Honda Amaze 1.2 Trend - Fast facts
| Fast Facts | Category | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Price (R) | R 254 900 | |
| Engine | 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol | |
| Power (Combined) | 66 kW | |
| Torque (Combined) | 110 Nm | |
| 0-100 km/h (claimed) | N/A | |
| Top Speed | N/A | |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | |
| Drive | Front Wheel Drive | |
| Fuel Economy | 5.5 L/100 km (claimed) | |
| Boot Space | 416 litres | |
| Rivals | Suzuki DZire, Proton Saga, Changan Alsvin |
The Honda Amaze might be small in stature, but it sometimes just puts a big smile on your face. At least that is what this writer experienced over the last few weeks of driving. South Africa first saw the Amaze nameplate in 2018. Yet in 2025, the new model arrived. While not a major departure from the previous generation, there have been significant improvements.
Related: Honda Amaze 1.2 Comfort Review: Foreigner in a strange land
Styling
Upfront, the headlamp shape remains largely the same but now includes Daytime Running Lights; however, the grille design is very different. Instead of the large chrome bar or horizontal fins on the previous generation, this new Amaze gets a hexagonal grille with a 3D-like mesh pattern. Viewed from the front and the Amaze is rather attractive within its segment.
While down the sides, the silhouette remains rather familiar, the standard 15-inch alloy wheels do elevate the styling. As you move towards the rear, this is where the design truly stands out from its predecessors. The taillamps take on a more horizontal design, which complements the fact that this new Amaze is 38mm wider than its predecessor, measuring 1,733 mm.
As alluded to earlier, this writer thinks the Amaze is quite attractive overall. There are strong, bold lines all over the exterior, and the flat front and rear actually give it attitude.
Interior
Given that this is an entry-level derivative, we actually expected less from the interior. Sure, you are getting cloth seats and a lot of harder plastics, even on touch surfaces, but getting things like an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system installed with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is appreciated.
The driver's instrument cluster is also divided into two sections. On the left, a 7.0-inch digital instrument display functioning as both a tachometer and an information centre, showcasing media information, telephony, or fuel consumption figures. On the right is a familiar analogue speedometer. Front occupants also get two USB-A ports, one connected to the infotainment system and the second for charging only.
The infotainment system has been rather intuitive to use and has operated smoothly overall. The pixel density isn't as high as in more premium vehicles; however, the display is bright even in bright sunny conditions. The system is connected to a 4-speaker audio system, which, for all intended purposes, is ample; however, we would prefer the 6-speaker system installed in the Comfort derivatives.
Related: Honda Amaze 1.2 Trend (2025) Review
Space and Comfort
Both front occupants have ample head-, shoulder-, and legroom, and while two adults will comfortably occupy the rear bench or three children, we won't recommend three adults driving over long distances, as it could become a little cramped. Legroom is good for the rear occupants, too. As for the boot, expect 416 litres, which is good; however, the smaller boot aperture could make loading larger items more difficult.
The noise, vibration and harshness are what can be expected at this price point. There is a good amount of road noise on the national routes, and the suspension can be rather stiff over speed bumps in suburban areas. But it is not that intrusive, so we'd still recommend the vehicle.
The Drive
Review: Honda Amaze 1.2 Comfort Auto (2025) Review
Performance
Under the bonnet is a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder i-VTEC petrol motor coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission. This combination provides 66 kW and 110 Nm of torque to the front wheels. At lower revs, the engine will struggle to pick up speed; however, between 3 500 and 5 000 r/min, the little motor comes alive.
Fuel Consumption
Honda claims that one can achieve 5.5 L/100 km on the combined cycle. Sean Nurse, Motoring Editor at AutoTrader, managed to get around the 6.5 L/100 km mark. However, after a few weeks, I managed to bring that down to 5.9 L/100 km and aim to see if a more frugal number is achievable.
Safety
This 3rd-generation Honda Amaze achieved a 5-star safety rating for both adult and child occupants in the Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) assessment. But this was equivalent to the Comfort derivative, which comes standard with 6 airbags. The Trend variant, as we are testing, comes with 2 airbags for the front passengers only, which would greatly alter overall safety.
Here are the safety features according to trim:
| Feature | Honda Amaze 1.2 Trend |
|---|---|
| Airbags | 2 |
| ESP | Standard |
| ABS Brakes | Standard |
| Hill-start assist | Standard |
Price
The Honda Amaze range comes standard with a 4-year/60 000km Service Plan, a 5-year/200 000km Warranty and 3-year AA Roadside Assistance.
| Model | Price (R) |
|---|---|
| Honda Amaze 1.2 Trend | 254 900 |
| Honda Amaze 1.2 Comfort Manual | 274 900 |
| Honda Amaze 1.2 Comfort Auto | 294 900 |
*The pricing and features indicated were correct at the time of writing this article; however, they can change at any time and without notice.
The Verdict
Overall, our time spent in the Honda Amaze has been good. While it is indeed a compact sedan, it is an honest car that ticks all the boxes for basic mobility and more. We would love to see cruise control fitted for the daily commute. Other than that, the Honda Amaze offers a lot of value for its price and should seriously be considered by those looking for their first new car.
