New Honda Amaze vs City – Which One Makes More Sense?

Honda has launched the 3rd-generation Amaze to challenge its rivals in the compact sedan segment

In this post, I am comparing the new Honda Amaze and City in terms of specs, price, features, design, safety and dimensions. This comparison is premised upon choosing the better Honda car as per your needs. We know that the City has already been refreshed for our market. Furthermore, it is one of the few vehicles with a strong hybrid engine in India. Hence, buyers have a choice with regard to the powertrain. On the other hand, Amaze is a popular compact sedan which rivals the mighty Maruti Dzire, Hyundai and Tata Tigor. It has been doing fairly well on the sales charts ever since its launch in 2013. For now, let us compare the two thoroughly.

New Honda Amaze vs City – Price

The newly launched Honda Amaze comes in three variants – V, VX and ZX. The prices range from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10.90 lakh, ex-showroom. This makes Amaze the most affordable ADAS-equipped vehicle in the country. Also, these are introductory prices valid for the first 45 days of the launch. Honda is also offering a best-in-class 3-year/unlimited standard warranty which can be extended to 7 years/unlimited and an anytime warranty for up to 10 years. On the other hand, the City retails between Rs 11.92 lakh and Rs 16.45 lakh, ex-showroom.

New Honda Amaze vs City – Specs and Mileage

The new Honda Amaze draws power from an E20-compatible 1.2-litre 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol mill which is good for 90 PS and 110 Nm of peak power and torque. This engine pairs with a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic gearbox, just like the outgoing model. The Japanese car marque claims a mileage of 18.65 km/l with the manual and 19.46 km/l with the automatic transmission. Moreover, the compact sedan boasts a ground clearance of 172 mm and a turning radius of 4.7 m. Hence, owners don’t have to worry about scraping the underbelly on uneven road surfaces.

On the other hand, the Honda City is available with a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine generating a healthy 121 PS and 145 Nm of peak power and torque. Performing the transmission duties is either a 6-speed manual or a CVT automatic gearbox. This is one of the most refined petrol engines in the segment. The mileage figures hover around 17.8 km/l for the manual and 18.4 km/l for the CVT automatic. It is natural that the larger vehicle has a more powerful engine.

New Honda Amaze vs City – Features and Safety

Now, we know that modern carmakers want the latest tech and convenience amenities in their vehicles. In fact, new-age cars have become moving gadgets with so many electronic components and functionalities. That is the reason why carmakers equip their products with ultra-modern features to woo customers. Let us commence with the kind of offerings with the new Amaze:

• 8-inch Floating Touchscreen Infotainment with HD IPS Display in All Variants
• 7-inch Semi-Digital TFT MID Instrument Cluster
• 416-litre Boot Space
• Digital AC
• Welcome Animation and Customization
• Honda Sensing ADAS Safety Tech (First-in-Segment)
• Class-Leading Rear Headroom and Legroom
• 6-speaker Premium Surround Sound System
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Paddle Shifters
• Honda Connect with 5 Years Free Subscription with over 37 Features
• Remote Engine Start with AC
• Bluetooth App Connectivity
• Wireless Charger
• Smart Keyless Entry with Walk-Away Lock
• Rear Armrest with Cupholders
• Rear AC Vents
• PM 2.5 Cabin Air Purifier
• 6 Airbags as Standard
• ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts
• Hill Start Assist
• Lane-watch Camera (First-in-Segment)
• 6 Colour Options
• Signature Package with Accessories (Optional)

On the other hand, the Honda City is a premium mid-size sedan which possesses a feature-laden cabin. The main highlights include:

• 7-inch HD Full Colour TFT Instrument Cluster
• 8-inch Touchscreen Infotainment Display
• Next-Gen Honda Connect with Telematics Control Unit (TCU)
• Alexa and Smartwatch Connectivity
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 8-speaker Premium Surround Sound System
• Voice Recognition
• Exclusive Leather Upholstery
• Soft Touch Panels in the Cabin
• Honda Smart Key System
• Power Adjustable and Foldable ORVMs
• PM2.5 Dust and Pollen Cabin Filter
• Driver’s Seat Height Adjustment
• Wireless Charger
• Ambient Lighting
• Honda Sensing ADAS
• 6 Airbags
• ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts
• LaneWatch Camera
• Multi-Angle Rear View Camera
• Hill Start Assist
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
• Auto Dimming IRVM with Frameless Design
• Vehicle Stability Program with Traction Control

Design and Dimensions

This is an interesting aspect since the new-gen Honda Amaze has been inspired by the City in terms of the exterior styling to some extent. At the front, the new Amaze gets a fresh fascia which includes sleek LED headlamp clusters with integrated LED DRLs. Between the headlights is a massive grille with chrome surrounds and the Honda logo at the centre. Further down, there are well-designed fog lamp housings on the sporty bumper. At the sides, one can witness the City-inspired 15-inch alloy wheels along with black B-pillars and relatively creaseless door panels. Finally, the exterior appearance is completed with a shark fin antenna, slim LED taillamps and a panel connecting them on either side at the rear. Clearly, the City and Elevate inspiration is evident.

On the other hand, Honda City carries a contoured front fascia with slim LED headlamps which almost extend to the side fenders with integrated LED DRLs. Connecting the two headlights is a thick chrome bar which enhances the road presence of the sedan. At the centre, it gets a narrow grille with a sporty and muscular bumper down below which holds the fog lamps on the extreme edges. The difference between the lengths of the two cars becomes more apparent from the side angle. The City gets sharp creases on the door panels along with elegant 16-inch alloy wheels and black side pillars. At the rear, it boasts a boot lid-mounted spoiler, signature LED taillamps, a shark fin antenna and a rugged bumper with a chrome belt running on its lower end. All in all, both these have distinct personalities.

My View

Choosing between these cars is a matter of preference, requirements and the kind of budget you have put aside. If you want the latest product without spending too much and still getting all the convenience, tech and safety amenities, the new Honda Amaze makes a lot of sense. In fact, its segment-first features like ADAS make for a really exciting deal. On the other hand, if you want more space inside the cabin, the practicality of a bigger boot, more premium features, a more powerful engine and have some extra cash lying around, the Honda City should be your pick. I would advise our readers to visit your nearest Honda dealerships to experience these two in the flesh. In any case, you can’t go wrong with either of these compelling propositions.

Also Read: New Honda Amaze vs New Maruti Dzire – Which is Better?