The adrenaline rush of crossing borders without a passport felt straight out of a spy movie, except we were in sneakers and not tuxedos!

BHPian Singh09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hello Dear BHPian Family,

Alright, I know I’m super late with this travelogue – so late that I actually took this trip back in November 2024! To be honest, I’m about 2-3 travelogues behind schedule (maybe even more, but let’s not get into the math). My last travelogue was about my Jaisalmer trip, which came after my Spiti adventure, but between these two, I squeezed in about 3 or 4 trips. Yeah, things got a little out of hand!

Balancing business and vlogging is like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle – fun, but hectic! I just wrapped up my Jaisalmer travelogue, working on another one, and in a couple of days, I’m off on my next trip. The backlog is real, but I promise, I’ll get all these travelogues out one by one. Until then, let's dive into this one – better late than never, right?

THE PLAN

Travel vlogging is truly addictive! While it may seem like it’s all about breathtaking views, stunning landscapes, and endless fun, there’s actually a lot more to it. Behind the scenes, it takes meticulous planning and the ability to adapt to whatever comes your way.

Since I travel in a low-slung sedan, I always have to consider factors like snow, rain and potential landslides while mapping out my routes. For this particular trip, I had a friend joining me, which made scheduling a bit tricky. When he was free, I was busy, and when I was free, he was caught up with work. After a lot of back and forth, we finally locked in the dates – November 25th to November 28th. And so, on November 25th, we finally hit the road.

THE RIDE

My trustworthy and reliable Honda Amaze – CVT Diesel.

THE ITINERARY

• Day 1 – Leave from Moradabad and reach Pithoragarh
• Day 2 – Start from Pithoragarh and reach Munsyari, visiting Dharchula
• Day 3 – Start from Munsyari and reach Binsar
• Day 4 – Back home to Moradabad from Binsar.

PREPARATION

A day before leaving for the trip, I did all the shopping, including snacks, drinks, water bottles and medicines. Got the car checked, got the tank filled as well to save time for the next day. Prepared all my vlogging gear for the trip, batteries charged, memory cards all cleaned up. Kept all my luggage, pillow, sheet and a blanket as well. All these things were loaded in the car a day before itself.

Day 1 Moradabad – Pithoragarh

• Kms covered – 320 kms
• Route – Moradabad – Rampur – Rudrapur – Kichha – Khatima – Tanakpur – Lohaghat - Pithoragarh (NH-9)
• Toll - Rs. 380/-

Map -

I woke up early as I wanted to leave early and ditch the morning city traffic. By 7:00 am I was in the car and went straight to my friend’s place, he was all packed and ready and by 7:15 we were on the road. The perks of leaving early paid us, and within no time we were out of the city and on the highway. Our plan for today was to reach Pithoragarh and spend the night there, as a direct stretch to Munsyari would have been too long and we would have missed all the beautiful views in night.

Road till Rampur is very nice and from Rampur to Rudrapur, it's good at most places except a few bad patches. We reached Rudrapur in 2 hours and took a right before entering Rudrapur towards Kichha. And this is where we started to get local traffic. After driving for another hour, we reached Tanakpur and this is where your mountain drive starts (the real fun). Roads and views are very regular till Tanakpur, the fun starts once you take a left from Tanakpur. Even though you start getting a glimpse of the mountains in the far vicinity from Khatima but the fun starts from Tanakpur.

Pic taken right before we started our climb.

Since we both didn't have our breakfast, we decided to stop at a tapri and had our 1st of many maggies and teas on this entire trip. We didn't come across a single decent restaurant on our way till Tanakpur, where you could actually have our breakfast. Even though we had a lot of stuff to munch on but our desire for paranthas was washed away.

View of the valley from this place was really beautiful

As soon as we were back on the road, I got an SMS saying "Welcome to Nepal" and that I should take a roaming package, otherwise higher call rates will apply. I was shocked, or rather, I should say stunned, by Airtel's ability to take me to Nepal while I was still driving in India. Instead of Airtel, the network on my cellphone was displaying NCell, probably a Network provider in Nepal.

The drive keeps getting better as the views and landscapes keep changing and the fun of driving in the curvy mountain roads adds to your adventure. But after SUKHI DHANG, we started getting a lot of patches hit by the monsoon landslides. After driving for a while we came across this dhaba cum Restaurant onto our left. If you are travelling on this road, you will get clean restrooms here. So, in case you want to offload something natural, you can use the facilities here because after this, you won't find anything hygienic for a long time.

After a small 10-minute break, we were back on the road and headed towards Champawat. We started getting a lot of rough patches like these. And at places, literally, it felt as if the entire mountain had come down on the road. I manoeuvred my Amaze very carefully through these patches as there were really big and pointed stones on the road ahead.

We reached Champawat and it is the first big city that you will see after crossing Rudrapur. So you can easily find places to eat, stay and yes, a lot of temples to visit. We thought of stopping in Champawat but it was too crowded and all of a sudden there was a lot of traffic on the road. We couldn't find any place to even park our car for say 5-10 minutes, so we kept on driving and crossed Champawat.

Valley view from Champawat

We reached Lohaghat within 20-25 minutes from Champawat. The drive from Champawat to Lohaghat is very beautiful as you drive between those tall trees and mountains on one side. Even the sun was up and bright it felt as if we are driving under an umbrella since the sun's rays were unable to reach us and it really felt amazing.

After crossing Lohaghat, we stopped at a restaurant as we were not getting any good options to eat. But that guy made fresh yellow dal and roti for us, which was really nice and tasty. The good part is that the restaurants in these small places make fresh food for you since they don't get too many customers or tourists, unlike on the belts like Delhi - Chandigarh. Sorry, I can't remember the name of the place and I don't have any pictures as well. But this place was like 10 minutes after Lohaghat on our right.

So after taking a break for about 40-45 minutes (since the guy made fresh food for us), we were back onto the tarmac. And after driving for around 15-20 kilometers we got stuck in a landslide area where the JCB was clearing the road and small stones and dust were continuously coming down from the mountain on our left. You can check out the vlog on YouTube where I have captured the same. It was a landslide area + road widening work was also in progress.

We cruised along the winding two-lane highway, weaving through lush green landscapes, landslide-hit stretches and nerve-wrackingly narrow roads with sheer cliffs dropping off the edge. The adrenaline kept us on our toes, but the breathtaking views made every twist and turn worth it. By 4:00 PM, under the golden glow of daylight, we finally rolled into Pithoragarh and headed straight to our hotel, conveniently nestled right in the heart of the bustling market. A quick check-in, and we were all set to soak in the vibe of this charming town.

Another thing that I want to bring up is - finding a decent hotel in Pithoragarh. I checked a whole lot of options, but the best that I could find was "Hotel Manar" where we had booked our stay. And everything was just right about this property, like food, cleanliness, right in the middle of the town, service etc. And parking was also not an issue since they had valet parking. So it's a higly recommendable property if you are travelling here.

After we checked in, we relaxed for a bit and had a cup of tea and then left for Chandak Hills to explore a little bit as we had some time before the sunset. You get a really good view of the valley from this point and there is this famous Meghna Cafe where you can sip in your favorite coffee in the lap of nature. And it was a mere 15 minutes from our hotel, after spending some time here and having a nice cappuccino with a tempting garlic bread, we left back for our hotel and called the day off.

Day 1 vlog

DAY 2 Pithoragarh - Dharchula - Munsyari

• Kms Covered - 195 kms
• Route - Pithoragarh - Nainipatal - Gori Gangal Pul (Take right) - Jauljibi - Dharchula - Jauljibi - Toli - Dhunamani - Madkot - Munsyari

Map

We woke up feeling refreshed after a comfortable stay and a satisfying dinner the night before. With a long and eventful day ahead, we quickly got ready, packed our bags, and made our way to the dining area for breakfast. But before saying goodbye to Pithoragarh, we had one important stop to make - a visit to the sacred and well-known Kamakhya Devi Temple, located just about 20 minutes from our hotel.

