Should you buy a Honda Amaze? The pros and cons

If you want a small sedan that feels a bit more upmarket without breaking R300k, the Honda Amaze (read our launch report) deserves a spot on your shortlist. It brings the smoothness of a four‑cylinder, standard LED headlights and a big boot, but you’ll pay a little more at the pumps, and there are other drawbacks.

The Honda Amaze is a sensible buy, but it has a quirk or two, like other cars in the segment.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Standard LED headlights and DRLs on every model
• Big 416‑litre boot and generous rear legroom
• Smooth 1.2‑litre 4‑cyl i‑VTEC; comfortable ride
• 8‑inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto across the range
• Reverse camera and rear PDC standard; 7‑inch driver display
• Comfort trim adds 6 airbags, LED fog lamps and a 15 W wireless charger
• 5‑year/200,000 km warranty and 4‑year/60,000 km service plan

Cons

• Pricier than key rivals 
• Claimed 5.5 L/100 km, but usage is heavier, not the class economy champ
• Rear backrest is fixed (no split‑fold flexibility)
• Trend has only 2 airbags (Comfort has 6)
• Turning radius (5.3 m) isn’t as tight as the best in class, but it's not a dealbreaker

Price in South Africa

• Amaze 1.2 Trend manual: R254 900
• Amaze 1.2 Comfort manual: R274 900
• Amaze 1.2 Comfort CVT: R294 900

Prices correct at time of publication. Warranty: 5‑year/200 000 km. Service plan: 4‑year/60 000 km.

Read our Honda Amaze review here.

What it’s like to drive

Wet weather is handled well, and the Amaze has serious safety features.

The Amaze majors on ease. The 1.2‑litre four‑cylinder is quieter at idle and more relaxed at a cruise than most in this class; the CVT is effortless in traffic and simulates steps if you push on, but the typical CVT drone is quite irritating if you are not used to it.

The 5-speed manual's shift action is smooth and light, but like any small, naturally aspirated manual sedan, you’ll downshift for steeper inclines or when fully loaded (more so on the reef). However, around town, it’s unfussy and comfortable. We prefer the manual gearbox, of course.

Fuel economy

This is the entry-level Trend version, which looks and feels quite premium.

Honda claims 5.5 l/100 km for all derivatives. In mixed driving, plan for roughly 6–7 L/100 km depending on load, altitude, and your driving style. It’s not the absolute economy leader, but the trade‑off is a smoother engine and impressive spec.

Check out: Suzuki Dzire vs Honda Amaze vs Kia Pegas

Safety and airbags

• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), ABS and hill‑start assist: standard
• Reverse camera and rear parking sensors: standard
• Airbags: Trend = 2 (front); Comfort = 6 (front, side, curtain)
• ISOFIX child‑seat anchors and rear seatbelt reminders included

Practicality and space

The (somewhat untidy in this image) rear bench is spacious enough for families.

This is where the Amaze earns its keep. The 416‑litre boot will handle family life and airport runs with room to spare, and rear legroom is generous for the footprint. There’s a fold‑down centre armrest, but as we've mentioned, forget about folding down the backrest if you need to load longer items.

The roomy boot is convenient for people who travel with lots of stuff.

Tech and features

All models get the big‑ticket items: an 8‑inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 7‑inch driver display, reverse camera and rear PDC. LED headlights/DRLs are standard across the range. Comfort trims add LED front fog lamps, a 15W wireless charging pad, and dual-tone 15-inch alloys (Trend wears 15-inch Sparkle Silver alloys). Smart keyless entry is available across the range.

Honda is big on tech, even in their cheaper cars. This is the CVT model (Comfort trim)

Running costs and reliability

Honda’s simple SOHC i‑VTEC 1.2 is proven and easy to live with. The 5‑year/200,000 km warranty and 4‑year/60,000 km service plan provide solid cover, and dealer support is widespread. Tyres and consumables are available in common sizes, making maintenance sensible.

There's no shortage of useful storage cubbies in the Honda Amaze.

Who should buy an Amaze?

• You want LED lighting, a well-sized, user-friendly touchscreen infotainment system, and the smoothness of a four‑cylinder
• You prioritise a big boot and adult‑friendly rear space
• You value Honda’s build quality, reliability, and Comfort trim’s richer spec, although the Trend's pretty comprehensively specified too.
• You fancy the CVT model's remote start functionality

Who should look elsewhere?

• Value‑first shoppers and high‑mileage e‑hailing drivers chasing the lowest fuel bills (a Dzire GL+ usually costs less to buy and run)
• Buyers who need a split‑fold rear seat for long items
• Those who want the tightest turning radius in tight complexes
• People who don't like the drone of a CVT gearbox 

We like the simple, yet upmarket layout of the Amaze.

FAQs

Is the Amaze fuel‑efficient?
Claimed 5.5 L/100 km; expect around 6–7 L/100 km in mixed, real‑world use.

Does the Amaze have stability control?
Yes. VSA is standard across the range, with ABS and hill‑start assist. Honda's ACE platform is renowned for being safe.

How big is the boot?
416 litres: One of the biggest in the budget sedan class.

Which model has six airbags?
Comfort (manual and CVT). The Trend has two airbags.

Should you buy it?
If you value refinement, tech, and a bigger boot more than the absolute lowest price and fuel economy, the Amaze (especially the Comfort) makes a compelling case, but the Trend is a great value if you can live with having only two airbags.

If purchase price and petrol spend are your main concerns, cross‑shop the Suzuki Dzire and Kia Pegas before you sign, and check out the Hyundai Grand i10 sedan while you're at it.

Buying used? We compared the '22 Amaze to the now-discontinued Figo Sedan.