Designed To Fit: Comparing Volkswagen Ameo vs Maruti DZire vs Honda Amaze

The compact sedan segment is the best value for money cars in India and every manufacturer wants to offer the best in terms of features and pricing in the compact sedan cars.

Let us compare the best of the compact sedans - Volkswagen Ameo, Maruti Swift DZire and Honda Amaze - and find out which suits you the best.

Design: Ameo vs Dzire vs Amaze

The Volkswagen Ameo was recently unveiled to India and it promises to take the fight to other compact sedans in the market. Design wise, the Ameo is straight out of the Volkswagen hatchback, the Polo with a boot added to it. Volkswagen seemed to have got the design right at the rear aspect of the car. Overall, the Ameo looks bold, straightforward and the clean lines make the Ameo a very executive class finish.

Also Read: Volkswagen Ameo Variants In Detail

Maruti's Swift DZire is the best selling car right now and it takes the cake when you look at it in an overall package. As for the design of the DZire, the car is rounded in looks, be it in the front or at the rear. It might not be the best looking car, however, its badging of Maruti on it makes the DZire a real good packaged car.

As for the Honda Amaze, it was the first diesel car from Honda, the Amaze is built on the Brio platform. The creases and the shoulder line make the Amaze a lot sharper and the colours which are available on the Amaze compliments it very well, be it the poking nose of the front or the chunky taillamps, the Amaze is well well-packaged in terms of design.

Overall Design Rating

• Volkswagen Ameo 8/10
• Maruti Swift DZire 7/10
• Honda Amaze 7.5/10

Features: Ameo vs Dzire vs Amaze

The Volkswagen Ameo will feature some of the first-in-segment like rain sensing wipers and cruise control. Apart from these features, the Ameo will come with MirrorLink infotainment system which is seen in other Volkswagen cars, which will mirror your phone screen to the infotainment screen.

Also Read: Best Base Variant Cars In India

Also, the Ameo will have rear AC vents, which is a must in Indian conditions, front driver armrest, footwell LED lights, cooled glovebox, remote-controlled windows, and Climatronic (computer controlled air-conditioning).

As for the Maruti DZire, the car is equipped with automatic climate control, height adjustable driver seat, electrically adjustable and retractable ORVMs, parking sensors, engine push start/stop button, rear armrest, remote keyless entry, electromagnetic back door operation and a lot more.

Also Read: Comparison Of EcoSport vs Vitara Brezza vs Nuvosport

Honda Amaze comes with heat absorbing front windshield, auto AC with digital AC controls, cruising range display, electric foldable and adjustable ORVMs, ECO lamp, premium beige fabric seat covers, and a lot more.

Overall Features Rating

• Volkswagen Ameo 8/10
• Maruti Swift DZire 7.5/10
• Honda Amaze 7/10

Engine Specifications & Gearbox: Ameo vs Dzire vs Amaze

The Volkswagen Ameo will be powered by petrol and diesel engine, the petrol will be powered by 1.2-litre MPI engine, which churns out 104bhp and 175Nm of torque which will be mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.

As for the diesel engine, it will be powered by 1.5-litre 4-cylinder and will push out 89bhp and 230Nm of torque, this will be mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and will also have any option of 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox as well.

Also Read: Best Mileage Cars In India

The Maruti Swift DZire is powered with the option of petrol and diesel engine, powering the petrol will be 1.2-litre VVT 4-cylinder, which develops 83bhp and 115Nm of torque. The diesel heart of the DZire will be powered by 1.3-litre 4-cyclinder and punches out 74bhp and 190Nm of torque.

The gearbox for the petrol will come in 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic, the diesel powertrain will be mated to 5-speed manual and auto gear shift gearbox.

Honda Amaze comes with the option of petrol or the diesel engines, the petrol is powered by 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine which produces 87bhp for the manual gearbox and 89bhp for the CVT gearbox. The torque for the manual gearbox is 109Nm and 110Nm for the CVT. The manual gearbox is of 5-speed.

The diesel variant of the Honda Amaze is powered by 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine, which produces 97bhp and 200Nm of torque. The diesel engine comes mated only to a 5-speed manual gearbox and there is no automatic gearbox.

Overall Engine Rating

• Volkswagen Ameo 8/10
• Maruti DZire 7.5/10
• Honda Amaze 7.5/10

Safety: Ameo vs Dzire vs Amaze

The Volkswagen Ameo will feature standard dual front airbags and ABS across variants, the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and Hill Hold control will be equipped on variants with DSG gearbox. The anti-pinch power windows which are usually seen in the front, the Ameo will get it for the rear window as well which is a segment first. It will also come with the reverse parking sensor and camera to assist you for parking.

Maruti has equipped the Swift DZire with dual front airbags only on the top variant, however, it comes as an option for the base and mid variant. The ABS with EBD is seen on the automatic mid variant and the top variant and as an option for the base and manual mid variant. The DZire also comes with reverse parking assist sensor, however, there is no camera.

As for the Honda Amaze, the dual front airbags comes only in the top two variants and is not even optional. The base variant does get the ABS with EBD but only on the diesel engine model. Surprisingly, Honda is not providing reverse parking sensor or camera for the Amaze, yes, not even on the top variant.

Overall Safety Rating

• Volkswagen Ameo 8/10
• Maruti DZire 7.5/10
• Honda Amaze 7/10

Pricing: Ameo vs Dzire vs Amaze

*Prices are Ex-Showroom (Delhi)

Verdict: Ameo vs Dzire vs Amaze

The Volkswagen Ameo does take the crown for the kind of features it provides, Volkswagen might be late to the party, but they have understood what a compact sedan can have in terms of luxury and safety. As of now there is not confirmation of the actual pricing, if they get it right, then Volkswagen could have a winner.

It does not mean the Maruti DZire is a not so good car, it has the backing of the best post sales services, cheaper spares, cheaper servicing, resale value and the engine is good for a compact sedan.

Honda has the best looking car in the Amaze, the build quality and the engineering is the best that India has seen till date. Honda is planning a facelifted Amaze in 2017 and they will surely back it up with the best of features and plan the variants much better.