By 10:00 am, we were back in the car, fuel topped up (it was at half - better safe than stranded), enroute to the temple. The route takes you through an Army cantonment area, which is where things get a little interesting. At one point, Google Maps confidently directed us straight towards a gated military area. For a moment, I wasn't sure if the app was helping or trying to get me court-martialed. Playing safe, I ignored the route and kept driving along the main road - only to find myself stuck in a bustling marketplace with no temple in sight.

I decided to ask a few locals for directions, and they informed me I'd missed the turn about 4-5 kms back. So we did a quick U-turn and ended up right where the GPS had previously told us to enter. This time, I figured it was better to ask than to end up in a James Bond situation, so I approached one of the army personnel at the gate. The gentleman was kind enough to guide us through the correct route via the cantonment area.

And I'm glad we did - the drive through the army zone was absolutely beautiful. As we neared the temple, the road suddenly turned into a steep incline, with barely enough width for one car to pass. But after having conquered Shinkula and Baralacha Pass in the Amaze, this stretch felt like a warm-up lap (Yes, I know, that travelogue is still pending. I'm on it - promise).

Kamakhya Devi Temple

View from the temple

Panoramic view of Pithoragarh city from the temple.

Soon after leaving Pithoragarh, the road began to narrow, and traffic thinned out almost instantly. With fewer vehicles around and the mountains opening up before us, the scenery gradually became more mesmerising. However, the route did show signs of the region's vulnerability - we passed several landslide-affected stretches, a clear reminder of how risky this journey can be, especially during the monsoon months.

Despite the occasional rough patches, the drive was absolutely scenic. The winding roads snaked through the hills, unveiling breathtaking views at every turn-rolling green valleys, carefully terraced fields, and the quiet little villages that seemed untouched by time. With barely any vehicles in sight and only the sound of nature for company, it felt like the mountains were revealing their hidden beauty, one bend at a time.

Occasional bad patches on the way to Jauljibi

As we approached Jauljibi, the landscape shifted. This small but significant town situated at the confluence of the Kali and Gori rivers, has a unique character. Known as a trade hub between India and Nepal, the town reflects a blend of cultures, especially in its bustling markets. We stopped briefly, hoping to take in the charm-but were quite disappointed by the state of cleanliness. Garbage littered the area, and in some parts, the stench made it hard to stay for long.

Rather than dwell on that, we drove a little further ahead, found a quieter, cleaner spot, and captured some photos and videos of the beautiful surroundings. Despite the shortcomings, the raw natural beauty of the region still managed to shine through.

Kali river and the town on the right bank is Jauljibi.

After soaking in the scenery for a good 10 minutes, we hopped back into our trusty ride and hit the road toward Dharchula, which was still 28 km away. As we moved ahead, the road started playing mind games with us-narrow at times, wide at others, landslide patches, no tarmac and generously peppered with potholes that could give a decent rollercoaster a run for its money.

About halfway in, we stumbled upon a gorgeous spot where the road dipped down to a closer level as the mighty Kali River, which by the way, casually marks the international boundary between India and Nepal. She flowed gracefully to our right, whispering secrets of two nations, while we stood there gawking like overexcited tourists. We couldn't resist. We parked, pulled out the camera gear, and spent a good 15 minutes capturing the beauty and some mandatory Instagram content

Now, the last 15 km stretch to Dharchula? Let's just say 60% off-roading and 40% wishful thinking. The roads here seemed to have their own personality-moody, unpredictable, and slightly adventurous. But hey, adventure is why we're here, right?

Just before you officially roll into Dharchula, keep an eye on your right., You'll spot the "Last Petrol Pump of India"-yes, it's a real thing, and it's an Indian Oil outlet.

Entering Dharchula city felt like stepping into a maze. The roads narrowed into single-lane alleys, and we had to weave through the bustling Dharchula market to get to the bridge's parking area. Thank the traffic gods that it's a one way route, otheriwse, it could have turned into a live demo of parallel parking meets bumper cars.

Once we found the public parking, we parked the car and began our little cross-border adventure on foot. A short walk later, we reached the bridge over Kali River - the roaring sound of the river underneath was enough to drown out your thoughts and give you goosebumps. As we started walking on the bridge, we were greeted by the Indian Police check post. Nothing too intense-just a quick ID check, a couple of questions, and a form-filling ritual.

Pro tip: Carry an ID with your photo. I flashed my Aadhar card like a badge of honor, and we were good to go. Midway on the bridge, we realized we were literally walking from one country into another. The adrenaline rush of crossing borders without a passport felt straight out of a spy movie-except we were in sneakers, not tuxedos.

On reaching the Nepal side, the Nepal Police had their own checkpoint. Again, the same routine-ID, a few questions, and a smile later. "Congratulations, you are in Nepal". A big board welcomed us, just in case we forgot we were in a new country.

We took a quick stroll through the local market, had some steaming hot chai and momo's and soaked in the vibe. The most fascinating part? The market on both sides of the river looked almost identical-same shops, same faces, same energy. Locals from Nepal cross over to India daily like it's a neighborhood hop. For them, this international border is just a daily commute. Buying groceries across the border? Totally normal.

That is India across the river and we were in Nepal while taking this pic.

After about 40 minutes, we made our way back across the bridge with a heart full of stories, a memory card full of pictures, and a smile that wouldn't fade. Because how often do you walk into another country, sip tea and come back before your Google Maps can finish recalculating the route?

By the time we wrapped up our mini Nepal adventure and got back to the Indian side, the clock was already ticking past 3:30 PM. And guess what? Our final destination for the day - Munsyari - was still a solid 95 kilometers away. Now 95 km might sound like a Sunday morning spin on city roads, but in the hills? That's a full-blown episode of "Survivor: Mountain Roads Edition." Google Maps teased up with a 3-hour ETA, but mountain roads don't play by the rules of time or logic.

We started tracing our way back from Dharchula to Jauljibi, which meant - brace yourself - we had to re-live the same off-roading adventure we had faced earlier. Yes, those charming potholes and narrow cliff-hugging roads welcomed us again like long-lost friends. This time enough, there was a sense of urgency: beat the darkness or risk navigating broken roads with only our headlights and prayers to guide us.

Somewhere along the way, hunger hit us like a ton of boulders-fitting for the terrain. We pulled over at a tiny roadside stall, and what did we find? The universal mountain delicacy- MAGGI. Golden, glorious, soul-warming Maggi. Honestly, nothing tastes better in the hills than a hot plate of instant noodles sprinkled with mountain dust and flavored with hunger. We devoured it like it was a five-star buffet and shared a few laughs with the shop uncle who, despite his tiny setup, dished out happiness in a bowl.

But nature had other plans. It was November, and in the mountains, sunset doesn't wait for your convenience. Darkness began to creep in quicker than expected, and the road from Jauljibi to Munsyari turned into a full-blown suspense thriller. The tarmac vanished in patches, replaced by loose gravel, steep ascents, and sudden turns that came out of nowhere-each turn more thrilling than the last.

Just when we were starting to think this route had thrown everything at us, we hit Madkot-and BAM! A WATERFALL on the road. Yes, we literally drove through a waterfall. Now, had it been daylight, it would've been one of those poetic, Instagram-worthy moments. But in pitch darkness with the sound of gushing water and headlights cutting through the mist? Let's say it was less "Wow, what a view" and more "Please let this not be the start of a ghost story."

Finally, around 7:45 PM, tired, muddy, and thoroughly shaken (by the road, not emotions), we rolled into Munsiyari- a cosy Himalayan town that felt like a warm hug after a wild ride. We checked into a charming little place called Tulsi Homestay, run by a local family who treated us like we were long-lost relatives rather than guests. The place was spotlessly clean, tastefully done, and had that warm, homely vibe that you can't put a price on.

