I preferred (past tense) hatchback over SUV’s and sedans but now I prefer sedans over hatchbacks and SUVs as stability was on point.
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Odometer– 3139 KM
Observations
- Mileage increased – Mileage is increasing as more and more KM car covers. It used to stay around 10-11 KMPL (city) now it stays around 14 KMPL (city). Best I have seen is 19 KMPL (highway) as per MID.
Note- We bought the car in November last year (winter) and AC stayed off whole time and now AC stays on ALL times and still it stays around 14KMPL.
- Engine is typical Honda, so silent.
- Low end torque – Okay in Ist gear, good in second.
- Gearbox – If you have read my 2 month report I said “Not a Fan” of the gearbox as I was having problem slotting second gear but now it’s getting better. The throw of second, fourth and reverse is longer than first, third and fifth. I have driven many manual cars and my favourite manual transmission is from 2013 Swift. Short stick, short throws and always perfect slotting.
- DRL – It stays off even if engine is running. Turn on the parking light and it comes to life. (Why Honda?) I thought it’s mid variant and it doesn’t have the feature which turned out to be true as I asked the same, during the 6 month service visit to ASS, technician checked with the wire contraption he had and came to the same conclusion.
- DRL turns off after 10-12 seconds, if key is not inserted and driver side door is closed. It turns back on as soon as you open the driver’s door.
- Window glass – If window is not closed fully and you close the door the noise the glass makes feels like its going to shatter.
- AC – It is chilling, no complains at all.
- Infotainment unit – It performs flawlessly and connects to Bluetooth in no time, whether its Android or iphone.
- Bluetooth – Bluetooth stays connected even if you press the off button of the infotainment. It works so good that it connects to the phone, which is inside the room, many times whenever I turn the ignition ON.
- Rear suspension setup – It is soft. If all three seats are occupied at the rear car does squats.
- Brake pedal feel – I once said, sometimes it’s okay and sometimes it’s not. Now after spending time the with the car I want to say its dead, gives no feedback at all and it definitely need some aggressive pads.
- Silent cabin – Pin drop silence in cabin on newly paved road. I was stunned (Speed 60).
- Rear seat comfort – My height is 5’5 I have adequate under thigh support at the back seat. If I stretch my legs under the seat then its good. Enough space in the front and for headroom too. Its comfortable and I can easily do 4-5 hours journey. Cabin is open and beige colour makes it roomy but the middle row seat is just okay. The seat form material used is hard in the middle than other two adjacent sides. (Seats at the back are more comfortable than the front)
- Boot light – It’s weak but gets the job done.
Service Experience
I was almost a month late for the six month checkup and usually if you miss the interval ASS renege the free part but that was not the case with me. I called ASS on 28-05-24 (3 days late to six month checkup) call was picked up by Mr. Jaswant (Service Manager) I explained my conundrum and asked is it okay if I bring my car for service around 10 June for the sixth month checkup. His reply was – Sir, ask politely/nicely and we will do the service but I was unable to get it done around 10 June. Finally on 20 June I visited the ASS got the service done. Total time taken was 60 minutes, it could have been 40 minutes (not complaning) it looked like many employees were on leave (no washing as I declined)
Good service experience with Malwa Honda, Sonipat. Few things I liked were – they clicked pictures of the vehicle (WRV was there for service,I reckon, and closeup photos were being taken of headlight, wipers, engine bay, bumper etc) and they took the owner for a ride after the service (another Amaze was there for 2nd service) and staff is polite.
Service Bill
Parts covered under Honda warranty
Air filter
Air filter condition at 2600 KM. Above portion was clean but the bottom was filthy & that is why you should not stick to manufacturer recommended time interval, its better to change engine oil and filters early than the recommended period.
Seat covers
I got the bucket seat cover installed even though I was against the decision of removing seats, had to do it as my brother in law wanted proper fitting. My heart was in the mouth (OCD kicked in YO) I won’t recommend anybody to remove seats just for seat covers. (They had to heat up the star pattern screw to melt the thread locker (blue in color))
Name and Location – Deepak seat cover| Atlas road, opposite post office/ Altas main gate, Sonipat, Haryana. I highly recommend them, the fit and finish is very good. Just give reference of Amaze and Team BHP he might give you a discount.
Seat cover price – Paid Rs 6300. I opted for punched leather finish otherwise the quotation was Rs 5800.
Highway Trip
- Distance covered – 206.7 KM
- Mileage – Maximum mileage achieved (as per MID) was 18.5 but due to traffic it dropped to 18 (not bad at all). FYI Amaze ARAI mileage claim is 18.6 KMPL (for manual transmission) and didn’t babied it to get mileage for 80% of the journey while last 20 % was driven sedately (traffic)
AC was on full time (blower setting at 1, switched to 2 for 3-5 times for 5-10 minutes each time) and I am 110% satisfied with the AC performance.
- Speed maintained – Before Ambala, 80-90-100 after that 60-70-80.
Observations
- Noise – At 100 KMPH normal wind and engine noise comes into cabin. While at 80 there is only tyre noise.
- Stability – Car is stable but you have to watch out for undulation as people at the back are going to complain (soft suspension to blame here). You as a driver not going to feel the movement but people at the back does. (Our Amaze has 14 inch tyres maybe top variant with 15 inch will handle it better)
- Highway stripes (some) 5-6 shakes the dashboard pretty hard (14 inch tyres). Once the vibration was so bad that glove box opened but next time it glides over them like nothing at first I thought it was the speed then I noticed that its not the speed but the thickness of material used.
- ECO light – Eco light was ON even at 80 with rpm 2200-2300.
- Comfort – Travelled non stop, comfort was good but its better at the back.
Was near Sukhna lake (Chandigarh) so made a visit, last time I was there 13 years ago and so much has changed – the water is brown previously it was clean, now they have big boats (Rs 350/ person for 30 minutes) professional photographers, many vendors and it’s too chaotic and overcrowded while it was peaceful back then. FYI they charge Rs 14 for parking (I was surprised to hear the amount and no time limit mentioned on the slip they provide plus takes no responsibility if vehicle gets stolen).
(Tried hard to click picture without people in it)
Return Journey
- Distance covered – 221.5 KM
- Mileage – Best achieved 18.9KMPL as per MID. Overall it was 17.9KMPL. (Wrong turn and missed the highway, inundated roads and traffic)
Best mileage achieved
- Speed maintained – 70-80 KMPH upto Karnal and later on 80-100.
Stats – For the first 114 KM of return trip
Speed maintained 70-80 | Mileage = 18.8 KMPL
Small experiment done – The question was – After how much time, with engine and AC ON (blower 1), does the range drop by 1 KM? Well couldn’t find the answer as every time it took longer than previous time for range to drop by 1KM.
What changes I reckon would have made it better?
- Fix the gearbox thing (if this problem is in all manual transmissions) Note – It’s getting better as more distance is being covered.
- Good build quality & better insulation (especially the wheel wells cladding).
- Fix the soft suspension setup at the back.
- Headlight performance ( ours is mid variant with halogen bulb reflectors) can’t comment on top variant led projector setup.
- Brake pedel feel and .
I preferred (past tense) hatchback over SUV’s and sedans but now I prefer sedans over hatchbacks and SUVs as stability was on point. Car performed phenomenal, give us a sixth gear and more compliant suspension & its going to be a good highway car. Overall pleasant 7 months with the Amaze, I wasn’t a fan of it however I like it a lot now.
CIAO
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