The compact sedan segment has a new challenger. Tata launched the Aeris on September 25, 2026 — the successor to the Tigor — at a starting price of Rs 5.29 lakh, making it the most affordable new car in the compact sedan segment. This changes the competitive picture for the Maruti Dzire and Honda Amaze, both of which now face a well-equipped, safety-rated new rival from Tata.
This is the first comprehensive comparison of all three 2026-spec compact sedans. Here is everything you need to make the right decision.
Price Comparison — Complete Variant-Wise
| Segment | Maruti Dzire | Honda Amaze | Tata Aeris |
| Starting price | Rs 6.79L (LXI) | Rs 8.00L (base) | Rs 5.29L (XE base) |
| Mid variant | Rs 8.50L (VXI) | Rs 9.50L (S AMT) | Rs 7.49L (XM+) |
| Top variant | Rs 10.14L (ZXI+ AMT) | Rs 11.23L (ZX CVT) | Rs 9.19L (XZ+ AMT) |
| CNG option | Yes — Rs 8.83-9.47L | No | Expected — Q1 2027 |
| Automatic option | Yes — AMT | Yes — CVT (smoothest) | Yes — AMT |
The Tata Aeris at Rs 5.29 lakh is Rs 1.50 lakh cheaper than the Dzire and Rs 2.71 lakh cheaper than the Amaze at base. This is a significant cost advantage. However, price is only one part of the picture — let us see where each car wins.
Engine and Mileage — The Numbers That Matter for Running Cost
| Specification | Maruti Dzire | Honda Amaze | Tata Aeris |
| Engine | 1.2L Z12E 3-cyl | 1.2L i-VTEC 4-cyl | 1.2L Revotron 3-cyl |
| Power | 82 PS | 90 PS | 86 PS |
| Torque | 112 Nm | 110 Nm | 113 Nm |
| ARAI (MT) | 24.12 kmpl | 18.6 kmpl | 19.80 kmpl |
| ARAI (AT) | 24.32 kmpl (AMT) | 18.6 kmpl (CVT) | 19.10 kmpl (AMT) |
| CNG Mileage | 34.16 km/kg | Not available | TBA |
| Real-world city | 19-21 kmpl | 15-17 kmpl | 16-18 kmpl |
| Running cost (city) | Rs 4.62-5.10/km | Rs 5.70-6.47/km | Rs 5.39-6.06/km |
The Maruti Dzire’s 24.12 kmpl ARAI is class-leading — significantly better than the Amaze (18.6 kmpl) and Aeris (19.80 kmpl). For a buyer doing 1,500 km/month, the Dzire saves approximately Rs 1,000-1,800 per month in petrol compared to the Amaze. Over 5 years, that is Rs 60,000-1,08,000 in fuel savings — enough to offset the Dzire’s higher purchase price over the Aeris in some scenarios.
Boot Space — The Compact Sedan’s Most Important Practical Spec
| Car | Boot Space | Rear Legroom | Overall Practicality |
| Maruti Dzire | 378 litres | Average for class | Good — well-proportioned |
| Honda Amaze | 420 litres — best in class | Best in class — Honda’s strength | Excellent — practical family car |
| Tata Aeris | 419 litres | Good | Very good — improved over Tigor |
The Honda Amaze’s 420-litre boot and best-in-class rear legroom are its defining practical advantages. Honda has always prioritised passenger space in the Amaze — the rear seat is the most comfortable in this segment, and the boot can swallow airport luggage for four adults. The Tata Aeris at 419 litres is essentially tied with the Amaze on boot space. The Dzire at 378 litres is adequate but noticeably smaller.
Safety — Where the Comparison Gets Decisive
| Safety Feature | Maruti Dzire | Honda Amaze | Tata Aeris |
| BNCAP Rating | 5-star (2025) | 5-star (2024) | 5-star (Sep 2026) |
| Airbags base variant | 6 airbags | 2 airbags (base!) | 6 airbags ALL variants |
| 6 Airbags standard from | All variants | S variant only | All variants — including base XE |
| ESC standard | All variants | Select variants | All variants |
| Hill Hold | Select variants | No | All variants |
| Rear parking sensors | Mid variants | Base variant | All variants |
The Honda Amaze’s base variant has only 2 airbags — driver and co-driver only. To get 6 airbags in the Amaze, you need to go to the S variant at Rs 9.50L. Both the Dzire and Aeris have 6 airbags as standard across ALL variants — including their lowest-priced base models. For safety-conscious buyers, the Aeris at Rs 5.29L with 6 airbags standard across all variants is a remarkable offering.
