Long-Run Tested: A 500-KM Technical Review of the Honda Amaze CVT

The mission was clear: put Honda's much-talked-about 'segment-first' ADAS to a real-world, South Indian highway test. I embarked on a deliberate purchase-proving run from the urban jungle of Chennai to the burgeoning tech hubs of Coimbatore, a 500-km round trip encompassing everything from sardine-packed city stretches to the fast-expanding, yet often chaotic, Coimbatore-Salem corridor. My steed? A top-spec Honda Amaze ZX CVT in Obsidian Blue, a car that on paper, for January 2026, makes a bold claim: to be the smartest, safest choice in the sub-4m sedan segment, even at its premium price point.

Under the hood lies Honda's trusted 1.2-litre i-VTEC, a 4-cylinder petrol unit making 90 PS and 110 Nm. On paper, it's the most powerful in its immediate petrol rival set. The first leg out of the city, crawling on the OMR, highlighted the CVT's primary character: seamless but serene. There's no jerking, just a linear swell of progress. It's perfectly suited for mileage in start-stop traffic, where I observed figures of 12-14 kmpl, aligning with some critical user reviews. However, the moment you punched it on the open highway seeking a quick overtake, the engine note climbed with a pronounced drone while the acceleration felt steady but uninspiring. The Amaze asks for a relaxed, 'light-foot' driving style to extract its claimed 19.46 kmpl efficiency from the CVT. Dynamically, it feels planted and stable at triple-digit speeds, with a ride quality that absorbs broken patches competently, but the steering, while accurate, is tuned for comfort over feel.

Where the Amaze truly attempts to leapfrog its competition is in its tech suite, headlined by its Level 2 ADAS. The adaptive cruise control (ACC) was a boon on the relatively clearer stretches of NH 544. It maintained a set distance from the vehicle ahead competently, reducing driver fatigue. The lane-keeping assist, however, faced the classic Indian highway challenge: intermittently painted or faded lane markers. It would work flawfully for kilometers and then disengage without warning. This is not a self-driving car; it's a diligent co-pilot that demands your constant attention. Inside, the cabin is a mixed bag. The 8-inch touchscreen is responsive, and features like wireless charging are welcome. Yet, for its nearly ₹11 lakh on-road price in Chennai, the lack of a sunroof or ventilated seats—features becoming common even in hatchbacks—is a tangible compromise. The 416-litre boot, however, is cavernous and practical for family trips.

From a pure purchase-advice standpoint for Tamil Nadu in 2026, the calculus is intriguing. The Amaze's ex-showroom price starts north of ₹8 lakh, making it significantly more expensive than a base Maruti Dzire or Hyundai Aura. You are paying a premium for three things: Honda's proven 4-cylinder engine reliability, a smooth CVT over rivals' AMTs, and that segment-exclusive ADAS safety net. For a tech-savvy early adopter who values advanced safety and refined powertrains, this is a compelling argument. However, the value-for-money seeker will rightly point to rivals like the Dzire, which offers a sunroof, higher claimed mileage, and a vast service network at a lower cost. With the post-2025 emission norms in effect and the economic sentiment leaning towards cautious spending, the Amaze's lack of a CNG option—a feature offered by the Dzire, Aura, and Tigor—could be a dealbreaker for high-mileage users in Tamil Nadu.

Final thought : A polished, safety-focused sedan that asks you to pay a premium today for technology your next car will probably have as standard.