2018 Honda Amaze: How Has It Evolved?

When we first saw the Honda Amaze at the 2018 Auto Expo, we were taken aback ever so slightly. The new design was familiarly Honda, but oh so quirky. For a brand that's known for clean, inoffensive design, this did seem like a super bold move. Of course, it's a sub 4-metre sedan and designing one to look proportional and appealing at the same time is a huge task. And while it may look a bit ungainly from certain angles in pictures, it does look like a pukka small sedan in person.

Size Matters

The 2018 Amaze measures 3995mm in length, 1695mm in width, and 1501mm in height. That makes it 5mm longer, 15mm wider and 4mm shorter. More importantly, the wheelbase has gone up by a whopping 65mm.

But, bigger changes are under the skin. The front track is up by 17mm, whereas the rear track is now wider by a full 25mm. This should help keep the car planted on those highway trips.

Get Comfy

There are tiny changes to make sure the Amaze delivers a plush experience. For instance, the bump stops (a small part in the suspension that prevents it from bottoming out) are now made of urethane and not natural rubber. This has two advantages. One, the absorption is significantly better. Two, unlike rubber that degrades quickly when subjected to heat and constant use, urethane is a tad more resilient.

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There's been a proper focus on improving the NVH levels of the Amaze as well. Honda has amped up the under-bonnet insulation to ensure the compact sedan doesn't make a racket, especially when on the move. For the diesel version, the Japanese carmaker claims that road noise is better controlled as is the engine noise in stop and go traffic. Small changes, such as an added layer urethane under the engine head cover are aimed at controlling the noise that filters into the cabin.

And Honda wants you to chill. Quite literally. The AC compressor is now more potent (58cc -> 110cc for the petrol, and 83cc -> 120cc for the diesel) to tackle the Indian summers a bit better. There are no rear AC vents on offer, and we're hoping the bigger compressor can make up for it. Honda says the AC can cool the cabin down from 40°C to 22°C in about 17 minutes. That's on par with the Honda City, and 26 per cent faster than the outgoing Amaze. Cool! (See what we did there?)

Stretch A Bit?

You have the liberty to! The additional 65mm of wheelbase has given Honda engineers enough room to make the back seat experience that little bit better.

There's an extra 50mm of leg space, whereas knee room is claimed to be better by 40mm. The added width should come into play in the rear bench, says Honda, with an additional 45mm on shoulder room. As far as headroom is concerned, the manufacturer hasn't claimed a change. We don't expect it to be biblically different, though. That said, we plan on breaking out the measuring tape real soon, so stay tuned for the road test data.

And your luggage gets some more breathing room. The Amaze's boot was already cavernous at 400-litres. That has gone up further to a whopping 420-litres.

Under The Hood

...you'd find familiar engines. There's the 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol and the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel.

The petrol motor continues to produce 90PS of power and 110Nm of torque. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual and a CVT. The big difference here is that the automatic now gets a set of steering-mounted paddle shifters.

Speaking of the diesel engine, it does see quite a lot of changes under the surface. The focus here was to reduce noise levels and friction, so there are design changes to the engine block, pistons and the chain system. Output remains the same at 100PS and 200Nm, but the torque spread is now wider. Peak torque kicks in at 1750rpm and is available right till you touch 3000rpm.

With the diesel, the bigger talking point is the new CVT automatic. The diesel won't feature paddle shifters like the petrol, and there's another bummer as well. Instead of 100PS and 200Nm like in the manual, you get to play with just 80PS and 160Nm. Does this cause a tradeoff in highway performance for in-city convenience? That's a question we're looking to answer.

Peace Of Mind (..And The Wallet)

The outgoing Amaze was covered under warranty for 2 years / 40,000km. With the new one, the standard warranty covers the compact sedan for 3 years / unlimited kilometres. Also, the service interval is now longer, at 1 year / 10,00km (compared to 6 months / 10,000km).

What's more, Honda is hinting at a lower cost of ownership. Extended warranty for the Amaze can be purchased for the fourth and fifth year for Rs 3500/year (petrol) and Rs 4900/year (diesel) respectively.

Everything Else

We've done a detailed first look video at the Auto Expo, that should whet your appetite till we get the review up on Friday.

The 2018 Honda Amaze is due to be launched soon will be available in five colours: Radiant Red, White Orchard Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic and Golden Brown Metallic. We're expecting prices to not stray too far off from the current levels of Rs 5.6 lakh to Rs 8.5 lakh (ex-showroom).

Got questions? Let us know by writing to us on Facebook or on Twitter. Stay tuned to ZigWheels for the full review.