The rivalry of decades receives a new face: 4th gen Dzire Vs Upcoming 3rd Gen Amaze

Key Highlights

• 3rd gen Honda Amaze launching on 4th Dec
• New Gen Amaze to underpin 5th gen Honda City's platform
• Expected to price around 7.50 Lakh (ex-showroom)

Sedans once dominated Indian roads, but as consumer preferences shifted, this segment witnessed a steady decline, with sales figures reflecting its diminishing prominence. Interestingly, while the market for full-sized sedans has all but disappeared in the world's third-largest automobile market, the compact and mid-sized sedan segments continue to endure. Among these, the compact sedan category has demonstrated remarkable resilience, achieving a significant growth in market share rising from 68% in 2021 to an impressive 74.6% year-to-date in 2024.

This growth is noteworthy given the relentless surge in demand for SUVs nationwide. The upward trajectory of compact sedans highlights not only their entrenched role in commercial passenger transport but also their growing relevance in personal mobility solutions. Key players driving this segment’s stability and relevance include the longstanding rivals, the Honda Amaze and the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. Over the past decade, their competition has significantly contributed to the survival and sustained appeal of the compact sedan market.

​Maruti Suzuki's Dzire, with a legacy of 16 years (initially branded as Swift Dzire), is now in its fourth generation. Meanwhile, Honda is poised to debut the third generation of the Amaze on December 4th. As these Japanese titans prepare for yet another round of competition, let us delve into a detailed comparison to uncover what Honda’s newest offering brings to the table against Maruti’s established contender, aiding buyers in making a confident and informed choice.

Design

While the third-generation Honda Amaze is yet to make its official debut, the fourth-generation Maruti Suzuki Dzire has already entered the market with a refreshed design and updated styling compared to its predecessors. That said, Honda has unveiled the official design sketches of the upcoming Amaze, offering a glimpse into its impending aesthetic evolution.

Focusing on the front fascia, the Dzire takes cues from Nexa’s XL6, incorporating a sleek chrome strip connecting the LED day-time-running-lights (DRLs), giving the illusion of a unified light bar. The headlamps, now LED, are complemented by a blacked-out airdam-style grille and a reworked sporty bumper with circular LED fog lamps. The rear has undergone notable revisions, featuring squared LED tail lamps with a distinctive Y-shaped pattern, a reshaped tailgate adorned with chrome accents, and a redesigned rear bumper. Completing the aesthetic upgrades are a shark-fin antenna and a gently sloping roofline.

In contrast, the forthcoming Honda Amaze appears to draw inspiration from the HR-V RS Turbo for its front grille, showcasing squared black elements and a bonnet design reminiscent of the 2024 Civic. The bumpers exude sportiness with black fog lamp housings, while the dual-pod LED headlamps accentuated by eyebrow-like day-time-running-lights (DRLs) seem influenced by the HR-V and Elevate. Moving to the rear, the design echoes the fifth-generation Honda City, with wraparound LED tail lamps and a reimagined rear bumper, delivering a sporty flair.

As with the Dzire, the Amaze is expected to feature a sloping roof capped with a shark-fin antenna, as suggested by the design sketches. The design for the alloy-wheels of the new generation Dzire has changed, and the third generation Amaze is expected to follow the same tradition. However, whether the Amaze will boast a similar tyre and alloy-frame size as the Dzire or not is still under wraps.

Interior

The cabin designs of the next-generation Dzire and Amaze share significant similarities, particularly in their feature sets. To begin with, the fourth-generation Dzire introduces an interior that blends elements from the Ertiga facelift and the latest Swift. Its dashboard boasts a 9.0-inch floating Smart Pro Plus touchscreen infotainment system, seamlessly compatible with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The cabin adopts a dual-tone colour scheme featuring both light and dark shades, while the dashboard incorporates a tri-tone aesthetic accentuated with faux wood trim.

The HVAC controls rely on tactile physical switches, with the single-zone climate control employing toggle-style controls. Additional conveniences include a wireless charger, rear AC vents, and a Type-C charging port. The driver's area is anchored by a flat-bottom, three-spoke multifunction electronic steering wheel paired with a semi-digital instrument cluster. Enhancing the premium feel are new inclusions such as an electric single-pane sunroof, a 6-speaker Arkamys sound system, a 360-degree camera setup, and a cooled glovebox.