Dinner was the real cherry on top. The owners served us a simple but soul-satisfying meal-desi daal tadka, hot chapatis, and the star of the show: Bhang ki chutney. Now, before your imagination runs wild-no, it's not that kind of bhaang. This one won't make you float or hallucinate. It's a local herb, totally sober, and apparently a winter staple in these parts. Honestly, it tasted divine, like a flavorful mountain punch packed into a chutney bowl.

With our stomachs full and our hearts warmer than the room heater, we crashed into our beds and drifted off into the kind of sleep that only comes after a day of epic roads, waterfalls, border crossings and Maggi in the wild.

Next stop? Let's just say, the mountains weren't done with us yet.

Day 2 vlog

Continue reading about Singh09's road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

Road to Longewala is literally a bliss to drive on. The black tarmac road looks really stunning with golden color sand on both the sides of the roads.

BHPian Singh09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hello BHPians,

I hope you guys won't mind a lengthy post, but putting the entire trip in short was not working and would have not done justice to this travelogue. So, sit back, relax and grab your favorite snack and drinks as we embark on this stunning and picturesque journey together.

BACKGROUND:

As many of you know that I ventured into travel vlogging last year but for those who don't know let me share it again with you guys. I had ventured into Travel Vlogging which was a long-waited dream and along with cars it’s also my passion as well. So, I started my YouTube channel with the handle “Expedition Wheels”.

THE PLAN:

I travel mostly solo or with my Brother in Law on few of my trips. But this trip was going to be a different one as it was going to be a family trip with my better half and junior. I planned this trip in December as his schools were off for winter break. Though we left our home on 28th December and returned back on 9th January and my google maps history looked like this:

THE RIDE:

Honda Amaze CVT - Diesel

THE ITINERARY:

• Day 1 - Leave from Gurgaon, pickup better half and junior from Dwarka Mor (Nani house) and leave for Bikaner.
• Day 2 - Biakner - Kuldhara - Sam
• Day 3 - Sam - Longewala - Tanot - Babliyan (Indo - Pak border check post) - Jaisalmer
• Day 4 - Jaisalmer - Jaipur
• Day 5 - Jaipur - Moradabad

PREPARATION:

• Car - My car had been recently serviced but still I got everything checked including the tire pressure in my spare tire, wiper blades, filters and oils. Everything was up to the mark.
• Medication - Ever since I have started my travel vlogging I keep all the necessary medicines in a box and just check it before leaving for a trip.
• Food & Eatables - I stocked up my car with water bottles, chips, cookies, Frooti, Nuts, dry fruits and what not since junior was travelling with us.
• Equipment - Checked all my equipments, their batteries, cables, tripod stands, memory cards etc.

DAY 1Gurgaon - Delhi - Bikaner
Kms Covered - 428 Kms
Route - Rohtak - Bhiwani - Bahal - Rajgarh - Sardarshahar - Bikaner.
Toll - Rs. 480/-

I woke up early and got ready by 8:00 am, only to find thick layer of fog outside. So I waited for about an hour and left Gurgaon by 9:00 am.

Since it was early morning and I took Southern Peripheral road and then Dwarka Express Way, it hardly took me 25-30 minutes to reach Dwarka Mor. I picked up both of them and straight away left for Bikaner. I had called my wife as soon as I left Gurgaon to be ready with luggage and junior.  We drove towards Nazafgarh and the GPS directed us onto the NH 344 towards

We switched so many highways before finally hitting NH 11that I completely lost count - felt like we were on a never- ending highway - hopping adventure! Even my road trip to Spiti didn't require this many detours. At one point, I started wondering if we were on a highway or just collecting them like Pokemon!

Overall the roads were very good except a couple of small patches but nothing Amaze could not handle with 3 people and full load of luggage.

Until Loharu - Bhiwani road you drive mostly on 4-6 lane highways but after that you drive on state highways with 2 way traffic for almost 100-110 kms but road conditions are good and it won't slow you down as the traffic was on the lighter side. But during this patch you don't have any eating joints so if you are planning to take this highway you better stock up your car with food.

Once we reached NH 52 after driving for almost 30 kms we saw first restaurant where we stopped and had our lunch as we were really hungry for real food besides the one which had with us for munching. But after that you will get a good amount of places to eat.
So after having our lunch we were ready to hit the road and I stepped on the accelerator and headed towards Bikaner.

We reached Bikaner around 6:00 Pm, just when it started to get dark. We checked into our hotel and ordered some tea and snacks. After resting for about hour and half, we headed towards the local market to explore few things and after spending around and hour or so, we came back to our hotel and had our dinner before calling it a day.

DAY 2Bikaner - Kuldhara - Sam Sand Dunes
Kms Covered - 396 Kms
Route - Bikaner - Bap - Phalodi - Pokhran - Jaisalmer - Kuldhara - Sam
Toll - Rs. 320/-

We started around 9:30 am after having a nice breakfast. It was kind of cold with temperature hovering around 9 degrees. Today's plan of action was to reach Jaisalmer by lunch time and visit the haunted village "KULDHARA" before reaching our destination which was Sam.
Stopped at the very first petrol pump and got the tank refilled as we had drove 430 kms on the last tank which I got refilled before Rohtak and still had around 15-20% tank left. Here the diesel price was Rs. 91.72/- which was approximately 3 rupees more than Haryana.

After getting the tank refilled we hit the road and within 15-20 minutes we were out of Bikaner and onto NH 11. And after driving for about 60-65 kms the 4 lane highway became smaller with two way traffic almost till Jaisalmer. But the road is very nice without even a single bump or pothole.

We came across this power station, look at the number of towers.

There are not much options to eat until you reach near Pokhran. You will get a couple of dhaba's before reaching Pokhran. Before this I hardly saw any good eating joints. Google maps showed us 5.20 hours for Jaisalmer but we reached Jaisalmer in 4 hours and trust me I didn't speed. The highway is straight and the traffic is almost zero. But my once piece of advice to everyone who plan to take this trip, BEWARE of cattle's on the road. Because the roads are nice and you will be at good speeds most of the time and they will come out from no where.

We reached Jaisalmer around 2 Pm and took a halt at Hotel Sky Plaza for lunch. Food was okay not good not bad. Distance to Kuldhara from the hotel was around 20 kms and Sam was near about 45 kms. So we were back on the road without wasting anytime because time was crucial as I wanted to explore Kuldhara and reach SAM on time so that we don't miss the sunset safari. You will encounter a lot of wind mills on your way to Kuldhara and they look really nice since it is something you don't see on regular days and man they are like infinite in numbers. Kuldhara is basically on the road to SAM from Jaisalmer and you just have to take a small detour for that. We reached Kuldahra around 3:00 Pm and entry fee per person is Rs. 30 and Rs. 50 per vehicle, no fees for children.

Entry to Kuldhara Village

KULDHARA Village

Kuldhara is an abandoned village which used to be home of Paliwal Brahmins. Once a prosperous village - now remain in RUINS. The narrative attributes Kuldhara desertion to Salim Singh, the formidable and brutal Diwan (Prime Minister) of Jaisalmer. He allegedly demanded to marry the village chief's daughter after catching sight of her. The villagers along with people from 84 nearby villages, fled their ancestral homes out of fear of his wrath rather than comply with his demands. They cursed the Kuldhara to prevent anyone from ever settling there again before departing. And today also no one is allowed to go into the village after 5 O' clock.

So after spending about around 20-30 minutes at Kuldhara we left for SAM. The road to Sam from Jaisalmer is getting widened at some places but you won't have any difficulties or issues reaching SAM. The views start getting better as you come near to SAM and you will start getting sight of small sand dunes before you enter SAM. As soon as you enter SAM you will start seeing resorts, camps and stay options on both sides of the roads. So it all depends how deep are your pockets when it comes to booking a stay.

