Honda Amaze is offered in two engine options. Time and tested 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol and all-new segment redefining 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel. 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine churn out 88 PS of power and 109 NM torque. This is same engine which is doing duty on Brio. Mated to this engine is an option of 5-speed manual and 5-speed automatic transmissions. AT and MT are again same featured on Brio with same gear ratios. Our test car was shod with 5-speed manual gearbox. Power lies in mid-range and top end of rev band with low end being average. Though, overtaking may require you to work down a few gears. Engine refinement is fantastic as expected from Honda who has already established itself as master of petrol engines. Honda Amaze MT and AT deliver mileage rate of 18 km/l and 15.5 km/l respectively, according to the norms of ARAI.

While petrol engine is a gem, all eyes are keenly focused on diesel engine and why not! It is first time Honda is getting a diesel engine to India which prefers diesel as fuel of choice. All-new 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine may have taken some time, but it is here and here to stay. It is only Europe and India where demand for diesel engines are high. Honda Motors had manufactured 2.2 i-CTDI diesel engine for European Accord in 2003. This engine evolved into 2.2 i-DTEC in 2008 and was featured in European CR-V. As evolutionary process went on, it made way for 1.6 i-DTEC. Indian spec 1.5 i-DTEC has been manufactured keeping European spec 1.6 i-DTEC as base. Indian regulations offer excise benefit to sub 1.5-litre diesel engines and it was a vital aspect in engine development.

1.5-litre, DOHC, i-DTEC diesel engine is nothing short of an engineering wonder. This all-aluminium engine is lightest diesel engine in its segment and features a high strength and lightweight crankshaft. This engine generates 100 PS of power at 3600 RPM and 200 NM torque at 1750 RPM. Power delivery is linear with almost no turbo lag. This engine delivers great performance at all ends of rev band with strongest point being its mid-range. Revving up to 4500 RPM, this diesel engine comes coupled to an all-new 5-speed manual gearbox. MT is not only lightweight but is also compact in size and offers class leading transmission efficiency. Gear shifts are slick and ratios are well matched for both city and highway conditions. You may need to go down a gear for low speed overtaking, but once you are on highway, just nail throttle and you are through. In gear acceleration is pretty good and Honda Amaze will pull out cleanly in third gear from speeds as low as 20 km/hr. Top speed is around 170 km/hr. An important point of note is clutch which is extremely light contributing to less fatigue over long drives.