With the introduction of the new Aeris, Tata has aimed to bolster its position in the compact sedan market. Although the Aeris is derived from the Tigor, it boasts updated design elements and additional features. Here, we compare it with the Honda Amaze, a well-established player in its third generation within the segment. Our focus is on the Aeris’ Accomplished trim versus the Amaze’s ZX trim.
Dimensions
The Aeris and Amaze are identical in length but show notable differences in other dimensions. The Amaze is broader, features a longer wheelbase, and sits marginally higher by 2mm compared to the Aeris. However, the Aeris stands taller and offers a slightly larger boot space.
The boot of the Aeris is particularly notable for its likely more usable space, as it employs gas struts for opening and closing, unlike the hinge mechanism on the Amaze’s trunk.
Powertrain
Both vehicles come equipped with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. The Aeris utilizes a 3-cylinder configuration, whereas the Amaze includes a fourth cylinder, resulting in higher power output for the Amaze but with the Aeris delivering marginally more torque.
Both models feature a 5-speed manual transmission, but their automatic variants differ: the Aeris uses an AMT, while the Amaze is fitted with a CVT gearbox. Notably, the Aeris offers a factory-fitted CNG kit with its top Accomplished trim, maintaining boot space efficiency through a dual-cylinder setup. In contrast, Honda’s CNG kit for the Amaze is dealer-installed and only available with a manual gearbox.
Exterior Features
In terms of aesthetics, both the Aeris and Amaze come with LED lighting, fog lamps, 15-inch alloy wheels, powered ORVMs, and a sharkfin antenna. However, the Aeris Accomplished stands out with its exclusive dual-tone paint options featuring a black roof, whereas the Amaze is limited to monotone finishes.
Interior Features
The Aeris takes the lead in interior comfort, offering a larger infotainment screen, ventilated front seats, leatherette upholstery, and a cooled glovebox. The Amaze counters with a color TFT instrument cluster that offers configurable displays.
Driving Features
Both cars feature paddle shifters in their automatic versions. However, the Aeris includes adaptive cruise control, a feature not found in the Amaze, which only offers standard cruise control.
Safety Features
The Amaze boasts a 5-star crash safety rating from BNCAP, while the Aeris, yet to be tested, is based on the Tigor, which received a 4-star rating from GNCAP. Both vehicles are equipped with six airbags, ESC, traction control, rear parking sensors, TPMS, and hill hold assist.
The Aeris is uniquely fitted with a 360-degree camera, whereas the Amaze provides only a rear-view camera but compensates with an ADAS suite, which the Aeris lacks. Both models omit adjustable headrests for rear passengers.
Pricing and Verdict
When comparing similar powertrain configurations, the Aeris emerges as the more economical choice, being up to Rs 1.25 lakh cheaper than the Amaze. Even the CNG automatic version of the Aeris is priced lower than the Amaze’s petrol CVT option.
Overall, the Aeris is the preferable choice due to its affordability, extensive features, and diverse powertrain options. Although the Amaze’s CVT offers a smoother automatic driving experience compared to the Aeris’ AMT, the price difference makes the premium for the Amaze less justifiable.