On the other hand, preliminary renderings of the third-generation Amaze suggest that its cabin layout will derive inspiration from the Honda Elevate with the layout theme being inspired by Apex edition, as a culmination of hard and soft touches. It is expected to feature a 10.25-inch floating touchscreen infotainment unit and a semi-digital driver's display of the same size, both borrowed from the Elevate, alongside a new set of multifunctional three spoke sporty electronic steering at the driver's cockpit.

While the Amaze may incorporate most of the Dzire's advanced features, it is speculated to include a few ADAS functionalities from the Elevate, where the highlights remains Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keep Assist System, Lead Car Departure Notification and Auto High-Beam Assist etc. However, the inclusion of a 360-degree camera remains uncertain, with a lane-watch camera reportedly being evaluated as an alternative.

These details remain speculative until confirmed officially. However, the confirmed fact remains that the new generation Amaze would retain its dimensions, with that being said the wheelbase of 2470mm, which is 20mm more than the fourth generation Dzire will still be the cause for Anaze in surpassing the Dzire at overall cabin space, especially at the rear seat. However, What remains unequivocally confirmed is that the next generation Amaze will retain its dimensions, including a wheelbase of 2470mm, 20mm longer than that of the fourth-generation Dzire. This marginal increase will continue to give the Amaze a competitive edge in terms of overall cabin space, particularly in rear-seat comfort and legroom.

Underpinning

The Dzire continues to utilise the HEARTECT platform, a lightweight and rigid chassis architecture. For this iteration, the platform has been retuned and strengthened, with 45% high-strength steel incorporated into its construction. This structural enhancement has enabled the Dzire to secure a 5-star Global NCAP rating and comply with UN 127 Pedestrian Protection standards, marking significant improvements in safety.

Whereas, the upcoming Amaze will share its platform with the fifth generation Honda City, referred to as the Honda Architecture PL5 platform, which is based on the Honda Global Small Car Platform . Known for its superior build quality and crashworthiness, this platform has earned top safety ratings in global assessments. Consequently, the third-generation Amaze is also expected to perform well in safety evaluations, whether conducted by GNCAP, Euro NCAP, or BNCAP.

Suspension

The Dzire employs a MacPherson strut setup at the front and a torsion beam suspension at the rear. This configuration is tuned to prioritise ride comfort and fuel efficiency, aligning with its lightweight design and focus on city driving dynamics.

Similar to the Dzire, the Amaze is anticipated to utilise the fifth generation City shared MacPherson strut at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. However, the tuning is distinct, as Honda's suspension systems often emphasise a balanced blend of comfort and handling. This will give the Amaze a slight edge in ride stability, especially at higher speeds or over uneven surfaces, thanks to its platform’s more substantial build.

Powertrain & Transmission

With the fourth generation, Maruti Suzuki has replaced the Dzire's 1.2L 3-Cylinder K-Series Naturally aspirated petrol unit with a newly debuted Z-Series, which has also been noticed in the new generation Swift. This engine is claimed to be more refined and fuel-efficient compared to the earlier one. Furthermore, the transmission options remain unchanged with a 5-speed manual and AMT automatic gearbox.

The third-generation Amaze will retain the familiar 1.2L 3-cylinder naturally aspirated i-VTEC petrol engine, paired with a 5-speed CVT and a 5-speed manual transmission. While this engine falls slightly short of the fuel efficiency offered by the new-generation Dzire's powertrain, it remains reasonably economical. That said, its refinement levels and torque delivery are notably impressive, ensuring a smooth and responsive driving experience.

Price

The fourth-generation Maruti Suzuki Dzire has debuted at an introductory price starting at Rs 6.79 lakh. Meanwhile, the upcoming third-generation Honda Amaze is expected to carry a higher price tag, as is typically the case, with experts projecting an ex-showroom starting price around Rs 7.50 lakh. However, the definitive pricing will only be revealed upon its official launch on December 4.

CarBike360 Says

The third-generation Honda Amaze is ideal for buyers seeking a premium feel, spacious interiors, and a slight edge in performance and durability, even at a potentially higher price. On the other hand, the fourth-generation Maruti Suzuki Dzire suits value conscious buyers prioritising affordability, proven reliability, and a feature packed offering at a competitive price point. Choose the Amaze for its refined engineering and brand prestige, while the Dzire is perfect for those who want practicality and widespread service accessibility.