If you ask any kid to draw a car, chances are they won’t sketch an SUV or a hatchback – they’ll draw a sedan. The image of a car imprinted in our minds since childhood is that classic three-box shape.
But in today’s market, sedans are slowly becoming a rare sight, thanks to the condition of our roads and tight parking spaces. In fact, ground clearance today feels directly proportional to the number of potholes around us.
So, if you have a budget of ₹10–12 lakh and still prefer an old-school sedan, you actually have two great options. At a2zreviews, we bring you the Dzire vs Amaze face-off. We evaluate the key parameters and declare a winner at the end. Let’s press the ignition.
Based on Chassis and Suspension
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
Launched in 2008 to replace the legendary Maruti Suzuki Esteem and as a sibling to the Swift, from then on, Dzire has topped the sales chart for Maruti Suzuki both in the taxi segment and the retail segment for decades. Built on Suzuki’s HEARTECH platform with a kerb weight of 960 Kg. The fourth-generation Dzire has more high-tensile steel components compared to the previous generations.
- Ground clearance: 163 mm
- Chassis: HEARTECT platform
- Suspension: MacPherson Strut suspension at the front and a torsion beam suspension with coil springs at the rear.
Regarding Suspension, it offers a decent ride quality with little soft and bouncy experience, but it does the job well on rugged roads with passengers. With 163 mm ground clearance, Dzire struggles on speed breakers with a fully loaded boot.
Honda Amaze
Launched in 2013, it was exclusively built by the Honda India R&D team, focused on the Indian car market, with an impression of a mini Honda City feel. Honda Amaze is built on the modified, shortened version of the PF2 platform, which the mighty Honda City uses.
With a 986 kg kerb weight, Honda Amaze weighs 26 kg more than the Dzire, which can be noticed in the thickness of the sheet metal used in Amaze compared to Dzire. Recently launched third-generation Amaze has a similar road presence in the city.
- Ground clearance: 172 mm
- Chassis: Modified and shortened version of the PF2 platform
- Suspension: McPherson strut front suspension and a twist-beam rear axle
With 172 mm ground clearance, Amaze can handle major speed breakers with ease. But in the suspension part, Honda has not done the job well. On lower speeds, the suspension is soft, but on speeds above 60 kmph, it gets stiffer and gets unsettled by allowing the shockwaves inside the cabin. With a loaded boot and passengers, the suspension spoils the plush feel for which sedans are known for.
In terms of Chassis and Suspension Maruti Dzire offers a well-balanced ride and comfort compared to Honda Amaze.
Maruti Dzire scores in this category.
Safety Features
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
The first three generations of Dzire were a mess in terms of safety. Thanks to market players like Tata and Mahindra, who made Maruti suzuki to enter the safety spectrum by launching their fourth-generation Dzire with 5 star NCAP and BNCAP rating.
- No of airbags: 6
- Safety rating: 5 star in BNCAP and NCAP
- ADAS: No Active ADAS, only a passive system is used
With TPMS, Isofix child seats, third row seat belt, Hill hold, etc., Maruti Suzuki has set up the safety features well, along with a 5 Star rated body shell, Dzire has been positioned well in terms of safety.
Honda Amaze
Amaze is the only Sedan in its segment to provide a Level 2 ADAS system with Collision Mitigation Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation and Lead Car Departure Notification.
- No of airbags: 6
- Safety rating: 5 star in BNCAP and 4 star in NCAP
- ADAS: level 2 camera-based ADAS
Honda has made Amaze the safest compact sedan with TPMS, 360 camera, etc. For a safety-focused customer, Honda has provided the best option.
In terms of safety, the Honda Amaze takes the lead.
Engine Performance
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
The 1.2 L Z12E three-cylinder engine is not a peppy engine with 80 BHP of power and 111.7 Nm torque. But it has adequate power to cruise between 80 to 95 kmph. Anything above 95 kmph will stress the engine.
This engine lacks the silent, smooth vibration-free characteristics of a typical Suzuki engine. In contrast, its rough and rugged nature spoils the driving pleasure. Maruti Suzuki has surely degraded the engine by ditching the refined 4-cylinder K12N series engines.
Honda Amaze
The 1.2 L iVTEC (Intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) Engine is an Engineering gem. It’s so smooth and refined you won’t even notice the engine is on. Thanks to Honda for still keeping the 4-cylinder pots.
With 89 bhp power and 110 Nm torque, this engine may be powerless on paper, but post 6000 rpm, when the ivtec kicks in, that’s when the madness starts. This engine transforms into a beast, clocking 130 kmph with ease. In engine performance, Honda has done justice to Amaze by providing a 4-cylinder refined engine.
In the engine department, Honda Amaze scores.
Gearbox
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
Dzire offers a 5 speed manual and a 5 speed AMT. Typical Japanese manual gearbox with smooth shifts and a soft clutch. Regarding AMT, Suzuki’s AMTs are well optimised in terms of software and hardware; even though there is a mild lag while downshifting, it doesn’t affect the ride quality.
There are no paddle shifters, even in top AMT variants. One of Maruti’s cost-cutting tactics. In hilly areas, Dzire AMT adapts well compared to a CVT and is also fuel-efficient with less maintenance.
Honda Amaze
Amaze too comes with the same Japanese smooth 5 speed manual gearbox with soft clutch as the Dzire. Honda is the only player to provide a 7 speed CVT (continuously variable transmission) system with paddle shifters in the segment.
In city conditions, CVT is the best performer, but on highways and hills, CVT will stress the engine more compared to traditional AMTs. This makes it more inefficient in terms of fuel consumption and maintenance.