We reached the property where I had booked the stay for the night. We checked into our camp, got fresh and had a cup of tea and laid down on the bed for about 30 minutes before our ride an old red "THAR" came to pick us up for our Desert Safari.

Our ride for the desert safari.

It took us about 20 minutes to reach the sand dunes. They drive you around on the sand dunes for about 15-20 minutes and then they drop you at a point where you can do other activities like ATV rides, para gliding and Camel rides. The charge for these activities are around 1000 -2000 bucks.


Now if you ask my honest review about the experience. Well it was not that great as I had expected and after you pay Rs. 3700 for a small 30 minutes of drive in the desert. If you are going for the first time you will like being in the desert and enjoying all the rides. But it was too crowded and people were spitting here and there which takes the charm away. Every sand dunes you see is distributed by group of hotels or resorts and if you go to the other one locals keep asking you which hotel and resort you have booked.

Honestly speaking if you have a 4x4 you can enjoy more rather than booking the safaris from your hotels. And secondly you can have fun at other spots which are less crowded. But if you don't have a 4x4 than you are only left with one choice.

A beautiful moment captured

Witnessed a beautiful sunset before we returned back to our camps. The overall vibe that you get at sunset was something worth waiting for. If you miss the sunset than you can always plan for the sunrise as safaris start early morning.

Once we were back from the Safari we got fresh as we were all in sand and your face and feel all dried up. The camp had high tea accompanied by the Cultural show.

Night view of the camp

Snacks served with high tea while you enjoy the Cultural show.


After the show ended we headed towards the dinning hall for dinner and by this time temperature had dropped to 8 degrees and it was cold. After having our dinner we returned to our camp and called it a day.

DAY 3 Sam - Jaisalmer
Kms Covered - 250 Kms
Route - Sam - Khuiyala - Longewala - Tanot - Babliyan Border - Ramgarh - Jaisalmer
Toll - Rs. 160/-

After a sound and shivering sleep we woke up fresh and frozen. Had our some really delicious aloo puree's with some nice coffee for the breakfast after which we got ready, packed our stuff and left for our next destination which was Longewala and it was around 115 kms. Got the tank refilled again in SAM and headed straight to Longewala.
Amaze all loaded and ready to hit the tarmac

Road to Longewala is literally a bliss to drive on. The black tarmac road looks really stunning with golden color sand on both the sides of the roads.

You will be tempted by the road to floor that accelerator but then again HOLD YOUR HORSES and look out for the cattle's in the surroundings. The roads are built so well that even a Fighter jet can land on these roads. They are far better than our expressways A.K.A Eastern Peripheral which has the ability to turn your car into a flying jet.

Reached Longewala in about 1.30 hours and visited the Longewala war memorial and the parking is right by the memorial. There is no entry fee for visiting the Memorial and it will take you around 20 - 30 minutes to cover the memorial.

Guns used in the Indo-Pak war

Main Battle tank T-55

M46 Catapult Gun

HUNTER Aircraft

Continue reading BHPian Singh09's Rajasthan travelogue for BHPian comments , insights and more information.

On our Bangalore – Orissa – Bangalore trip we covered close to 3385 Kilometers and in the next 3 days we covered another 1,225 to make it 4,610 Kilometers in a span of 12 days.

BHPian Carradio_ewan recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

8-Day, 3385- Kilometre Adventure: A road trip from Bangalore to Orissa covering Guntur, Vizag, Bhubaneswar, Gopalpur, and Vijayawada!

I feel Christmas always casts its enchanting spell across the globe, transforming the world into a chilly wonderland of celebrations. At home, we dive into the joy of decking the halls with festive decorations, letting Christmas music fill the air, and indulging in heartwarming holiday movies. This magical season always brings the delightful belief that Santa Claus will grace us with his merry presence, ushering in a time of gifts, plum cakes, and cherished family gatherings.

However, a twist came when we realized that my grandpa wasn't enjoying driving the Honda Amaze. Despite its modern features and convenience, the Amaze lacked the power and solidity of his Fiats and other European cars he had owned over the years. To him, the Honda felt like a compromise, a mere vehicle rather than a true driving experience. Appa regretted the decision made for him, now believing that a VW Polo DSG would have been a better fit for Grandpa's spirited driving style. Yet, the idea of buying from the used car market made him hesitant, adding complexity to an already intricate situation.

Appa and Grandpa share a deep bond over their love for cars. Their conversations often ignite with excitement as they delve into the latest automotive launches, sharing memories of past road trips and dreaming of future adventures. This passion for cars is a legacy that has passed down to me, continuing our family's tradition of being petrol heads.

Their discussions are not just about cars but about the connection and pride they feel when behind the wheel. It's about the shared thrill of acceleration, the admiration for sleek designs, and the appreciation for engineering marvels. These moments strengthen our family ties, making every road trip more than just a journey, but an adventure filled with laughter, stories, and the joy of discovery.

In the end, it wasn't just about choosing the right car; it was about celebrating our shared love for the open road and the freedom it brings. It was about creating memories that would last a lifetime, bound by our mutual appreciation for the art of driving.

Finally, after much deliberation and meticulous planning, the route and hotels for our trip were decided as follows:

Day 1 – Drive from Bangalore (Home) to Guntur

Date of travel: 21st Dec 2024

Hotel booked: Welcome Hotel by ITC

The drive from Bangalore to Guntur was smooth, thanks to the good roads with few challenges. There were frequent tolls and plenty of fuel stations along the way, making our trip easier. One memorable moment was when we stopped to refuel and had a little adventure of our own.

Overall, this leg of our journey was filled with laughter, storytelling, and the excitement of exploring new places. The anticipation of what lay ahead kept us all in high spirits as we continued our road trip adventure.

ITC Hotel lobby

Day 2 – Guntur to Visakhapatnam

Date: 22 Dec 2024

Hotel booked: Keys by Lemon tree

We traversed through the bustling cities of Vijayawada, Eluru, and Rajamahendravaram. On our way we stopped at Garuda food court on NH 16 for a tea break, the place was clean and had good food options. Our lunch stop was at food Pyramid Rajanagaram Bypass Murari. These two places were good for quick breaks on the way.

We reached Visakhapatnam by around 7:30 pm and our first destination was the iconic INS Kurusura Submarine Museum, which we planned to visit in the evening before continuing our explorations the next day.

Securing a hotel in Visakhapatnam proved to be challenging, and despite our efforts until the last moment, we struggled to find suitable accommodations. Although we considered Dolphin Hotel, we ultimately chose Keys by Lemon Tree, banking on the brand's reputation and our positive past experiences. However, this stay turned out to be a horrible ordeal sort-of like buying a salvage auction car.

Keys by Lemon Tree, a budget business hotel, fell short of our expectations. Though it offered half board, the nonsmoking rooms reeked of cigarette smoke, the rooms were cramped, and the washrooms were neither clean nor well-stocked with essentials. The limited buffet spread and horrible seating at the restaurant, crowded with meetings, further marred our experience. The quality of the food was mediocre at best. I would give it 3 stars. Despite the lacklustre accommodations, our spirits remained high as we looked forward to the adventures and discoveries awaiting us in Visakhapatnam.

Day 3- Sightseeing at Visakhapatnam.

Date 23 Dec 2024

Thotlakonda should be visited late in the day ( 5:30 is the closing time), and we had a good silent experience accompanied by the cool breeze - a must-visit for explorers. Overall, we would recommend Vizag to anyone who would like to enjoy a vacation slowly and peacefully.

Day 4 – Vizag to Bhubaneswar

Date: 24 Dec 2024

Hotel booked: Lyfe Bhubaneswar

It was Christmas Eve, and my grandparents wanted to attend the Christmas eve mass, so we went to a nearby church just a few streets away. We experienced a beautiful multilingual Holy Mass and retired to bed by 2:00 AM.

