Honda Amaze vs Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Honda Amaze in South Africa

Honda Amaze

1.2 Comfort CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 289,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 66 kW 🔧 110 Nm ⛽ 18.2 km/l
VS
Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost

Black Badge Ghost Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
Price on request
⚡ 441 kW 🔧 900 Nm ⛽ 6.33 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Black Badge Ghost
Fuel Economy Amaze
🛡 Safety Black Badge Ghost
📦 Practicality Black Badge Ghost
🔑 Ownership Amaze

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Amaze Black Badge Ghost
Maximum Power 66 kW 441 kW
Maximum Torque 110 Nm 900 Nm @ 1700 rpm
Engine Size 1199 cc 6749 cc
Claimed Mileage 18.2 km/l 6.33 km/l
Ground Clearance 170 mm 118 mm
Boot / Load Bay 420 l 500 l
Airbags 2 8
Kerb Weight 980 kg 2505 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 3 4 years; regional conditions apply

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Black Badge Ghost holds a noticeable edge over Amaze, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Black Badge Ghost +74 pts
Efficiency Amaze +40 pts
Safety Black Badge Ghost +54 pts
Practicality Black Badge Ghost +5 pts
Ownership Amaze +7 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Amaze

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Black Badge Ghost

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Amaze

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Black Badge Ghost

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amaze Black Badge Ghost
Model Introduced Year 2018 2022
Generation Based on Honda’s compact car platform optimized for affordability, efficiency, and ease of use Second-generation Black Badge Ghost in Series II form
Facelift History Introduced in South Africa as a practical entry sedan with minor updates over time in features and safety The current-generation Black Badge Ghost debuted globally in 2021, was introduced in South Africa in 2022 and evolved into Black Badge Ghost Series II in October 2024
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Four-door performance-luxury saloon
Color Note White, Silver, Grey, Red, Blue -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Sedan Full-size performance super-luxury saloon
Vehicle Type Sedan Internal-combustion passenger car
Tare Mass Kg 980 kg -
Spec Amaze Black Badge Ghost
Drivetrain Layout Front Wheel Drive All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering
LSD Available Not Applicable -
Transfer Case Not Applicable ATC 13 transfer case
Differential Lock Not Applicable Electronic differential lock (EDS); no mechanically lockable differential
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable No
Gearbox CVT Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 2.81:1
Number of Gears 5 8
Transmission Type Continuously Variable Transmission 8-speed ZF automatic
Clutch Type Not Applicable Torque converter
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable -
Drivetrain 4x2 All-wheel drive
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Rolls-Royce all-wheel drive
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable No
Differential Type Front Not Available -
Differential Type Rear Not Available -
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable -
Gearbox Type CVT Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout 4x2 All-wheel-drive power delivery with active rear-axle steering
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable -
Transfer Case Guard Not Available -
Transmission Speeds 5 8
Gear Shift Type CVT Automatic Satellite Aided automatic gear selection via column stalk with Low button

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Black Badge Ghost leads by 23 points

Black Badge Ghost holds a noticeable edge over Amaze, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 71 /100
Lead 23 points
Data 91% confidence
71
#1 Winner

Black Badge Ghost

91% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Efficiency 29
Performance 100
Efficiency 29
Safety 99
Practicality 63
Ownership 44
Leads by 23 points
48
#2

Amaze

95% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 69 Check Performance 26
Performance 26
Efficiency 69
Safety 45
Practicality 58
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Black Badge Ghost +74 Efficiency Amaze +40 Safety Black Badge Ghost +54 Practicality Black Badge Ghost +5 Ownership Amaze +7

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Black Badge Ghost

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 29/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 44/100

Amaze

Performance 26/100
Efficiency 69/100
Safety 45/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost wins with 71 pts vs 48 pts for Amaze

In structured scoring, Black Badge Ghost emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Amaze may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Black Badge Ghost edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Amaze 69 vs Black Badge Ghost 29. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Amaze 45, Black Badge Ghost 99. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Amaze 51, Black Badge Ghost 44. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Amaze 58, Black Badge Ghost 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Amaze 26, Black Badge Ghost 100. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Black Badge Ghost edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Black Badge Ghost scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Amaze and Black Badge Ghost in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Amaze scores 26 vs 100.

Efficiency: Amaze scores 69 vs 29.

Safety: Amaze scores 45 vs 99.

Practicality: Amaze scores 58 vs 63.

Ownership: Amaze scores 51 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives Black Badge Ghost the advantage in this comparison.