The Maruti Dzire and the Honda Amaze remain two of the most dependable and best-selling compact sedans in the sub-₹10 lakh category. Buyers gravitate toward them for their reliability, fuel efficiency and low running costs, but with both models now proudly wearing five-star Bharat NCAP ratings for Adult Occupant Protection, safety has become a deciding factor as well. With the scores sitting so close to each other on paper, the real question is which one genuinely offers better protection in a crash. To reach that answer, it becomes important to analyse the finer details of their individual test scores instead of looking only at the star ratings.
The Dzire delivered an outstanding overall performance in its BNCAP evaluation, scoring 29.46 out of 32 points in Adult Occupant Protection. It demonstrated strong structural stability and very high occupant safety in both major tests, achieving 14.17 out of 16 in the frontal offset crash and 15.29 out of 16 in the side impact test. It went on to secure “good” protection across all critical regions in the challenging side pole test as well, proving that the protection does not fall off in more extreme side impacts. Where the Dzire pulls ahead even further is in Child Occupant Protection. It received a full five-star COP rating with a total of 41.57 out of 49, boosted by excellent dynamic crash results and a perfect installation score thanks to ISOFIX mounts and the use of Britax Romer CRS units for testing. Both the 18-month-old and three-year-old dummy readings were among the best in the segment.
The Honda Amaze, meanwhile, closely tracks the Dzire’s performance. It earned 28.33 out of 32 in AOP, which also qualifies for a full five-star rating. Interestingly, the Amaze even scored marginally higher in the frontal impact test at 14.33 out of 16, although it fell short of the Dzire in the side impact test with 14 out of 16. Like its rival, the Amaze also showed “good” protection for all regions in the side pole test, confirming that its basic structure and restraint systems perform reliably across multiple high-severity crash scenarios. The Amaze’s performance in Child Occupant Protection was impressive as well, but its final score of 40.81 out of 49 placed it in the four-star band. Honda’s CRS units performed strongly in dynamic tests and achieved a perfect installation score, but the model lost points in the overall vehicle assessment category, which ultimately cost it the fifth star.
When both data sets are compared directly, the Dzire comes out on top by a clear and measurable margin. While both cars are structurally sound and offer excellent adult protection, the Dzire’s stronger child safety performance makes it the safer overall option—especially for families with young passengers in the rear seats. In real-world ownership, that difference can be meaningful, because child safety is one of the most important factors for many buyers in this segment.
For anyone prioritising maximum safety without stretching beyond compact sedan budgets, the Maruti Dzire currently stands as the more secure choice. Even so, both models set a high benchmark for the category and significantly raise the safety standards expected in affordable family cars.
check out:Maruti Dzire vs Honda Amaze: Which Compact Sedan Is Safer?
