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 Automatic
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 Automatic
ZAR 272,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 60 kW 🔧 112 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tie
Fuel Economy Amaze
🛡 Safety Dzire
📦 Practicality Amaze
🔑 Ownership Dzire
Dzire starts ZAR 254900 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
Engine Power 66 60
Torque 110 112
Engine Size 1199 1197
Claimed Mileage 18.2 13.5
Ground Clearance 170 145
Boot Space 420 400
Airbags 2 6
Kerb Weight 980 940
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Dzire

54
/ 100
+8
pts
#2

Amaze

46
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Dzire has a slight advantage, but Amaze remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Equal
Efficiency Amaze +11 pts
Safety Dzire +12 pts
Practicality Amaze +1 pts
Ownership Dzire +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Dzire

Performance 5/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 11/20
Ownership 20/20

Amaze

Performance 5/20
Efficiency 11/20
Safety 6/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Amaze

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

Dzire

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Amaze

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Dzire

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amaze Dzire
Ground Clearance 170 145
Wheelbase 2470 2450
Length 3995 3995
Width 1695 1735
Height 1498 1525
Kerb Weight 980 940
Gross Vehicle Weight 1420 1600
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 420 400
Towing Capacity 900 1500
Number of Doors 5 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1500
Front Track Width 1550 1550
Rear Track Width 1540 1540
Turning Radius Available Available
Load Bed Length Available Available
Load Bed Width Available Available
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available 378
Doors Available 4
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Amaze Dzire
Engine 1.2L i-VTEC Petrol 1.2L Z12E DualJet 3-Cylinder Petrol
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Inline 3 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated
Displacement 1199 1197
Cylinders 4 3
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Power 66 60
Torque 110 112
Fuel System Multi-Point Fuel Injection Multi-Point Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Top Speed 170 160
0-100 km/h 14.5 13.2
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 3 (I3)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Naturally Aspirated
Engine Code Standard Z12E
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 12.0:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 73.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 95.5
Fuel Grade Required Petrol 93 RON Unleaded Petrol
Power @ RPM 150 5,700 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 4,300 rpm
Turbocharger Available Not Applicable
Engine Position Available Transverse Front-Mounted
Engine Oil Capacity Available 2.9
Power 150 82
Variable Valve Timing Available Dual VVT on Intake and Exhaust
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6700
Engine Type Config Available Available
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Suzuki Dzire wins with 54 pts vs 46 pts for Amaze

In structured scoring, Dzire 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 Dzire 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 11 vs Dzire 0. 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 6, Dzire 18. 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 12, Dzire 20. 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 12, Dzire 11. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Amaze 5, Dzire 5. 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 Dzire edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Dzire 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 Dzire in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Amaze scores 5 vs 5.

Efficiency: Amaze scores 11 vs 0.

Safety: Amaze scores 6 vs 18.

Practicality: Amaze scores 12 vs 11.

Ownership: Amaze scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Dzire the advantage in this comparison.