The Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Honda Amaze are two of the best-known compact sedans on the used market, and a natural shortlist if you want a proper boot without paying mid-size sedan prices. The short answer: pick a used Dzire for lower running costs, factory CNG and, from November 2024, a five-star Global NCAP rating. Pick a used Amaze for a bigger boot, a smooth CVT automatic and, in the 2018–2023 cars, a diesel option.
As always, the generation matters more than the badge. Here's how to choose.
Used Dzire vs Amaze: the quick verdict
- Best for running costs: Dzire, especially the factory CNG versions and the 2024-onward model.
- Best for safety: a 2024-onward Dzire or a third-generation Amaze, both with six airbags and strong recent crash-test scores.
- Best boot: Amaze, with Honda quoting 416 to 420 litres against the Dzire's 378 to 382 litres.
- Best automatic: Amaze CVT for smoothness; the Dzire's AMT (AGS) is simpler and cheaper.
- Best diesel: a 2018–2023 Amaze diesel or a 2017–2020 Dzire diesel.
- Watch out for: ex-taxi Dzires, and pending recall work on both.
Model years at a glance
Maruti Suzuki Dzire
- May 2017 (third generation): an 83 hp 1.2 petrol and a 75 hp 1.3 diesel, with an AMT on all but the base trim, and dual airbags, ABS and ISOFIX as standard, Autocar India reported.
- 2020: Maruti stopped selling diesel cars with the move to BS6 in April 2020, as its chairman had announced in 2019, so the Dzire diesel was discontinued.
- March 2020 facelift: a new K-series DualJet petrol (66 kW), claimed at 23.26 km/l (manual) and 24.12 km/l (AGS), with dual airbags standard (Maruti Suzuki).
- March 2022: factory-fitted S-CNG arrived on the VXi and ZXi trims.
- November 2024 (fourth generation): a new 1.2 Z-series petrol (60 kW, 111.7 Nm) with manual or AGS, and a CNG manual, claimed at 24.79 km/l (manual), 25.71 km/l (AGS) and 33.73 km/kg (CNG), with six airbags and ESP as standard (Maruti Suzuki release).
Honda Amaze
- May 2018 (second generation): a 90 hp 1.2 petrol and a 100 hp 1.5 diesel, both with a manual or CVT (the diesel CVT was detuned to 80 hp), and dual front airbags as standard. Claimed figures were 19.5 km/l (petrol manual) and 27.8 km/l (diesel manual), Autocar India reported.
- August 2021: a facelift with no mechanical changes.
- January 2023: the diesel was dropped ahead of the April 2023 RDE emission norms, according to Autocar India.
- December 2024 (third generation): the same 90 PS petrol with a manual or CVT, six airbags as standard, and Honda Sensing ADAS on the top ZX trim, per CarDekho and Autocar India. Honda kept selling some second-generation versions alongside it.
Engines, gearboxes and running costs
Both cars use a petrol engine of about 1.2 litres. The Dzire is the more frugal on paper, and its factory CNG option makes it the default choice for high daily mileage. Our used CNG car checks cover what to inspect.
The Amaze offers a CVT, which is smoother in stop-go traffic than the Dzire's AMT. Read our guide to AMT vs CVT vs DCT used automatics for how each behaves and how to test one.
About diesel and Delhi's age rules: Delhi's long-standing 10-year limit for diesel cars is currently in flux. In December 2025, the Supreme Court ordered that no coercive steps be taken on age grounds against BS-IV and newer vehicles, LiveLaw reported. The case is still pending, and owners of over-age cars have reported trouble getting PUC certificates, ThePrint reported. If you buy an older diesel for Delhi, check the latest position first and factor the uncertainty into the price. See also our guide to Delhi's age rules for used cars.
Space and practicality
The two are the same length (just under four metres), but the Amaze has the slightly longer wheelbase (2,470 mm vs 2,450 mm) and the bigger boot. Autocar India listed the 2018 Amaze's boot at 420 litres and the third-generation Dzire's at 378 litres; for the current cars, Honda quotes 416 litres for the Amaze and Maruti 382 litres for the Dzire. If you often carry luggage for airport runs or family trips, the Amaze has the edge.
Safety: check the generation
- Dzire (2024 onwards): Global NCAP gave it five stars for adults and four for children in November 2024, with six airbags and ESC as standard. Its Bharat NCAP assessment scored 29.46 out of 32 for adults and 41.57 out of 49 for children, covering petrol versions from June 2025.