Day 5 –

25th Dec 2024

Sightseeing at Bhubaneswar

The hotel's lobby was a spectacle of holiday cheer, adorned with twinkling lights, vibrant ornaments, and a towering Christmas tree. The gentle hum of Christmas carols played in the background, creating a serene ambiance. Accompanied by a light drizzle outside the restaurant, it felt as though we were in a winter wonderland. This picturesque setting was complemented by the faint scent of pine and cinnamon, wafting through the air. We indulged in a hearty breakfast, with the rain softly tapping on the windows, creating a soothing symphony. The feast included traditional holiday favorites. This enchanting morning served as a perfect prelude to our day of exploration and adventure.

Day 6 –

26th December 2024

Hotel booked: Pramod Land Ends – Radisson

Day 7 –

27th December 2024

Hotel booked: Grand GRT Vijayawada

Day 8

28th December 2024

On our Bangalore – Orissa – Bangalore trip we covered close to 3385 Kilometers and in the next 3 days we covered another 1225 to make it 4610 Kilometers in a span of 12 days. We closed the year and opened the year on ROAD, happy to crunch more miles.

Continue reading BHPian Carradio_ewan's travelogue for more insights and information.

My mother liked the way car drives and the comfort she feels in the rear seat.

BHPian WillyWonka recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hello everyone, here is my experience of buying Honda Amaze and ownership review after 6 months.

Background:

I'm a bike person (was a proud owner of Yamaha RX135 ), was never much into cars. Used public transport extensively even for daily commutes of 20+kms in Pune (unbelievable, right?) for many years. Was someone who would justify using Ola/Uber over owning a car. But COVID and the way OLA/Uber operates now (series of very bad experiences) changed my mind.
Initially I kept my budget limited to 5L since, for me car is a necessity / convenience rather than a luxury. WagonR was my first choice. But as I started learning about cars through Team-BHP (major contribution), YouTube videos etc. realized the shortcomings of entry segment cars (nothing wrong with them; they are good cars for their segment / price points). So, I moved to next segment - Tiago to Altroz to Nexon and couple of more to finally settle down with Amaze.

Selection criteria:

I wanted a family car (3 adults, 2 kids) which is convenient for sr citizen as well. A car which would be used mostly over weekends for visits to nearby places in radius of 50-100 kms. So, the selection was based on following parameters:

• Reliability - want to keep the car for minimum 10 years
• Safety
• Rear Seat comfort, big boot
• Car with smooth and calm engine for sedate driving
• Low maintenance

Choices:

• Tata Cars - Tiago, Altroz, Nexon were good on Safety but have reliability, engine and boot space issues. In fact, at one point, I decided to go for Nexon but then it's next edition came and I found it too overpriced.
• Never liked Punch as it feels cramped from inside.
• Maruti - considered Brezza and Ertiga but the variant I liked were beyond my budget.
• Kia and Hyundai - Didn't gave much consideration due to safety concerns
• Mahindra - XUV300 - issues with rear seat comfort, comparatively smaller boot
• Honda - though I was not a car person but always liked Honda city which unfortunately was out of my budget. So settled for Honda Amaze VX CVT.

Chose CVT as wifey would also drive and for her automatic is a more comfortable choice over manual. Amaze, ticked almost all boxes - a smooth, comparatively silent and reliable engine, haven't heard many horror stories with regards to servicing, has overall good rear seat comfort, spacious boot and a 4* safety. It doesn't have lot's of features which many new cars offer but I don't really feel need of those fancy features. Not a fan of sunroof. The only grouse I've about Honda amaze is the average audio a system and lack of navigation feature (they removed it). I can live with wired Android auto.

Budget Rs 11.15L (on road) in Maharashtra

Visits and experience with Honda:

In Feb-2024 - Visited the Arya Honda showroom in Nagpur. It's the only option we've in the city. I was immediately attended by Mr. Neeraj. The experience was really good from day1. He explained everything in detail, answered all the queries properly. I saw few demo cars. Overall, it was a good experience. I came back with a quotation.

In the same month visited Maruti and TATA showrooms as well.

First week of Mar-2024 - Deliberated over available options and made up my mind to buy Honda Amaze. The Honda guys didn't offer me any discounts (other than what was given by Honda - corporate ~20k and cash ~3k) though; not even a car perfume

Took wifey along with me the next weekend to choose the car color. The dealership asked for couple of thousands more for silver color. I'm not sure if Honda charges extra for a particular color. But we wanted Grey so didn't fuss much over it. I had an option of buy insurance from outside. Took online quotations with me. Dealership agreed to match it (1-2k extra); I went with them. We asked for delivery to be done on the day of GudiPadwa (Marathi new year) which was a month away from that day; they agreed.

Got a call from dealership in 2 weeks informing about arrival of car. Visited the showroom and completed PDI. Found everything ok.

Delivery: Since it was day of GudiPadwa - the showroom was short on staff and had many deliveries. We were given time of 11am. Reached there on time but had to wait for an hour to get the delivery. We were given a box of sweets and a plant as gift

Experience:

Initial few weeks went without much of driving. Our first long trip was 600km return journey with a driver. Experience was nice except for few occasions where car almost bottomed out in potholes. we were three adults on rear seat and suspensions felt a little uncomfortable. The average we got was 13.5kmpl. By the time I was back from trip it was time for first servicing. I raised both the points (average and suspension) to service station guy. He assured that problems will be gone after 2nd servicing.

After first servicing, me and wifey started taking the car out in the mornings and over the weekends. It felt very smooth and comfortable within city. The steering feels heavy in slow speeds but gets light as the speed increases.

Made few short trips of around 100km journey to villages and jungle with not so good roads. And there is a noticeable difference in rear seat comfort now than what it used to be before 1st service. My mother liked the way car drives and the comfort she feels in the rear seat. Only issue with rear seat is - it's not for 3 adults. It'll be a little cramped with three adults on long journeys.

We recently finished our (Nagpur-Shegaon) 750 km long journey out of which majority was on the expressway. Around 100 km journey happened on narrow internal roads. The expressway part was awesome. Maintained speed between 80-90kmph. Touched 100 rarely. It was a very planted drive till 90. Beyond that I couldn't feel confident.

In Vx model Honda give LED lights. Throw of light is adequate. I tested them at night in ghats of a wildlife sanctuary and didn't face any issues at all.

Servicing:

I've done initial 2 free services so far. Got free pick-up and drop both the times.

I was at the servicing station for 2nd servicing. The attendants were prompt - explained things properly. Took 2-3 hours to finish the job.

Mileage: Initially I used to get 13 - 14 kmpl for city/highway/mixed drive. After second servicing it increased to 17-18 kmpl. In my recent trip I could get upto 21 kmpl. (all numbers are taken from MID)

Things need improvement:

• Audio system
• Boot and car doors feel light.
• Paint quality can be improved

Following features are bare minimum at this price range which should be added:

• Rear adjustable headrests
• Rear AC vents
• Auto dimming rearview mirrors
• Cruise control (it's not there in automatic but available in manual)
• Honda should add Navigation (maps) and please remove the 'Web Links' feature (it's one of the worst connectivity options / features I've come across in the industry)
• Under body protection for engine

To summarize, it has been a good experience so far:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

While the new Amaze is the only car in the segment to offer a proper & smooth automatic transmission (CVT), the new Dzire comes with a 5-star safety rating.

