Two of India's most popular sub-4-metre sedans, the Honda Amaze and Maruti Suzuki Dzire, were launched in brand-new iterations in recent months. Both models offer revamped exterior and interior designs, as well as lots of new features. However, where the latest-gen Dzire is powered by a brand-new petrol engine, the Amaze carries on with the same powerplant as its predecessor. We take a look at whether the Dzire's newer motor helps it eke out a performance advantage over the Amaze or if the Honda compact sedan's tried-and-tested engine still holds up well.
- Amaze develops 89hp and 110Nm, mated to a 7-step CVT
- Dzire generates 82hp and 112Nm, comes with a 5-speed AMT
- Amaze is 26kg heavier than Dzire
Honda Amaze vs Maruti Dzire specifications
While both the Dzire and Amaze offer manual and automatic transmissions, we’ve chosen their latter configurations for this performance comparison. The Dzire’s 1.2-litre three-cylinder unit develops 82hp and 112Nm of torque, whereas the Amaze’s 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine has the power advantage at 89hp but produces slightly less torque at 110Nm. When it comes to transmissions, the Amaze's 7-speed CVT has a rubber band effect but is far smoother shifting compared to the jerky nature of the Dzire 5-speed AMT unit.
Dzire is lighter than Amaze
The Amaze features a higher power-to-weight ratio despite weighing 26kg more than the Dzire, but the Maruti Suzuki compact sedan has a greater torque-to-weight ratio. Both contenders clearly trade blows, so let’s see which one emerges victorious in the real world.
Honda Amaze vs Maruti Dzire 0-100kph times
Off the line, the Dzire’s marginal torque advantage helps it reach 20kph and 40kph up to 0.83 seconds quicker than the Amaze, which is a substantial margin. By the time both sedans reach 60kph, the Amaze manages to close the gap and even overtake the Dzire by 0.32 seconds. The Amaze’s lead keeps growing from this point, with the Honda compact sedan reaching 80kph over one whole second before the Dzire. 100kph arrives 2.09 seconds sooner for the Amaze, and the lead further expands to 2.38 seconds over the Dzire by the 120kph mark.
Honda Amaze vs Maruti Dzire in-gear acceleration
Amaze's CVT gearbox trounces the Dzire's AMT
The Dzire falls behind in the in-gear acceleration tests due to the jerkier shifts of its AMT, while the Amaze’s relatively smoother CVT gearbox allows it to dominate. The Honda compact sedan completes the 20-80kph run just 0.04 seconds before the Dzire, but the 40-100kph sprint features a larger delta between the two at 0.75 seconds quicker in favour of the Amaze.
Autocar India's testing standards
Before we conduct our performance tests, we check and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendation and ensure the car has a full tank of fuel. The car is then tested in a controlled environment with two people on board, and the data is collected via highly accurate GPS-based timing equipment.
Prices for the Honda Amaze start at Rs 8.19 lakh and extend up to Rs 11.29 lakh for the top-spec variants, whereas the Maruti Suzuki Dzire line-up starts at Rs 6.84 lakh and tops off at Rs 10.19 lakh for the range-topping ZXi trims.
All prices ex-showroom, Mumbai.