In terms of gearbox, Dzire has an edge over Amaze.
Comfort and Features
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
The Maruti Suzuki Dzire comes equipped with a 9-inch infotainment display paired with a 6-speaker setup. The dashboard uses a mix of hard and soft-touch materials, though the overall design feels functional rather than premium. Familiar ORVMs shared across Maruti Suzuki’s lineup are present here as well.
While Maruti is known for its strong cost optimisation, this generation of the Dzire does add a bit of premium appeal with features like a sunroof and a 360-degree camera, although adaptive cruise control is still missing. The air-conditioning performance is adequate but takes slightly longer to cool the cabin compared to earlier versions.
Cabin insulation is average – the characteristic rumble of the 3-cylinder engine and noticeable tyre noise can be felt, especially on long drives. The seats are comfortable for short trips but could benefit from better under-thigh support.
In summary, the Dzire continues to be a strong value-for-money offering, though buyers seeking a plush cabin experience and top-tier comfort may find it a step behind more comfort-focused rivals.
Honda Amaze
The third-generation Honda Amaze comes packed with features. The 8-inch Digipad 2.0 infotainment system gets four speakers in the base variant and six in the top variant, and the audio quality feels richer than what you get in the Maruti Suzuki Dzire.
With Level 2 ADAS, a sunroof, and a 7-speed CVT, Honda has clearly stepped up the comfort quotient. Rear seat comfort is noticeably better than the Dzire, offering a more relaxed seating experience. This time around, Honda has also used more soft-touch materials on the dashboard, and the boot space is slightly more practical than its rival.
Cabin insulation is impressive, thanks to the refined 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine. That said, CVT variants do exhibit the typical rubber-band effect and mild acceleration noise, though it remains manageable in daily driving. The adaptive cruise control further enhances the experience, making highway drives feel effortless.
In terms of comfort and features, Honda Amaze outshines the Dzire.
Reliability and Maintenance
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
The Maruti Suzuki Dzire dominates nearly 70% of the taxi market, a feat largely made possible by Maruti Suzuki’s extensive pan-India service network and easy spare parts availability, even in Tier-3 towns. Another advantage is serviceability – even independent garages can work on Maruti cars with ease, thanks to widely available parts and the option to choose cost-effective non-OEM spares.
When it comes to fuel efficiency, Suzuki’s engines continue to set the benchmark, delivering around 15–17 km/l in the city and 20–22 km/l on highways. The AMT gearbox in the Dzire is also more fuel-efficient than the CVT offered in the Honda Amaze.
Maruti also provides a factory-fitted CNG option, which significantly improves running costs, though it does come at the expense of boot space. Overall, if you’re looking for a practical sedan on a tight budget, the Dzire remains the more sensible choice.
Honda Amaze
The 1.2L i-VTEC engine in the Honda Amaze is known for its reliability and refinement, though it isn’t the most fuel-efficient option in the segment. In many Tier-3 towns, Honda Cars India still has room to expand its service footprint, which can affect convenience for some buyers.
Honda largely operates with a closed service ecosystem, meaning spare parts are typically sourced through authorised dealers. While this ensures quality, it can make maintenance relatively expensive and limit the flexibility of using independent garages.
The Amaze does not come with a factory-fitted CNG option. However, Honda has a tie-up with Lovato, an Italian CNG kit manufacturer, allowing buyers to install a CNG kit without voiding the warranty – though a fully integrated OEM CNG variant would still be more seamless.
The CVT gearbox is tuned primarily for smoothness and comfort rather than outright efficiency, delivering real-world figures of around 10–11 kmpl in the city and about 14 kmpl on highways.
Overall, for buyers who prioritise comfort, refinement, and a relaxed driving experience over low running costs, the Amaze stands out as the better choice.
In maintainance Dzire outshines Amaze.
Resale Value
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
Cars from Maruti Suzuki have long been associated with worry-free ownership, thanks to their strong reliability and low maintenance costs. In the used-car market, a significant majority of buyers still lean towards Maruti models because of their easy resale and widespread service support.
With the Maruti Suzuki Dzire already dominating the taxi segment, its reputation carries over strongly into the private buyer space as well. For many first-time sedan buyers, the Dzire naturally becomes the default choice due to its practicality and proven ownership experience.
If your priority is a sedan that holds its value well and can be sold after five years for a reasonable price, the Dzire clearly stands out as the safer bet.
Honda Amaze
Traditionally appeals more to discerning or second-cycle buyers rather than pure value seekers. In the used-car market, the Honda Amaze typically attracts Honda loyalists, driving enthusiasts who appreciate the smooth and responsive i-VTEC engine, and buyers who prioritise rear-seat comfort and refinement over low maintenance costs.
In other words, the Amaze tends to resonate with buyers who value driving feel and comfort, and are less sensitive to ownership expenses compared to the mass-market audience.
In terms of resale value, Dzire tops the chart.
Final Score
Maruti Suzuki Dzire (4 out of 7)
- Chassis and Suspension
- Gearbox
- Reliability and maintenance
- Resale value
Honda Amaze (3 out of 7)
- Safety features
- Engine Performance
- Comfort and features
From a2zreviews’ research and analysis, we have taken the main 7 parameters that a buyer will look for in any car. From this analysis, we can say that Dzire has scored the maximum points. This doesn’t convey that the Honda Amaze is inferior to the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. Each car buyer has their own preferences and choices. Our typical Indian middle-class mindset will only look for VFM products in any segment.
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