Clash Of Segments: Honda Amaze vs WRV - Which Car To Buy?

A sub-4m Honda sedan or a sub-4m Honda SUV - which one makes more sense for you?

Priced between in the range of Rs 5.59 lakh to Rs 8.99 lakh (ex-showroom pan-India), the new Honda Amaze goes head to head with other compact sedans like the Dzire and the Xcent. Its compact SUV sibling, the WR-V, is priced between Rs 7.78 lakh and Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). While the two Honda cars aren’t direct rivals but owing to the price overlap, some buyers might want to compare them. Here is how these two stack up against each other on paper.

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Before diving into the details, here are the basic differences between the Amaze and the WR-V:

Honda Amaze	Honda WR-V
A compact sedan: The Amaze is a sub-compact three-box sedan, which means you get a separate boot to store luggage. It’s based on a new platform that, Honda says, was developed keeping a sedan in mind but there will be a hatchback based on the Amaze coming soon.	A jacked-up hatchback: The WR-V is basically a jacked-up version of the Honda Jazz hatchback. But it has been significantly restyled to look more rugged and butch, which is why it doesn’t look as sleek as its hatchback counterpart. Compared to the Jazz, the WR-V rides higher off the ground and has a longer wheelbase too.
More Luggage Space: The Amaze’s boot has a capacity of 420 litres. Space at the back is ideal for two adults, though headroom is a bit cramped.	More versatile: The WR-V’s 363-litre boot is smaller than the Amaze’s. However, the WR-V’s rear seat can be folded to free up more space, if required. Additionally, since it’s bigger than the Amaze overall, its cabin should be more spacious too.
Automatic option: Although both the Honda cars are powered by the same set of engines, it's only the Amaze that can be had with both CVT and manual transmission options with both the petrol and diesel engines.	A 6-speed manual transmission with diesel engine: The WR-V, on the other hand, is available with an option of manual transmission only. However, with the 1.5-litre diesel engine it gets a 6-speed MT instead of the 5-speed unit on the Amaze. In their respective petrol versions, both cars get a 5-speed manual transmission.
Comfortable at both slow and high speeds: The Amaze is a comfortable car to be in, be it at city speeds or highway. It also holds the straight line well at high speeds and doesn’t bounce much when it encounters sudden bumps on the road. However, when you decide to change lanes, especially at triple digit speeds, there’s body roll.	Soft ride, good at slow speeds: The WR-V’s suspension is set up on the softer side and that makes it soak road uncertainties pretty well, especially at slow speeds. However, there is a downside to it: at high speeds, the ride gets a little bouncy and the side-to-side motion is also more prominent. This can be tiresome for passengers on long journeys.
Competition: Maruti Dzire, Hyundai Xcent, Ford Aspire, Tata Tigor and Volkswagen Ameo	Competition: Ford Freestyle, Maruti Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon and Ford EcoSport

Variants

The top-spec VX variant of the Amaze is priced at Rs 7.57 lakh and 8.67 lakh, for petrol and diesel, respectively. We have compared this to the base-spec S variant of the WR-V, which is priced at Rs 7.78 lakh for the petrol version and Rs 8.81 lakh for diesel. In case you were wondering, yes, the other variants of the two Honda cars have a huge price difference.

Petrol
Honda Amaze	Honda WR-V
Amaze E Rs 5.59 lakh	-
Amaze S Rs 6.49 lakh	-
Amaze V Rs 7.09 lakh	-
Amaze VX Rs 7.57 lakh	WR-V S Rs 7.78 lakh
-	WR-V VX Rs 9 lakh
Amaze S CVT Rs 7.39 lakh	-
Amaze V CVT Rs 7.99 lakh	-

 

Diesel
Honda Amaze	Honda WR-V
Amaze E Rs 6.69 lakh	-
Amaze S Rs 7.59 lakh	-
Amaze V Rs 8.19 lakh	-
Amaze VX Rs 8.67 lakh	WR-V S Rs 8.81 lakh
-	WR-V VX Rs 9.99 lakh
Amaze S CVT Rs 8.39 lakh	-
Amaze V CVT Rs 8.99 lakh	-

Engine

Both the cars are powered by the same set of petrol and diesel engines. However, in terms of claimed fuel economy, the Amaze is ahead of the WR-V in both the cases. In its petrol version, the Amaze betters the WR-V by 2kmpl while in its diesel avatar, the former has a mileage figure of 27.4kmpl against the WRV’s 25.5kmpl. The Amaze’s better FE figures could be due to the fact that it’s lighter than the WR-V, by about 150kg to 180kg.

Though we haven’t driven both cars back to back, we believe the Amaze should be more fun to drive thanks to its higher power to weight ratio. In its petrol avatar, the sub-4m sedan has a power to weight ratio of 97.4PS/ton, 15.88PS/ton more than that of the sub-4m SUV. On the other hand, in its diesel guise, the Amaze has a power to weight ratio of 97.7PS/ton against the WRV’s 83.05PS/ton.

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Features: Amaze VX MT vs WR-V S MT

Common features: Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, electrically adjustable ORVMs, tilt adjustable steering, all-four power windows and central locking with keyless entry.

What the WR-V S gets in addition: LED DRLs and telescopic steering

What the Amaze VX gets in addition: rear parking camera with sensors, ISOFIX child seat anchors, alloy wheels, front fog lamps, electrically foldable ORVMs, automatic climate control, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, day/night IRVM, steering-mounted controls, push-button start and cruise control.

Takeaway: In terms of features the WR-V S is no competition to the Amaze VX. Moreover, the WR-V is also costlier in both petrol and diesel versions by Rs 14,000 and Rs 23,000, respectively.

Why Buy Amaze:

• Features: The Amaze VX is loaded with more features than the WR-V S

• Driveability: It should be more fun to drive, thanks to its better power to weight ratio

• Comfortable: Comfortable ride over all surfaces, noiseless suspension even over broken roads

• Boot space: Should be able to carry more luggage while seating five adults

• Automatic option: Comes with an option of automatic transmission (CVT) with both petrol and diesel engine.

• Mileage: More frugal than the WR-V

Why Buy WR-V:

• Size: The WR-V is larger than the Amaze and thus, should have higher space on the inside as well. Additionally, size is directly proportional to road presence too.

• High ground clearance: The WR-V, with its 188mm ground clearance, is better in taking on bad roads and potholes.

• Looks: The WR-V has an SUV-like road presence. Some buyers might find it more attractive than the Amaze

Reader’s Note:

Is it worth spending Rs 1.5 lakh more for the WR-V VX variant?

For a premium of about Rs 1.5 lakh over the Amaze VX, the WR-V gets features like an electric sunroof and telescopic steering wheel unlike the Amaze. However, it does miss out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and rear parking sensors. Should you pay Rs 1.5 lakh more for a sunroof and telescopic steering, then? The sensible pick has to be the Amaze, especially if it’s going to be the primary car for someone.

Honda WR-V Edge Edition

Honda is also offering a special edition variant of the WR-V. Called the Edge edition, it is priced at Rs 8.01 lakh and 9.01 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for petrol and diesel, respectively. It is based on the base-spec S variant and attracts a premium of Rs 23,000 over it. Additional features on the Edge edition include 16-inch alloys, rear parking sensors with buzzers and reverse parking camera with display in IRVM. Given the features on offer, we think a premium of Rs 23,000 over the S variant is justified. Related: Honda City, Amaze and WR-V Special Editions Launched

Read More on : Amaze on road price

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