Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire Vs Honda Amaze

Cartrade Comparison Test

Exterior:

Maruti SuzukiSwift DZire:

The Dzire has got a cosmetic upgrade, where the new compact sedan gets a new front grille with a thick chrome slat and smoked-out front headlamps. The Dzire’s new look has been given to make it look more premium, which in our opinion isn’t the case as it looks a bit too much of chrome. The side profile of the DZire looks out of proportion as the bonnet feels large and the boot looks smaller in size. This is because the DZire is under 4 metres in length and this reduces the amount of taxes one pays on the sedan.

Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire

 

The rear of the Dzire does look out of shape and this is one of the only downsides of this compact sedan. There isn’t a major change at the rear of the DZire and this makes it look the same at the rear. The Dzire comes shod with 185/65 R15 on the Z variants and the others get 175/65R14. The exterior styling of the Dzire is surely not its biggest USP.

Honda Amaze:

The Honda Amazeis based on the Brio and the compact sedan retains the same panels till the B-pillar (end of the front row). There are a few changes on the Amaze when compared to the Brio, especially the twin-slat chrome grille instead of a single thick one that is seen on the Brio. The side profile of the Amaze is similar to the Brio, expect for the rear door that is longer in length. This indicates more knee room for rear passengers. The Amaze has been designed for those who drive it themselves and even for those who are chauffeur driven.

The Amaze’s boot looks well-integrated and not like a after thought. The Amaze car was one of the first compact sedans that didn’t look out of proportion. There is minimal utilisation of chrome around the car and the well-proportionate tyres are used on it.

Interior:

Swift Dzire

This is one area where the DZire shines. The interior styling, space and quality and features on offer. The DZire’s interior quality has first-grade plastics and fit and finish. The DZire’s quality and styling of the dashboard has been one of the best in its segment, especially after the new-generation was introduced in 2012. The Dzire has one of the best features in its segment as well, it comes with keyless entry, push start and stop, bluetooth music streaming, rear AC vents and bottle holders too.

The front row seats on the DZire are soft and comfortable. Generally soft seats are good for soft city drives and that is the case with the DZire as well. It is on long highway journeys, where the DZire feels a bit uncomfortable. There is decent support at the back and even the rear seats have decent support too. The thigh support for the rear seats could have been better, as this has even been made for those who are chauffeur driven as well. The boot space on the DZire isn’t the best-in-its class but it is a sub four-metre sedan.

Honda Amaze:

Honda being a premium brand offers decent quality interiors on the inside. This compact sedan has one of the most spacious cabins, but in quality it doesn’t match with some of its rivals. The interior styling is basic and functional. The features list too isn’t very long on the Amaze when compared to competition. The fit and finish on the Amaze is good, but it doesn’t feel premium. There is a easy to read orange backlit dials and then a touchscreen ANV system on the top-of-the-line variant, with three knobs for air-con controls. There is no climate control and telephone controls on the steering wheel either. The interior insulation is decent and the diesel engine clatter is audible in the Amaze.

The Amaze’s front row seats have integrated headrests which doesn’t look premium however these are comfortable even if you a six-footer. The seat has good support and is comfortable even for long journeys. The second row has one of the best knee rooms in its segment and it could have had better thigh support. The Amaze has one of the largest boot in the compact sedan with a volume of 400 litres.

Engine and Performance:

Swift Dzire

Another area where the DZire is very strong. Both the engines, be it the 1.2-litre petrol and the 1.3-litre diesel perform well and are frugal too. The petrol is highly refined and the diesel engine has some amount of clatter on cold starts, which reduces once the engine heats up. The vibrations and the engine harshness are minimal on both these engines. The power delivery too on both are linear, the diesel is where there is a major improvement in power delivery. The company has worked out a way to increase the response in the diesel engine and this makes it a lot more drivable than the previous generation Swift and even most of the other hatchbacks in this segment.

The power is sufficient in diesel at low engine speeds (rpm) to be driven in city traffic, in petrol you need to rev the engine a bit more for better performance. On the highway, both the engines can be driven with comfort and are good cruisers too. Overtaking in city or the highway doesn’t requires you to downshift on most of the occasions.

There is an automatic also available on the petrol, which is a four-speed and comes on the Vxi variant. This is good enough if you need the convenience of an automatic, however

Let us leave the ARAI fuel efficiency figures aside, and Swift DZire is one of the most fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines. The petrol should return about 12-14 km/l in the city and the diesel between 15-18 km/l, however with the Z variant the efficiency goes down as it has bigger tyres. But the reduction would be a small percentage, which can be neglected.

Honda Amaze:

The Amaze comes with a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine option. Both these engines have good power and mileage, however it is the diesel that excels. The diesel engine is noisy and there is a loud and prominent diesel clatter throughout from this engine. The refinement of the petrol is as good as any modern day petrol engine, it is diesel that is noisy. The petrol on the other hand is highly refined and quiet too. The diesel engine produces about 98bhp of power and power is just under 89bhp.

Honda Amaze

 

The power delivery of the petrol and diesel both are linear, especially the diesel as there isn’t much of a turbo lag that is a common phenomenon in most of the modern day diesel engines. The drivability is good and there isn’t much of a need to shift gears. The Amaze has good enough power for overtaking and one doesn’t need to downshift, especially on downshifts. There is sufficient power in both to cruise comfortably on the highway. The mileage of the petrol version of the Amaze is about 12-13 km/l in the city and that of the diesel is around 15-17km/l.

Ride and Handling:

Swift Dzire

The ride quality of the Swift DZire is pliant and supple. This compact sedan has softer rear suspension for better comfort. For those who will be buying the DZire to be chauffeur driven, they will have a comfortable ride. On bad roads, the ride could feel jittery, especially at high speeds because of soft suspension.

The handling of the DZire is decent. It doesn’t have the alacrity like its European rivals but it does handle well. The steering is light and easy to manoeuvre in congested city lanes. The drivability and the ease of driving in busy city lanes makes DZire a good choice for city driving.

Honda Amaze:

Honda Amaze has been built for the best-possible ride quality and it does stand true on its terms. The ride quality is good on the Amaze and the rear seat comfort is better at the rear. It does well on bad roads as well. The handling of the Amaze is good and it does well in this department. The alacrity of the compact sedan isn’t at par with the European competition but the better than the rest.The steering wheel is extremely light and so good to drive.

VFM:

Swift Dzire

The DZire is a tad expensive than the competition and this makes it an expensive than competition, but what it gets moving for itself is the Maruti badge and its extensive service network and the resale value. The petrol version of the DZire is the best compact sedan if we consider only this engine option. The plush and comfortable interiors do make you happy that you have spent the money on the correct product.

Honda Amaze:

The price that the Amaze comes for, there are better value for money packages. The Amaze is a good product, however the interiors could have been a bit more premium in styling. Recently the maze did get a touchscreen, however the interior styling is very basic. It has the best-in-class space, but doesn’t match the premium feel that the competition offers.

VERDICT:

The DZire is the winner despite the fact that Amaze is more spacious. A person buying a compact sedan for a three-box status and what is very important are the interiors. The DZire excels here, with good power and fuel efficiency too. Honda’s interiors are basic in styling.

HondaAmaze [2018-2021] ₹ N/A OnwardsCheck On Road Price

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