Honda Amaze vs Suzuki Grand Vitara

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 Grand Vitara in South Africa

Suzuki Grand Vitara

1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip AT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 542,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 76 kW 🔧 137 Nm ⛽ 17.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Grand Vitara
Fuel Economy Amaze
🛡 Safety Grand Vitara
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Grand Vitara
Amaze starts ZAR 359900 cheaper Amaze from ZAR 254,900 · Grand Vitara from ZAR 359,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Amaze Grand Vitara
Engine Power 66 76
Torque 110 137
Engine Size 1199 1462
Claimed Mileage 18.2 17.9
Ground Clearance 170 210
Boot Space 420 310
Airbags 2 6
Kerb Weight 980 1225
Seating Capacity Available Available
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Grand Vitara

56
/ 100
+10
pts
#2

Amaze

46
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Grand Vitara has a slight advantage, but Amaze remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

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

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Grand Vitara

Performance 6/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
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
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Grand Vitara

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

Amaze

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Grand Vitara

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amaze Grand Vitara
Ground Clearance 170 210
Wheelbase 2470 2600
Length 3995 4345
Width 1695 1795
Height 1498 1645
Kerb Weight 980 1225
Gross Vehicle Weight 1420 1680
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 420 310
Towing Capacity 900 0
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 708
Front Track Width 1550 1565
Rear Track Width 1540 1565
Turning Radius Available 5.4
Load Bed Length Available 0
Load Bed Width Available 0
Front Legroom Available 1060
Rear Legroom Available 935
Front Headroom Available 1010
Rear Headroom Available 970
Front Shoulder Room Available 1455
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1430
Max Payload Available 530
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available Available
Seats Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Amaze Grand Vitara
Engine 1.2L i-VTEC Petrol 1.5L K15C Dualjet SHVS Mild Hybrid 4-Cylinder
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Inline 4 Cylinder Mild Hybrid (SHVS)
Displacement 1199 1462
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Power 66 76
Torque 110 137
Fuel System Multi-Point Fuel Injection Multi-Point Fuel Injection with 12V ISG
Top Speed 170 175
0-100 km/h 14.5 13.5
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Naturally Aspirated
Engine Code Standard K15C
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 10.5:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 74.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 85.1
Fuel Grade Required Petrol 93 RON Unleaded Petrol
Power @ RPM 150 6,000 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 4,400 rpm
Turbocharger Available Not Applicable
Engine Position Available Transverse Front-Mounted
Engine Oil Capacity Available 3.7
Power 150 102
Variable Valve Timing Available Dual VVT — Intake and Exhaust
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6800
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 Grand Vitara wins with 56 pts vs 46 pts for Amaze

In structured scoring, Grand Vitara 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 Grand Vitara 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 Grand Vitara 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, Grand Vitara 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, Grand Vitara 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, Grand Vitara 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Amaze 5, Grand Vitara 6. 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 Grand Vitara edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Amaze scores 5 vs 6.

Efficiency: Amaze scores 11 vs 0.

Safety: Amaze scores 6 vs 18.

Practicality: Amaze scores 12 vs 12.

Ownership: Amaze scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Grand Vitara the advantage in this comparison.