Outlook English - Print Subscribers Copy Outlook English, 18 June 2018 | Page 50

au to m otive
pros
l
Interior quality & space
Smooth CVT
l
CoNs
l
AT trim lacks features
Headlamps not
good enough
l
X-faCtor
Its smooth and
responsive CVT is
a gem, and the best
in the segment.
and let us make things easier for you.
Here, we pit the latest offerings in the sub
4-metre segment against one another,
starting from the spanking new Honda
Amaze, the bestseller: the Maruti Suzuki
Dzire, the popular hatchback duo: the
Maruti Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Elite
i20, and the compact SUV brigade: the
segment leading Maruti Suzuki Vitara
Brezza, the facelifted Ford EcoSport and
the joker in the pack, the Tata Nexon.
Whew, that’s some list. Now, it’s time
to roll up our sleeves and find out who
makes the cut.
Battle of the Autobots
Let’s start with the new 2018 Honda
Amaze, which was first showcased at the
Auto Expo earlier this year. We tested
the top-of-the-line diesel automatic
variant, which does lack some features
– but more on that later. First, a word
about the diesel CVT. Initially, I was a bit
sceptical about this transmission. After
all, there must be a reason why other
manufacturers never experimented
with it. Well, the moment of truth arrived
when I got into the driver’s seat. The seats
are typical Honda, which translates to
them being very comfortable, supportive
and not spongy soft. As I fired up Honda’s
tried and tested 1.5-litre engine, I was
surprised to notice that the NVH (Noise
Vibration Harshness) level was down to
a minimum. And, this is the same all-
aluminium motor that we’ve all criticized
50 OutlOOk 18 June 2018
Honda Amaze diesel CVT
Engine: 1,498cc / 4-Cylinders /
16 Valves / Turbocharged
Fuel: Diesel
Transmission: CVT automatic /
Front-Wheel Drive
Power: 79bhp @ 3,600rpm
Torque: 160Nm @ 1,750rpm
Price: `8.99 lakh
(Ex-showroom, pan India)
time and again for its unrefined clatter.
Honda indeed deserves credit for this
radical change in engine noise. I slotted
the gear lever into Drive, and the Amaze
pulled away effortlessly. Now, given that
the diesel automatic gets 79 horses (20%
less than the manual version) the sedan,
unexpectedly, never struggled for power
– whether while building momentum
in start-stop traffic or when cruising
on the highway. Traditionally, petrol
CVTs struggle during initial pick up,
but that wasn’t the case with the Amaze
diesel since it had enough pulling power
courtesy of its healthy torque of 160Nm.
And the transmission is simply seamless.
Coming to the Dzire, it’s AMT gearbox
is mated