Honda Amaze vs KIA Pegas

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
KIA Pegas in South Africa

KIA Pegas

1.4 EX Auto Petrol Automatic
ZAR 274,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 73 kW 🔧 132 Nm Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Pegas
Fuel Economy Amaze
🛡 Safety Pegas
📦 Practicality Pegas
🔑 Ownership Pegas
Pegas starts ZAR 254900 cheaper Amaze from ZAR 254,900 · Pegas from ZAR 239,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Amaze Pegas
Engine Power 66 kW 73 kW
Torque 110 Nm 132 Nm
Engine Size 1199 cc 1368 cc
Claimed Mileage 18.2 km/l 16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 170 mm 148 mm
Boot / Load Bay 420 l 502 l
Airbags 2 6
Kerb Weight 980 kg 1130 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 3 7 Years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Pegas +7 pts
Efficiency Amaze +4 pts
Safety Pegas +35 pts
Practicality Pegas +9 pts
Ownership Pegas +20 pts

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

Pegas

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

Pegas

  • 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 Pegas
Model Introduced Year 2018 2019
Generation Based on Honda’s compact car platform optimized for affordability, efficiency, and ease of use First generation; purpose-designed for emerging markets
Facelift History Introduced in South Africa as a practical entry sedan with minor updates over time in features and safety Minor updates in 2022 including revised infotainment; no full facelift
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Sedan
Color Note White, Silver, Grey, Red, Blue Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Silky Silver, Gravity Blue, Passion Red
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
Vehicle Type Sedan Sedan
Spec Amaze Pegas
Ground Clearance 170 mm 148 mm
Wheelbase 2470 mm 2570 mm
Length 3995 mm 4400 mm
Width 1695 mm 1700 mm
Height 1498 mm 1470 mm
Kerb Weight 980 kg 1130 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1420 kg 1450 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 420 l 502 l
Towing Capacity 900 kg -
Front Track Width - 1475 mm
Rear Track Width - 1475 mm
Turning Radius - 10.4 m
Load Bed Length 420 l 502 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - 1030 mm
Rear Legroom - 860 mm
Front Headroom - 990 mm
Rear Headroom - 950 mm
Front Shoulder Room - 1380 mm
Rear Shoulder Room - 1330 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 420 l 502 l
Number of Doors 4 4
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume 420 l 502 l
Doors 4 4
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l 40 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1420 kg 1450 kg
Ground Clearance Max 170 mm 148 mm
Ground Clearance Min 170 mm 148 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 170 mm 148 mm
Height Mm 1498 mm 1470 mm
Length Mm 3995 mm 4400 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 420 l 502 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume 420 l 502 l
Tare Mass Kg 980 kg 1130 kg
Turning Circle - 10.4 m
Turning Circle M - 10.4 m
Width Mm 1695 mm 1700 mm
Front Overhang - 810 mm
Rear Overhang - 1020 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 420 l 502 l

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Pegas leads by 14 points

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

Winner 62 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 93% confidence
62
#1 Winner

Pegas

93% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 80 Check Performance 33
Performance 33
Efficiency 65
Safety 80
Practicality 67
Ownership 71
Leads by 14 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 Pegas +7 Efficiency Amaze +4 Safety Pegas +35 Practicality Pegas +9 Ownership Pegas +20

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Pegas

Performance 33/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 80/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 71/100

Amaze

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 KIA Pegas wins with 62 pts vs 48 pts for Amaze

In structured scoring, Pegas 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 Pegas 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 Pegas 65. 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, Pegas 80. 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, Pegas 71. 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, Pegas 67. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Amaze 26, Pegas 33. 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 Pegas edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Amaze scores 26 vs 33.

Efficiency: Amaze scores 69 vs 65.

Safety: Amaze scores 45 vs 80.

Practicality: Amaze scores 58 vs 67.

Ownership: Amaze scores 51 vs 71.

Final structured scoring gives Pegas the advantage in this comparison.