Compact Sedan Showdown: Maruti Suzuki Dzire vs Honda Amaze

Introduction 

In a car market increasingly dominated by SUVs, the compact sedan continues to quietly hold its own. For many Indian buyers, the promise of a spacious boot, refined engine, and premium feel — all within a manageable footprint — remains irresistible. Two cars have long defined this segment: the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and the Honda Amaze. Both have evolved with time, blending efficiency and comfort with a touch of sophistication. But when you dig deeper, their personalities begin to diverge.

Design and Exterior Appeal

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire has come a long way from its boxy origins. The latest generation wears a sleek, almost European-inspired design language, with a wide chrome grille, sculpted bonnet, and LED projector headlamps. The flowing lines and shorter overhangs give it a planted, balanced look. It’s a car that appears more premium than its price tag suggests, especially in the higher variants with alloy wheels and LED lighting. While the older car looked like a Swift with a boot, the new generation model is a clear departure from any Swift design overtones. 

The Honda Amaze, on the other hand, takes a more restrained approach. Its design is cleaner, crisper, and less ornamental. The straight character lines, squared-off bonnet, and proportionate rear section give it a mature stance. Honda has deliberately kept the styling subtle, catering to buyers who prefer understated elegance over flash. The compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre, while still managing to look substantial on the road. The front end will remind you of the bigger Elevate SUV, while the rear will remind you of the Honda City sedan. This works well for the Amaze and it looks like a very well balanced silhouette. 

Cabin and Comfort

Inside, both sedans deliver on space and comfort, though their approaches differ. The Dzire’s cabin feels inviting from the moment you step in. The dual-tone beige and black colour palette, flat-bottom steering wheel, and well-integrated touchscreen lend a cheerful and premium air. The seats are soft and accommodating, with particularly generous legroom for rear passengers. It’s a car clearly designed with family comfort in mind. Where the Dzire scores well is in the features list. The car offers more features including a sunroof. The Amaze offers ADAS safety tech but only on the top-end model. 

The Amaze’s cabin, meanwhile, feels sturdier and more solidly put together but doesn't have any remarkable design highlight. The dashboard design is minimal yet functional, and the ergonomics are pure Honda — intuitive and driver-friendly. The visibility is excellent, and there’s ample space even for taller passengers. The materials may not feel as plush as those in the Dzire, and the fit-and-finish could be better too. Still the Amaze is the overall better car in terms of rear seat comfort and space. 

Performance and Drivability

Under the hood, both sedans rely on tried-and-tested petrol engines. The Dzire features Maruti’s 1.2-litre petrol, 3-cylinder engine, known fuel efficiency. It produces 88 bhp and 113 Nm of torque, offering a light, eager response in city driving. The car feels nimble and easy to pilot through tight traffic, and the gearbox — whether the 5-speed manual or AMT — shifts smoothly. True to Maruti form, fuel efficiency remains the Dzire’s strongest suit, comfortably crossing 20 km/l in real-world use.

The Honda Amaze uses the 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine, delivering 89 bhp and 110 Nm of torque. It’s a smooth, rev-happy motor that feels lively once it gets going, though the mid-range isn’t as punchy as the Dzire’s. The manual gearbox has Honda’s typical slick precision, while the CVT option stands out for its seamless and refined performance — especially in urban traffic. The Amaze may not match the Dzire’s outright efficiency, but it feels more sophisticated in its power delivery.

Ride and Handling

The Dzire’s suspension setup is tuned for comfort, absorbing bumps and potholes with ease. The light steering makes it ideal for daily city use, and the overall driving experience is effortless and predictable. The trade-off, however, is a slightly soft feel at higher speeds, where the steering doesn’t inspire much feedback.

The Amaze, in contrast, feels a bit more confident at highway speeds. The suspension is firmer, giving the car better composure and stability on open roads. The steering has more weight and precision, making it more engaging to drive. While the low-speed ride isn’t as cushy as the Dzire’s, the overall balance feels more mature and planted.

Features and Safety

Feature-wise, both sedans come well-equipped in their higher trims. Touchscreen infotainment systems with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, push-button start, automatic climate control, rear AC vents, and LED headlamps are available on both.

When it comes to safety, the Amaze holds an edge with a stronger body shell and Honda’s engineering focus on crash protection. It also offers standard dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors across variants. The Dzire matches most of these safety features but is known more for its equipment-to-price ratio and the reliability of Maruti’s service network rather than outright build strength.

Pricing and Ownership

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire starts at around ₹6.7 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to ₹9.4 lakh for the top variant, while the Honda Amaze is priced between ₹7 lakh and ₹9.8 lakh. Both cars offer excellent resale value, but Maruti’s aftersales network is far more extensive and cost-effective. Honda, on the other hand, attracts buyers who prioritize refinement and brand credibility over mass-market convenience.

CarBike360 Says

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Both the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Honda Amaze have matured into excellent compact sedans that deliver strong value in their own ways. The Dzire continues to be the practical, efficient, and easy-to-live-with choice — perfect for those who want comfort and economy without compromise. The Amaze, meanwhile, appeals to drivers who appreciate refinement, solid build quality, and a more composed driving experience. The Amaze is the clear choice if you want an automatic and are willing to pay extra for the CVT tech. It is the only car that offers ADAS safety tech as well.

Ultimately, your decision comes down to what you value more: effortless efficiency with low ownership costs (Dzire) or refined engineering and subtle sophistication (Amaze). Either way, the compact sedan remains alive and well — and these two are the finest examples of why.