Honda’s player in the sub-4 metre sedan category has received a couple of new variants. The top-spec VX trim has received the addition of a CVT, with both petrol and diesel engines. While the petrol-CVT is priced at Rs 8.57 lakh, the diesel-CVT wears a price tag of Rs 9.57 lakh (both prices are ex-showroom India). Prior to this development, the Amaze was available with the two-pedal setup in only the S and V trim levels.

Apart from introducing the new variants, Honda Car India has also upgraded the standard list of safety features in the Amaze. The list now includes front passenger-side seatbelt reminder and high-speed warning alert. Other basic safety features such as dual airbags, ABS, rear parking sensors, ISOFIX anchorages for child booster seats and impact-sensing door unlock were already part of the standard kit.

The VX trim, however, takes the comfort, convenience and safety quotients above the rest of the range. The list of features includes rear camera with guidelines, steering-mounted voice controls, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with built-in navigation and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control (MT only) and one-touch operation for driver’s side power window with pinch guard.

As far as the powertrain options are concerned, the Honda Amaze can be had with four engine-transmission combinations – petrol-MT, petrol-CVT, diesel-MT and diesel-CVT. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is tuned to produce 90PS/110Nm, whereas the diesel is available in two states of tune – 100PS/200Nm with the 5-speed manual gearbox and 80PS/160Nm with the CVT. Depending on the powertrain, the Honda Amaze can return up to 27.4kmpl.

The second-gen Amaze was launched in May last year. Honda claims that since then the sedan has bagged over 85,000 bookings – the best ever performance by a single Honda model in India. In the last fiscal, the Amaze contributed to 46 per cent of total sales for Honda Car India which, again, is incredible.

The Honda Amaze marque has been with us since April 2013. Honda has sold over 3.4 lakh units of the sub-4 metre sedan since then. As far as the list of rivals goes, the Amaze takes on the Ford Aspire, Hyundai Xcent, Volkswagen Ameo, Maruti Suzuki Dzire and the Tata Tigor.