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

2024 Honda Amaze

What you'll like:

• Smart styling with clean lines. Looks contemporary and well-proportioned
• Practical interior with good cabin space
• 1.2-litre petrol engine is rev-happy and delivers adequate performance
• Suspension offers comfortable ride quality with neutral on-road behaviour
• Only car in the segment to offer a proper & smooth automatic transmission (CVT). All competitors have jerky AMTs
• 416-litre boot is one of the biggest in the segment
• Safety features include ADAS Level 2 tech, 6 airbags, hill start assist, lane watch assist, ISOFIX and ESP
• Features list includes remote engine start, connected car tech, wireless smartphone connectivity, auto headlamps, rear AC vents and more
• 3-year unlimited km warranty, extendable to 5 years / unlimited km and Honda's unique 10-year Any Time warranty

What you won't:

• Misses out on an approachable base variant. Starting price is higher than competitors (although the top-end MT variant is priced on par with the Dzire)
• CVT variants command an ex-showroom premium of Rs. 90,000–1,20,000. We feel 1.2L is a bit on the higher side
• Headroom for tall rear passengers is tight
• Short gearing of the 5-speed MT and lack of 6th gear means the engine is unusually busy at 100-120 km/h. CVT is good in the city, but suited to calm driving on the highway
• We miss the unique Diesel + CVT combination of the 2nd-gen Amaze
• Missing features that are expected today like 360-degree camera, auto-dimming IRVM, a sunroof (Dzire gets it), and adjustable headrests for rear passengers
• Only car in the segment to not offer a factory-fitted CNG option
• Quality of plastics in the cabin is very ordinary

Review Link

2024 Maruti Dzire

What you'll like:

• 5-star safety rating at the GNCAP! Safety features such as 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all, TPMS, 360-degree camera, ESP, hill-hold assist, ISOFIX child seat mounts etc.
• Sharp & contemporary styling - the best looking compact sedan on sale today
• Smart-looking interior with a nice dashboard & fine ergonomics
• We feel the Dzire is well-priced for the package on offer
• Manual transmission with short throws is very slick, and a joy to use. Absolutely brilliant MT!
• Great drivability and light controls, along with a small footprint make it a joy in the city
• Choice of sporty MT and convenient AMT - take your pick. CNG variants available for those with high running
• 3-cylinder engine is fuel-efficient; ARAI rating of 25.71 km/l for the AMT, 24.79 km/l for the MT and 33.73 km/kg for the CNG
• Suspension offers a compliant ride & neutral on-road behaviour
• Long list of features including automatic LED headlamps, LED DRLs, LED foglamps, cruise control, 9-inch touchscreen HU paired with an Arkamys sound system, rear A/C vents, wireless smartphone charging, footwell lighting, connected car features etc.
• Maruti's widespread service network, excellent after-sales support & fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won't:

• 1.2L petrol is not fast & exciting enough for enthusiasts. Not as refined as the outgoing 4-cylinder, nor as powerful (power has actually dropped to just 81 BHP)
• Lacks the solid build of some rivals. Panel gaps could be tighter too
• Mediocre plastic quality (interiors) is typical Maruti-grade; very ordinary
• AMT can get jerky & slow. Some competitors offered smoother ATs (e.g. Amaze CVT, Aura AMT)
• 382 litre boot is 5-10% smaller than all competitors. While cargo capacity is still fair, the boot lip is high, and the mouth is narrower than the others
• Light coloured interiors are prone to getting soiled easily
• Rear seat’s under-thigh support is mediocre for taller passengers
• Some misses (auto-dimming IRVM, front armrest, driving modes, smaller spare tyre on the Z trims...)
• L & V variants get horribly skinny 165 mm tyres. For safety reasons, please upgrade to at least 185 mm tyres if you buy these trims
• 163 mm ground clearance (unladen) raises our eyebrows, although Maruti cars aren't known to scrape speed breakers

Review Link

Hyundai Aura

Review Link

Tata Tigor

Review Link

iCNG AMT Review Link

Here's what BHPian It's Magic replied:

Voted for the 2024 Maruti Suzuki Dzire

I think the decision would be between the Honda Amaze and the Maruti Suzuki Dzire.

I chose the Maruti Dzire because it is better looking product with a 5 star safety rating. I also think the Maruti Dzire is well priced for what it offers. The only drawback would be the 3 cylinder engine and the AMT transmission, which is still a bit laggy (although improved from the previous generation).

The Honda Amaze is a nice car and offers a few advantages over the Maruti Dzire, like a rev-happy engine and a smooth CVT transmission. However, it can't match Maruti's service network. Additionally, I am not sure about Honda's long term plans and what will happen if it's sales continue to decline.

Here's what BHPian CrAzY dRiVeR replied:

Voted for the Amaze CVT, with a hope that it would fare safely in a crash test.

If opting for a manual transmission - my choice is undoubtedly the new DZire for its proven 5-star safety.

Here's what BHPian FAIAAA replied:

All 3 are good products but my vote goes for Honda Amaze.

Dzire makes a strong case with 5 star rated safety, feature set, peace of mind that comes with MS and especially in MT guise.

However for the smooth 4 cylinder engine, CVT gearbox (an improved AMT is still an AMT!), mini City looks, I will go with the Amaze if I had to buy an entry level sedan / beater car for the city.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It seems build quality is a major improvement compared to the previous one as per my sales executive.

BHPian saikishor recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I checked out the new Amaze at the dealership that I bought my Amaze last year. It was an impromptu visit. And I must say I am mighty impressed. I checked out the Dzire very briefly last week and even that left me impressed. But this new Amaze impressed me even more.

The styling, well, Honda nailed it. Irrespective of those copied Elevate or unnecessary Honda family design comments, this car is a looker. It looks classy in person. The obsidian blue pearl is a color that pops under light and at night. If you are getting an Amaze, I think this is the color to get. Second choice IMO would be the white, which someone posted above.

I sat in the backseat. I did not notice major differences, apart from the larger headrests which is a welcome addition. Rear AC vents are a big positive. The boot space looked similar to my eyes, and yes the boot light is present in this car. The rear styling is snazzy.

Moving to the front, the seats I couldnt notice a major difference. But the feel of the cabin has entirely changed. It is way way more premium than what it was. The speedometer is slick and crystal clear, lifted from other Hondas obviously. A very nice addition. The touchscreen is very fluid and fast, compared to the ancient old system previously seen. Now I understand why people used to crib about it so much. It has wireless android auto/ apple car play. The sound quality felt like a major improvement compared to the outgoing car. And , the rear camera is a massive improvement. If the old car had a VGA camera, the new one has a 108MP camera. The difference is that vast. One more major addition IMO is now the gear selector portion is illuminated. This was a major major miss in the previous version. There are some small soft touch elements on the doorpads. Some buttons are also illuminated on the door. Lane watch camera clarity was also decent. Overall, I found the cabin to be very very premium. This was something that was totally unexpected for me. I really really wish they add a sunroof soon. This is the only miss in an otherwise excellent feel good cabin. AC performance was strong, as usual with all Hondas.

I spoke for a good long time with the sales exec who sold the Amaze to us previously. We spoke for a good long time. He did admit that City's sales have fallen drastically. As for the new Amaze, 5 cars are scheduled to be delivered and the rest in January. Allocations are apparently less now because of the usual December time shenanigans. Flow should be stable from January. I was curious as to how many old Amaze vehicles they had, and he said around 50-60. I asked him the price of the same. We bought our VX CVT for 11.9 lacs in 2023 Oct. The same car is now being offered for the same price but with a flat 1 lac discount, with scope for more negotiation. He told it would take time to clear off the stock of those cars.

He asked me to come some other time to try out the new Amaze. I was very impressed with the way he spoke to me, considering I bought a car from them almost a year ago. Just in case someone is planning on a Honda, would suggest you to meet him. Vinod @ Madinaguda Pride Honda.

Also, it seems build quality is a major improvement compared to the previous one as per my sales executive. The doors are heavier apparently, and yes they did feel slightly so. Noise insulation is also apparently better than previous gen. The tyre size has gone up from 175 to 185 section, that is something to note. This car also gets traction control, as I saw a switch to turn it off.

Overall, I am mighty impressed with the new Amaze. I feel Honda has made changes where it matters the most. I sincerely hope they add a sunroof to this car, that is my only wish.

Regards,
Saikishor

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

This car rides like a car from the higher segment. Reminds me a bit of European sedan riding quality.

BHPian carhead recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Took a test drive of the new Amaze- both manual & CVT variants today.

