 update was launched in Thailand in May 2016 with only the 1.2 L L12B i-VTEC I4 petrol engine paired with a CVT transmission. Four trims levels were available: S MT, S CVT, V MT and V CVT. After facelifted, only two trim levels available were V CVT and SV CVT.
Nepal
In June 2013, the first generation Honda Amaze went on sale in Nepal with only a manual petrol variants being available. Three trim levels were available: E, EX and S. The 2016 updated version of the Amaze was launched in Nepal by Syakar Trading Pvt. Ltd. in June 2016 with only the 1.2 L L12B i-VTEC I4 petrol engine paired with either a 5-speed manual of CVT transmission.
Philippines
In September 2014, the first generation Honda Amaze was launched in Philippines as the Brio Amaze at the 2014 Philippine International Motor Show. All Philippine-market Brio Amaze are fully imported from Thailand. The Brio Amaze is powered by a 1.3 L L13A i-VTEC I4 gasonline engine with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.
The second generation Amaze was unveiled at the February 2018Auto Expo in India, which Honda claims to be built on a new platform. The diesel engine is now mated to a CVT. The car has been developed at Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co. Ltd in Thailand. The second generation Amaze is offered in E, S, V and VX trims. In July 2018, Honda Cars India Ltd. recalled 7,290 second generation Honda Amaze in regards to a potential issue with the electric power steering. Affected Amaze's were manufactured from 17 April to 24 May 2018.
Powertrain
Sales
The sales figures in February 2015, were released by Honda Cars India and the Amaze was the highest selling model for the Japanese firm, with 7,163 units sold.