- Dzire (2017–2024): the same Global NCAP release notes the previous Dzire scored two stars for adults and children.
- Amaze (third generation): its Bharat NCAP assessment scored 28.33 out of 32 for adults and 40.81 out of 49 for children, applying from November 2025.
- Amaze (second generation): Global NCAP's April 2024 retest rated it two stars for adults and zero for children, with two airbags.
If safety is your top priority, the newest generation of either car is the clear choice. Our guide on checking a used car's airbags explains the checks to make on any car you shortlist.
Recalls to check
- Dzire (2018): 713 Dzires built between May and July 2018 were recalled for a possible airbag controller fault, according to Autocar India's used-buying guide.
- Amaze (2018): Honda recalled 7,290 Amazes built between 17 April and 24 May 2018 to inspect the electric power steering, per Autocar India.
- Amaze fuel pump: Honda has recalled cars several times for fuel pumps with a defective impeller. The October 2024 campaign covered 18,851 Amazes built between 19 September 2017 and 30 June 2018, with free replacements from 5 November 2024, CarDekho reported.
Ask an authorised dealer to confirm recall work by VIN before you pay.
Common issues reported on used cars
- Dzire: Autocar India flags dashboard and door rattles, early clutch wear on AMTs, brake pad and disc wear, and touchscreen problems on top versions.
- Amaze: Autocar India mentions dashboard rattles, front suspension noise from worn bushings or lower arms, and occasional fuel pump failures.
Our used car inspection checklist covers the rest.
Spotting an ex-taxi Dzire
The Dzire is a popular fleet car, sold to operators as the Dzire Tour S. Autocar India describes the third-generation Tour S as having a "Tour S" badge on the boot lid, steel wheels and black door handles and mirror caps. Check the RC for commercial registration, look for signs of heavy use such as worn seats and steering, and be wary of a low odometer reading on a hard-worked car. Our guide to spotting odometer tampering can help. A converted or modified badge isn't proof either way, so the paperwork matters most.
Warranty
Maruti's standard warranty is 3 years or 1,00,000 km for cars retailed from 9 July 2024, and 2 years or 40,000 km before that. Honda offers 3 years with unlimited kilometres. A late-2024 or newer car of either brand may still have cover left; see our guide to used car warranty transfer.
Which one should you buy?
- High daily running on a budget: a Dzire CNG.
- Smooth automatic for city traffic: an Amaze CVT.
- Family trips with lots of luggage: an Amaze, for the bigger boot.
- Best safety on a budget: the newest generation of either car you can afford.
- Lowest purchase price: a 2020–2024 Dzire or 2018–2023 Amaze petrol, after a thorough inspection.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying an ex-taxi Dzire believing it was privately owned.
- Assuming an older Dzire or Amaze matches the newer cars' crash-test results.
- Skipping the recall check on 2017–2019 Amazes and 2018 Dzires.
- Buying an older diesel for Delhi without checking the current age-rule position.
- Not testing the AMT or CVT in slow traffic.
FAQs
Which is better second-hand, the Dzire or the Amaze?
The Dzire is cheaper to run and offers factory CNG; the Amaze has a bigger boot, a CVT and a diesel option in older cars. The newest generation of each is much safer than the one before.
Which has better mileage, the Dzire or the Amaze?
The Dzire, on official claimed figures, and especially with CNG.
Is the new Dzire safe?
The 2024-onward Dzire scored five stars for adults in Global NCAP's test and 29.46 out of 32 for adults in Bharat NCAP's assessment. The previous Dzire scored two stars in Global NCAP's test.
Is the Honda Amaze safe?
The third-generation Amaze scored 28.33 out of 32 for adults in Bharat NCAP. The second-generation car was rated two stars for adults and zero for children in Global NCAP's 2024 retest.
How can I tell if a used Dzire was a taxi?
Check the RC for commercial registration, look for "Tour S" badging and fleet-spec steel wheels, and judge the wear on the seats, steering and pedals against the odometer reading.
The bottom line
Choose the Dzire for running costs and CNG, and the Amaze for boot space and a smooth CVT, then buy the newest generation your budget allows. Check recalls, service history and the RC on every car you shortlist. You can browse used Maruti Dzire cars, used Honda Amaze cars and other used sedans under ₹8 lakh on Hooter, or compare a size up in our Honda City vs Hyundai Verna guide.