Honda Amaze could take market away from the Honda City

Any loyalist of Honda Cars India would surely love the new Amaze entry level sedan that has been recently launched by the Japanese company. It is a car that is hard to ignore, considering the number of features that have been packed into it. The vehicle has adequate space for seating four adults, with sufficient legroom and headroom. Automatic as well as manual transmissions are available as option. Along with this, the new 1-5 litre i-DTEC engine produces 99 bhp of power, which is the best for a vehicle in this segment. So now that this car is absolutely new, a question does arise about the future of the City, with which parallels may be drawn.

The design of the Honda City has been upgraded from time to time. But still, the lack of a diesel option has been hurting Honda quite a bit, especially with respect to competition from Hyundai Verna, Tata Manza and Volkswagen Vento. Therefore, it is likely that many customers may prefer the diesel Amaze as against the more expensive petrol version of the City.

With respect to the powertrain, Honda City gets a 1471 cc (SOHC) i-VTEC petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 116.38 bhp. In comparison to this, the Amaze gets a 1.5 litre diesel engine, which develops a 99 bhp of power. Its petrol version produces 87 bhp of power through a 1.2 litre engine, which is same as that in the smaller Brio hatchback. Evidently, many customers would prefer a similar sized diesel engine that provides better fuel economy, despite suffering in terms of power.

Both the Amaze and the City have been beautifully styled and represent a benchmark in their respective segments. A lot of chrome has been used on the exteriors of the City, giving it a luxurious feel. It is much longer than the Amaze, since it is a mid level sedan. However, the Amaze also looks good, with neat contours of design along the sides, giving it an elegant look. Though not as luxurious and premium as the City, it still is good for a vehicle in the entry level sedan category.

Space, comfort and luxury are easy to find in the City's interiors. The wheelbase of the Amaze is longer to the Brio by 60 mm, which provides occupants with greater space than the hatchback. The instrument console on the Honda City definitely looks more sleek and functional than the Amaze, which pales in comparison. The City gets leather upholstered seats, which are not available in the Amaze. The smaller Amaze also gets an air conditioner with climate control, preferred by most modern buyers,

In terms of safety features, the City gets Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), dual front SRS airbags and crumple zones, to minimise the effect of collisions. On the other hand, ABS, EBD and airbags will not be available in the Amaze. One area where the Amaze scores heavily over the City is mileage. As per ARAI, the diesel Amaze develops a class-leading fuel efficiency of 25.8 kmpl. Relatively speaking, the City generates 15 kmpl and it does not have a diesel option. However, it must be noted that Honda offers a CNG version of its City model.

Both vehicles have enough appeal to score with buyers. However, one is a new product, while the other is an established figure. Experts believe that the popularity of Amaze would ultimately decide if any changes need to be made to the existing City model.