Honda Amaze vs Hyundai H1

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
Hyundai H1 in South Africa

Hyundai H1

2.5 CRDi Executive Diesel Automatic
ZAR 899,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 441 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H1
Fuel Economy Amaze
🛡 Safety H1
📦 Practicality H1
🔑 Ownership H1
Amaze starts ZAR 899900 cheaper Amaze from ZAR 254,900 · H1 from ZAR 899,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Amaze H1
Engine Power 66 125
Torque 110 441
Engine Size 1199 2497
Claimed Mileage 18.2 11.8
Ground Clearance 170 185
Boot Space 420 820
Airbags 2 6
Kerb Weight 980 2220
Seating Capacity Available 9
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

H1

70
/ 100
+24
pts
#2

Amaze

46
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

H1 holds a noticeable edge over Amaze, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H1 +9 pts
Efficiency Amaze +11 pts
Safety H1 +12 pts
Practicality H1 +6 pts
Ownership H1 +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

H1

Performance 14/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 18/20
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
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

H1

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

Which One's Right for You?

Amaze

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

H1

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amaze H1
Ground Clearance 170 185
Wheelbase 2470 3200
Length 3995 5125
Width 1695 1920
Height 1498 1925
Kerb Weight 980 2220
Gross Vehicle Weight 1420 3030
Seating Capacity 5 9
Boot Space 420 820
Towing Capacity 900 2500
Number of Doors 5 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 3076
Front Track Width 1550 1665
Rear Track Width 1540 1675
Turning Radius Available 5.6
Load Bed Length Available Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Available Not Applicable
Front Legroom Available 1090
Rear Legroom Available 990
Front Headroom Available 1010
Rear Headroom Available 1000
Front Shoulder Room Available 1530
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1530
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available 5
Seats Available 9
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Amaze H1
Engine 1.2L i-VTEC Petrol 2.5 CRDi VGT Diesel
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Diesel
Displacement 1199 2497
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 66 125
Torque 110 441
Fuel System Multi-Point Fuel Injection Common Rail Direct Injection
Top Speed 170 180
0-100 km/h 14.5 12.5
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Available
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard D4CB
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 17.5
Cylinder Bore 82.0 Available
Piston Stroke 92.0 Available
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Diesel
Power @ RPM 150 3600
Torque @ RPM 400 2000
Turbocharger Available Yes (VGT)
Engine Position Available Front
Engine Oil Capacity Available 6.5
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Yes
Maximum Engine RPM Available 4000
Engine Type Config Available Inline
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?

🏆 Hyundai H1 wins with 70 pts vs 46 pts for Amaze

In structured scoring, H1 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 H1 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 H1 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, H1 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, H1 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, H1 18. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Amaze 5, H1 14. 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 H1 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The H1 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 H1 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Amaze scores 5 vs 14.

Efficiency: Amaze scores 11 vs 0.

Safety: Amaze scores 6 vs 18.

Practicality: Amaze scores 12 vs 18.

Ownership: Amaze scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives H1 the advantage in this comparison.