Looks:

Subjective so totally skipping this aspect.

Cabin Experience:

Looks very similar to the 2nd gen Amaze. Bright and airy. Honda is a master at creating space!  As usual Honda has got the ergonomics spot on. Other OEMs should take a page out of Hondas book on this. Gear stick, steering stalks, steering well- it all simply falls into place.

Dashboard is neat and minimalistic. The TFT screen is a welcome change. The Elevate effect is visible- which is perfectly fine. After all that’s a 2 segments higher car.

The left lane watch feature is brilliant- a boon for congested city driving. This feature will, in the future save many Indians from potential arguments /hazards/incidents – am referring to bikers coming from the left! Praise due to Honda.

Engine:

Tuning is even better now. The 4 pot engine purrs on ignition. Low end torque is adequate and revs are well below 1500 rpm. This is even smoother now- I mean it-test it to believe it. Interestingly the new car has a throaty exhaust noise ala pseudo-header. Optimal sound- neither distracting nor noisy.

Transmission:

Manual- Gears slot effortlessly into the gates and give a fuss-free experience.

CVT- crawls at 7kmph. Caress the accelerator and car picks up speed. As mentioned earlier the tuning has been optimized. Rubber-band effect exists but has definitely been reduced. This is a true automatic and continues to outperform AMTs of Aura, Dzire & Tigor.

NVH:

Insulation has been improved. Noise ingress (read chaotic traffic noise) has reduced albeit marginally.

Steering:

Is adjustable for height, it is the same piece from the outgoing model. Responsive and weighs up with speed. Gives a secure sense of being in control.

Ride & Handing:

Weight of the car is evident- in a positive sense. This added with the fact that as a sedan with lower centre of gravity it sticks to the ground. This car rides like a car from the higher segment. Reminds me a bit of European sedan riding quality. Rear springs have been stiffened- the back does not bottom out or waft around.

Other Aspects:

Shift level illumination, Hill Hold Assist & Wireless Android Auto are welcome features.

Touch screen & sound system was good. To be honest though I was more focused on the mechanicals. Fellow BHPians can add further value.

As usual the local Honda dealership handled my TDs with aplomb. I also observed good walk-ins and a general positivity in the showroom staffs body language. Hope it lasts!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

At low speeds, the bump absorption is pretty good and the ride remains comfortable.

Driving the Honda Amaze 1.2L Petrol MT

When we look at the compact sedan segment, we now have an all-petrol lineup. The 1.2-litre iVTEC SOHC petrol engine has been carried forward from the previous generation and it makes 88 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 110 Nm @ 4,800 rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Some tweaks have been done to the gearing for better acceleration, but overall the engine-gearbox combo is very similar to the outgoing car. Honda claims that the new Amaze is 1.4 seconds faster in acceleration from 40-100 km/h. With a kerb weight of 952 kg, the power-to-weight ratio & torque-to-weight ratios are 92 BHP/ton & 115 Nm/ton respectively. This means that the car is fairly quick and good to putter around town in, but not something that you will enjoy driving fast.

One of the first things that we noticed is that the clutch travel is long. It’s light for sure, but the travel is noticeably long. With the clutch depressed, start the engine by pressing the engine start /stop button. You can get off the line with ease and very smoothly without any throttle input. Initial power delivery is smooth and there are no unnecessary jerks here. The clutch engagement and disengagement are seamless and you can drive the car at slow speeds smoothly. The engine has excellent driveability and in the city, you can drive around in second gear and occasionally third gear. It is effortless and can pull from low rpms with ease. The gears have been well spaced out so you don’t have to keep shifting often.

Get on the highway and you can flex your right foot to get a feel of the entire rev range. Power comes in at about ~2,500 rpm and stays till ~5,500 rpm. The engine revs till 6,750 rpm which is good to see in a naturally aspirated engine. The engine is free-revving and there are no flat spots as such in the rev range. It has a nice pull which makes the engine very predictable and you can plan your overtakes accordingly. The cruising rpms are on the higher side and you will see the engine spinning at 2,950 rpm while doing 100 km/h in 5th gear and at ~3,500 rpm while doing 120 km/h. You will have to drop down a gear if you want to make a quick overtaking manoeuvre.

The 5-speed manual transmission is great to use. It is slick and sure slotting. The throws are not short, but of perfect length and the gates are well-defined as well. The clutch is light, but as mentioned earlier, the travel is long. Moreover, the resting angle of the clutch is also high which can get uncomfortable while driving around in the city for a long time:

Driving the Honda Amaze 1.2L Petrol CVT

The Amaze remains the only car in the compact sedan segment to offer a proper automatic transmission. Honda has carried forward the petrol 7-step CVT powertrain from the previous generation and in a sea of AMTs, it still remains the go-to choice if you want a smooth automatic for driving around in the city. It even gets paddle shifters to move through the CVT steps. Honda hasn’t made any major changes to the engine, but they’ve made some tweaks to the transmission logic. The changes are claimed to improve the responsiveness of the CVT. In the real world, the changes are pretty minor to notice and the behavior of the CVT is almost the same as the previous generation Amaze. You will notice that our observations are also similar except for a few tweaks.

To begin with, the seamless power delivery to the wheels (which is typical of CVTs) and the refined i-VTEC engine are very relaxing within city limits. The Amaze CVT doesn't feel laggy here and there is sufficient grunt to get you moving. The response to throttle inputs is decent and the CVT is smooth in traffic. At times the throttle response can feel a bit too sharp when coming on and off the throttle. With a light foot, the experience is refined, while noise levels are kept low. The Amaze does make for a great urban commuter.

As the road opens up, until mid-range accelerator inputs, NVH and the trademark 'rubber band effect' are controlled. Performance is reasonably peppy too. On the downside, start getting heavy with your accelerator inputs and the driving experience becomes awfully annoying. Kickdown response sometimes takes a good 2-3 seconds in D mode and it's best to prepare the car before making your overtaking moves. On ghat sections, D mode feels particularly lethargic and needs a heavy foot to get going (I preferred S mode here). As we've seen with so many CVTs, there is a huge mismatch in engine revs and the actual road speed - you'll see the rpm needle climbing with no corresponding increase on the speedometer. Transmission whine is also audible when it's made to work hard.

The high-revving i-VTEC gets irritating with its noise in the CVT. CVTs usually perform better with larger engines / more torque and we have seen that in the City 1.5. However, there's no escaping this rubber-band effect & resultant lag with the puny 1.2L petrol. The actual performance is acceptable and the Amaze CVT accelerates alright - the engine's strong top end is the saving grace, but we still didn't enjoy pushing this car due to the CVT's behaviour under heavy throttle input. The CVT is at home with a gentle & easy driving style only. You need to be calm behind the wheel of this car. For travelling long distances, the CVT's ability to cruise in a relaxed manner is good. The cruising rpms of the CVT are much lower than the MT model. 100 km/h comes up at just 1,600 rpm, while 120 km/h is seen at just above 2,000 rpm. The same speeds come up at 3,000 rpm and ~3,500 rpm in ‘S’ mode. Note that these rpms are higher than our readings of the previous generation of the Amaze.

S mode basically keeps the engine revs higher. S mode can be very useful in preparing the car for overtaking (before actually making the overtaking move). It also gives you some more engine braking. But don't be fooled - this S mode isn't sporty! For more control, it's best to use the paddle shifters. To engage manual mode, use the paddles when in S mode and the MID will show "M" with the current gear (actually, step) selected. In M mode, the gearbox will take the revs to ~6,000 rpm before upshifting. Use M mode for overtaking & engine braking. We found the paddle-shifter's response times to be decent. Do note that the paddle shifters can be used in D mode too, although the gearbox goes back to full auto mode after a few seconds of not using the paddles.

