Honda Amaze vs Suzuki Dzire

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
Suzuki Dzire in South Africa

Suzuki Dzire

1.2 GL+ CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 272,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 60 kW 🔧 112 Nm ⛽ 21.7 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tie
Fuel Economy Dzire
🛡 Safety Dzire
📦 Practicality Dzire
🔑 Ownership Dzire
Dzire starts ZAR 25,000 cheaper Amaze from ZAR 254,900 · Dzire from ZAR 229,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Amaze Dzire
Maximum Power 66 kW 60 kW @ 5700 rpm
Maximum Torque 110 Nm 112 Nm @ 4300 rpm
Engine Size 1199 cc 1197 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 18.2 km/l 21.7 km/l
Ground Clearance 170 mm 145 mm
Boot / Load Bay 420 l 378 l
Airbags 2 6
Kerb Weight 980 kg 940 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Dzire holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Amaze.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Equal
Efficiency Dzire +11 pts
Safety Dzire +38 pts
Practicality Dzire +2 pts
Ownership Dzire +28 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Amaze

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: General Use
Catalogue-index leader

Dzire

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Amaze

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Dzire

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amaze Dzire
Model Introduced Year 2018 2020
Generation Based on Honda’s compact car platform optimized for affordability, efficiency, and ease of use Second generation Dzire on HEARTECT platform — same structural architecture as the fifth-generation Swift, updated with Z12E DualJet engine for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
Facelift History Introduced in South Africa as a practical entry sedan with minor updates over time in features and safety Second-generation Dzire (ZD41S) introduced globally in 2017; engine updated to Z12E DualJet in SA specification for 2024 launch; minor equipment and colour updates in 2026.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Sedan
Color Note White, Silver, Grey, Red, Blue Arctic White Pearl, Grandeur Grey Metallic, Midnight Black Pearl, Burning Red Pearl, Speedy Blue
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Sedan Sedan
Tare Mass Kg 980 kg 940 kg
Vehicle Type Sedan Sedan
Spec Amaze Dzire
Length 3995 mm 3995 mm
Width 1695 mm 1735 mm
Height 1498 mm 1525 mm
Wheelbase 2470 mm 2450 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 170 mm 145 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l 37 l
Boot/Cargo Space 420 l 378 l
Kerb Weight 980 kg 940 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1420 kg -
Towing Capacity 900 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 4 doors 4 doors
Number of Rows - 2 rows

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Dzire leads by 15 points

Dzire holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Amaze.

Index leader 63 /100
Lead 15 points
Data 86% source coverage
63
#1 Index leader

Dzire

86% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 26
Performance 26
Efficiency 80
Safety 88
Practicality 60
Ownership 71
Leads by 15 points
48
#2

Amaze

83% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 69 Check Performance 26
Performance 26
Efficiency 69
Safety 50
Practicality 58
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Level Efficiency Dzire +11 Safety Dzire +38 Practicality Dzire +2 Ownership Dzire +28

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Dzire

Performance 26/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 60/100
Ownership 71/100

Amaze

Performance 26/100
Efficiency 69/100
Safety 50/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 43/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Suzuki Dzire leads the catalogue index with 63 pts vs 48 pts for Amaze

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Dzire leads. However, Amaze may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. 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

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This Amaze and Dzire comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Amaze 26 vs Dzire 26.

Efficiency index: Amaze 69 vs Dzire 80.

Safety-equipment index: Amaze 50 vs Dzire 88.

Practicality index: Amaze 58 vs Dzire 60.

Ownership-cover index: Amaze 43 vs Dzire 71.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.