The compact sedan segment may be struggling, but a few automakers still believe in its potential and aren’t ready to give up just yet. One of them is Honda Cars India. We don’t want to say if this is a good thing or not, but the Japanese four-wheeler’s best seller is the Amaze.
In April 2025, the sedan clocked 2,019, which may sound below par, but it’s a 12% growth year-on-year. We drove the Amaze CVT automatic version for a couple of weeks to find out what it’s like to live with. We highlight the pros and cons of the sedan.
Honda Amaze CVT: Driving Experience
Keeping convenience in mind, we opted for the Amaze CVT, which came to our rescue at choc-o-bloc traffic. The gearbox may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s the only sedan in this segment to be mated to one because the competition offers the cheaper AMT option.
Compared to the AMTs, the CVT still offers a better driving experience as it negates the jerky response. If the rev needle is kept within 2000 rpm, the engine and the CVT complement each other and the noise is barely audible. Switch to lead foot style of driving, and the rubber band effect of the CVT kicks in, and the whining sound becomes the annoying soundtrack you’re forced to listen to in a loop.
To bring in some urgency or to overtake, the best is to opt for the paddle shifters. They make the Honda sedan respond with some purpose. There is the S mode, which speeds up the initial acceleration, but the tradeoff is the power lag.
Honda Amaze CVT: Fuel Efficient
Honda has revealed the overall fuel economy of manual and CVT at 18.65 kmpl and 19.46 kmpl. As we predominantly drove the Amaze in the city with a commute under 85 km daily, the sedan is quite a mile muncher. In our every commute, with the air conditioner on full blast and getting stuck in stop-start traffic, the Amaze CVT returned 15 kmpl.
We thought that was quite impressive. The secret behind this mileage is to go light-footed with the pedal and not unnecessarily push the sedan around. Also, try and keep the rpm needle below 2,000 rpm, and the Amaze will judiciously sip fuel.
Honda Amaze CVT: Most affordable ADAS vehicle in the market
Honda played to smartly and opted to equip the Amaze with camera-based Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, which keeps the cost low when compared to radar-based technology. The Japanese automaker likes to call the ADAS suite Honda Sensing, which is packed with six features like adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking system, lane keeping assist system, road departure mitigation system, auto high beam and lead car departure notification system.
Honda has managed to hit the sweet spot when it comes to ADAS, as it’s able to anticipate the unpredictable Indian road conditions. It is not intrusive and starts to press all the panic buttons. The ADAS patiently waits and activates when the safety feature is the last resort, rather than being a safety nanny always tinkering with your driving style.
Honda Amaze CVT: Steering heft
First, what you’ll notice when you’re behind the wheel is its heft. It is not feather light, and a little effort is needed. It’s not a deal breaker, it’s more about something to get used to. The feedback is direct and not vague like its competition. The Amaze is stable at high speeds and takes corners with a lot of confidence, but in a neutral way.
Honda Amaze CVT: Cabin comfort
Honda usually offers one of the most comfortable seats, but this time around, the Amaze was left wanting more. The front seats offers great side support with the additional bolsters, but the lumbar support starts poking your lower back rather than offer additional comfort.
There’s plenty of legroom for the rear passengers, but the thigh support and the headroom could have been better. The rear row offers an armrest with two cupholders, but its height is quite low, and the three headrests are adjustable, which felt a bit cheap for a sedan that’s priced from Rs 8.10 lakh to Rs 11.20 lakh, ex-showroom.
