The Honda Amaze has undergone another round of crash tests by Global NCAP, this time adhering to stricter protocols, and has unfortunately received a low rating. Previously, the India-manufactured Amaze had achieved four stars in 2019 when tested for the South African market by Global NCAP.
Detailed Results and Safety Features
In the latest evaluation, the Honda Amaze scored two stars for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) with a score of 27.89 out of 34, and alarmingly, zero stars for Child Occupant Protection (COP), scoring only 8.58 out of 49. The vehicle tested was equipped with just a driver’s seatbelt reminder, whereas the Amaze now includes reminders for all seats. Safety features present in the Amaze include dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors with a camera, and ISOFIX child-seat mounts.
Adult Occupant Protection Analysis
The frontal impact test showed good protection for the driver’s and front passenger's head, neck, and legs. However, protection for their chests and knees varied from adequate to marginal. The vehicle's footwell area was deemed stable, and the body shell was capable of withstanding further load. Despite satisfactory results in protecting the head and pelvis during side impact tests, the protection for the chest was marginal and the abdomen adequate. The absence of curtain airbags and electronic stability control, which led to no side pole impact test being conducted, significantly influenced the two-star AOP rating.
Child Occupant Protection Insights
For child safety, a three-year-old dummy was placed in a forward-facing seat using ISOFIX mounts, while an 18-month-old dummy was secured in a rear-facing seat with an adult seatbelt. Despite the setup preventing excessive movement, the three-year-old dummy still made contact with the vehicle structure in the frontal impact test. The setup for the 18-month-old dummy failed to prevent a potential ejection, contributing to the zero-star rating. Protection for both dummies was complete in the side impact scenario.
Global NCAP noted the absence of three-point seatbelts in all seating positions and the lack of capability to deactivate the front passenger airbag when a child seat is placed there. Although ISOFIX points in the rear seats meet the requirements, they cannot be fitted in the rear seat's center.
Honda's Response
Honda responded to the results, claiming, "The South Africa-spec 2nd Generation Amaze was already evaluated as 4 stars by GNCAP in 2019. The most recent test based on the new technique yielded a total score of five stars. However, the requirement for certain equipment, such as Electronic Stability Control and Side Curtain Airbags, resulted in a lower rating."
Pricing and Competition
The Honda Amaze is currently available for between Rs 7.93 lakh and Rs 9.86 lakh (ex-showroom) after a recent price rise. It competes with vehicles like the Tata Tigor, Hyundai Aura, and Maruti Dzire in the subcompact sedan segment.