New console for the transmission mode selector, but the same operation:

Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)

In terms of NVH, Honda has worked on certain areas to improve the cabin experience. There seems to be a new design for the torque rod (the link that connects the engine to the chassis) for better vibration control. Honda has also made changes to the dashboard insulator and used spray foam application for better noise insulation.

The MT and the CVT have different cabin experiences when it comes to NVH. What’s common is that the engine doesn’t sound very sporty at high revs. In fact, at high rpms, the it starts sounding strained which is not pleasant. With the manual transmission, the rpm levels at cruising speeds are on the higher side which means that you hear the engine inside the cabin. This, over a prolonged period of time, can get annoying.

In the CVT however, the rpm levels are low at cruising speeds which means that the cabin isn’t noisy. However, while overtaking the rpms are high which again increases the noise in the cabin. At low speeds, while driving in the city with a light foot, the cabin is pretty silent. Some wind & road noise is audible at 90 km/h and gets louder after 100 km/h.

Mileage & Fuel economy

The claimed fuel efficiency for the MT is 18.65 km/l and that for the CVT, is 19.46 km/l. When you compare these numbers with the previous generation car, the MT number is pretty much the same, but the CVT number has gone up by almost 1.1 km/l. We’ll have to look for some Team-BHP ownership reports for a real-world picture.

The Honda Amaze is now E20 compatible. Fuel tank capacity = 35 litres:

The 1.2-litre iVTEC SOHC petrol engine makes 88 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 110 Nm @ 4,800 rpm:

No insulation under the bonnet. Given the loud nature of the engine at high rpms, some insulation would’ve been appreciated:

Suspension

Ride Comfort

Like before, the Amaze gets a McPherson strut suspension setup at the front and a torsion bar rear. The suspension is compliant and the priority here is comfort. At low speeds, the bump absorption is pretty good and the ride remains comfortable. The suspension also works silently over small bumps and potholes. The big ones do register themselves with a loud thud. Out on the highway, the ride quality remains compliant. There isn’t excessive vertical movement and over road undulations, the car manages to settle down nicely. Within limits, the car manages to maintain composure.

Handling & Dynamics

Like the previous generation, the Amaze is more of a neutral handler than a corner carver. There is a slight improvement though and the car feels more planted than before. High-speed stability is good and the car doesn’t feel twitchy or nervous. We found some undulations on the highways of Goa and while we had to struggle a bit with the steering, the car never felt nervous at high speeds. You get wider 185 mm tyres now which should help with the grip. Around the corners the grip level is satisfactory, but the tyres squeal when you corner hard. Our test car had MRF ZVTV ECOTRED tyres which aren’t really meant for enthusiastic driving. There is body roll, but it's not excessive and is well controlled. To sum it up, the car is a good handler and on par for the segment.

Steering

If you’re used to Maruti or Hyundai steering, you will find the EPS on the Honda Amaze to be on the heavier side. There is heft even at low speeds which isn’t something you see normally. It’s not excessively heavy though, but some people don’t like a heavy steering. In terms of feedback, it is fairly direct and gives a good feel in the corners.

Braking

The brakes work as expected; nothing to complain about, nothing to write home about. There is no drama under hard braking and the car stops in a straight line. The brakes have sufficient stopping power, but they are not what we would call 'excellent'. You'll want more bite, especially if you are driving the automatic fast. ABS + EBD is standard on all variants of the Amaze.

Continue reading the discussion on the 2024 Honda Amaze on our forum.

A big USP of the Amaze is that it comes with a CVT automatic while the other cars in the segment come with an AMT.

Honda Amaze Pros

• Smart styling with clean lines. Looks contemporary and well-proportioned
• Practical interior with good cabin space
• 1.2-litre petrol engine is rev-happy and delivers adequate performance
• Suspension offers comfortable ride quality with neutral on-road behaviour
• Only car in the segment to offer a proper & smooth automatic transmission (CVT). All competitors have jerky AMTs
• 416-litre boot is one of the biggest in the segment
• Safety features include ADAS Level 2 tech, 6 airbags, hill start assist, lane watch assist, ISOFIX and ESP
• Features list includes remote engine start, connected car tech, wireless smartphone connectivity, auto headlamps, rear AC vents and more
• 3-year unlimited km warranty, extendable to 5 years / unlimited km and Honda's unique 10-year Any Time warranty

Honda Amaze Cons

• Misses out on an approachable base variant. Starting price is higher than competitors (although the top-end MT variant is priced on par with the Dzire)
• CVT variants command an ex-showroom premium of Rs. 90,000–1,20,000. We feel 1.2L is a bit on the higher side
• Headroom for tall rear passengers is tight
• Short gearing of the 5-speed MT and lack of 6th gear means the engine is unusually busy at 100-120 km/h. CVT is good in the city, but suited to calm driving on the highway
• We miss the unique Diesel + CVT combination of the 2nd-gen Amaze
• Missing features that are expected today like 360-degree camera, auto-dimming IRVM, a sunroof (Dzire gets it), and adjustable headrests for rear passengers
• Only car in the segment to not offer a factory-fitted CNG option
• Quality of plastics in the cabin is very ordinary

Read Team-BHP's detailed 2024 Honda Amaze Review here.

Cruise up to 80 & it will reward you with 18+ km/l (as per cluster), the least you can expect is 16 km/l.

BHPian JDMBOI recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

1 Year Update - Mileage, Service cost and more

Odometer- 5,022 KM

Mileage

City with AC on moderate traffic 10-12 Max. Light to no traffic maximum 15. Haven't seen single digit mileage yet. (Now a days I think most petrol cars mileage stays around 12 in the city).
Highway - Cruise upto /at 80 & she will reward you with 18+KMPL (as per cluster) least you can expect is 16KMPL.

Long term mileage - 80-85% done on highway and rest in the city and (upto) 4 hours of idle with AC ON.

Service cost and experience

09:34 entry

09:46 Job card done

10:10 service done. (No washing as I denied)

Engine oil being removed.

Extra items added in Job card - Added three extra things (explained those to me while card was being made) but they were removed, after I declined. No question asked.

1-AC - Rs 910
2-Wheel balancing and rotation - Rs 780 + (something) not sure what was written maybe is was labour
3-Lubrication - 7xx

So approximately I saved 2500 by not striking above items out.

Engine Oil - Opted for fully synthetic Cost - Rs 2608.84

Amaze user manual says it takes 3.2 liters of oil, if oil filter is also changed otherwise its 3 liters but the advisor said its takes 3.7 liters when I said manual says 3.2 he said he knows what's stated in manual but car takes 3.7 Liters. Again, I politely said please fill 3.2. Liters. He obliged.

Washer plug drain - Rs 35.99
Oil filter - Rs 193
Pollen filter 2.5 - Rs 879.10
Air filter - Rs 403

Total - Rs 4121 including taxes

Service cost calculator

Honda website shows Rs 3772 on the website. Mine before tax was 3492.

Coolant reducing slowly

I always check car thoroughly once/twice a week and noticed coolant level dropping slowly. Over the past 6 months it dropped 2-3 cm (it was already less when I got the delivery so now It was near the minimum mark) which is not troublesome as the level increase and decreases in the reservoir so I asked them to topup the coolant and Dear lord they topped it up almost to the brim.

Thanks to BHPian GForceEnjoyer post I read many months aso about removing excess coolant and did the same and saved the coolant for future use, should I need it.

No money was charged for coolant topup and the plastic seat cover (protection)

Rating - 8 out of 10. Experience with Malwa Honda Sonipat has been good so far except during one month checkup and seeing what they did with coolant I am not sure about the level of expertise they have.

Improvement after service - After service car's throttle response has improved and engine felt more lively in first and second gear acceleration.

One year ownership cost

Problems? No nonsense car like one of our member said for his Honda City. It starts every time in one crank even if parked straight for a week, no drama no nothing. No window up down glitch, no infotainment glitch and no instrument cluster problem like you see in cars today.

Overall happy with the car.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.