As mentioned earlier, the DZire is the oldest member of this crew and had a virtually unchallenged run for quite a while before others appeared on the scene. In spite of competition it continues to be popular, and not without reason. Well, it isn’t much of a looker but it is compact, easy to drive, not too cramped and decently equipped. Power comes from Maruti’s tried and tested 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine. With 90 PS and 200 Nm of torque on tap, the car had always felt peppy. Although it no longer sets the benchmark in the fuel economy department, it is still efficient none the less, returning 19.5 km/l overall. Driving dynamics, though not ground-breaking, are entertaining.
When Honda launched the Amaze, we all thought, “Ah, here’s something that can break Maruti’s choke hold on the segment.” Straight up, the Amaze looked better with cleaner lines and with a boot that didn’t look like it had been slapped on as an afterthought. Like the DZire, the Amaze offered the buyer all the benefits of being compact but was far roomier. Although the DZire offers more headroom and shoulder-room, the Amaze has much better leg- and knee-room. At 400 litres, the Amaze also has the bigger boot. Thanks to its huge glass area, the feel of roominess too is higher in the Amaze. Then there’s the equipment. While the DZire is the only one here to boast of a 12V power outlet for rear passengers and automatic climate control, the Honda is the only one with a touchscreen and a sat-nav.
Power comes from Honda’s Earth Dreams derived 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine that puts out 100 PS and 200 Nm of torque. It’s a torquey unit that makes the car feel even peppier than the DZire; indeed the Honda sedan posts a 0-100 km/h time of 13.14 seconds, shaving over a second off the DZire’s 14.24 seconds. On the fuel economy front, too, the Amaze beats the DZire with an overall economy of 21.5 km/l. The Amaze also proves its superiority in the handling department, returning a surer feel, resulting in enhanced driver confidence. On the ride quality front, the two are not separated by miles but the Honda does have a yard or two over the Maruti over broken Indian roads. So, all other things remaining equal, the score is 1-0 in favour of the Honda Amaze.