Features Comparison — Who Gets What
| Feature | Maruti Dzire ZXI+ | Honda Amaze ZX CVT | Tata Aeris XZ+ AMT |
| Price | Rs 10.14L | Rs 11.23L | Rs 9.19L |
| Infotainment | 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ | 8-inch Digipad 2.0 | 10.25-inch Harman |
| Sunroof | No | No | Yes — Aeris exclusive! |
| Wireless CarPlay | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connected car | Suzuki Connect | Honda Connect | Tata iRA — best suite |
| Ventilated seats | No | No | Yes (XZ+) |
| Level 2 ADAS | No | No | No |
| Rear AC vents | No | No | Yes (top variants) |
The Tata Aeris XZ+ AMT at Rs 9.19L wins the features battle convincingly: sunroof (absent in both Dzire and Amaze), ventilated seats, 10.25-inch larger screen, rear AC vents, and Tata’s iRA connected car suite — all at Rs 95,000 less than the equivalent Honda Amaze top variant. The Aeris’s feature content is strikingly modern for a compact sedan.
Automatic Gearbox — Which Is Smoothest?
Honda Amaze CVT (Rs 10.58L S CVT): The smoothest automatic in the compact sedan segment — Honda’s CVT is genuinely refined with no jerks or hunting. The best automatic experience.
Maruti Dzire AMT: Maruti’s AMT is competent but has the characteristic AMT pause during upshifts — noticeable but not jarring. Adequate for city use.
Tata Aeris AMT: Similar AMT character to Dzire — smooth enough for daily use, with the characteristic brief pause between gear changes.
For buyers who specifically want the smoothest automatic experience in this segment, the Honda Amaze CVT is the answer — despite its higher price and lower mileage.
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
| Cost Component | Maruti Dzire VXI AMT | Honda Amaze S CVT | Tata Aeris XM+ AMT |
| Purchase Price | Rs 8.73L | Rs 9.50L | Rs 7.49L |
| Insurance 5yr | Rs 44,000 | Rs 47,000 | Rs 37,000 |
| Fuel 5yr (1500km/mo) | Rs 3,62,880 | Rs 5,12,667 | Rs 4,39,167 |
| Service 5yr | Rs 26,000 | Rs 32,000 | Rs 28,000 |
| 5-Year Total | Rs 13,06,880 | Rs 15,41,667 | Rs 12,53,167 |
The Dzire’s exceptional mileage makes it the second-cheapest over 5 years despite a higher purchase price than the Aeris. The Aeris wins on 5-year total cost — lower purchase price offsets its slightly lower mileage versus the Dzire. The Amaze is the most expensive over 5 years, primarily because of its significantly lower fuel efficiency.
Final Verdict — Which Compact Sedan Should You Buy?
Buy Maruti Dzire if: Mileage is your #1 priority, you want CNG option (34.16 km/kg), or you drive 2,000+ km/month where the fuel saving is substantial. Also the best resale value of the three.
Buy Honda Amaze if: You want the smoothest automatic (CVT), the best rear passenger space and boot, Honda’s reliability brand assurance, and are comfortable paying the premium.
Buy Tata Aeris if: You want the best features per rupee (sunroof, ventilated seats, 10.25in screen at lower price), best safety (6 airbags at base Rs 5.29L), or want the most modern-feeling compact sedan. The Aeris is the most value-forward option in the segment.
| Also Read: Tata Aeris 2026 Complete Review | |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Maruti Dzire vs Tata Aeris 2026 — which to buy?
Tata Aeris wins on: lower starting price (Rs 5.29L vs Dzire’s Rs 6.79L), better features (sunroof, ventilated seats, 10.25in screen), and 6 airbags at base. Dzire wins on: superior mileage (24.12 vs 19.80 kmpl ARAI), CNG option (34.16 km/kg), stronger resale value, and Maruti’s 3,500+ service centres. For features and safety value: Aeris. For running cost and resale: Dzire.
Q: Does Tata Aeris have sunroof?
Yes — the Tata Aeris XZ+ variants have a sunroof. This makes it the only compact sedan in India with a sunroof, as neither the Maruti Dzire nor Honda Amaze offer a sunroof option on any variant. The sunroof is available on Aeris XZ+ MT (Rs 8.79L) and XZ+ AMT (Rs 9.19L).
Q: Which compact sedan has best mileage India 2026?
Maruti Dzire has the best ARAI mileage in the compact sedan segment: 24.12 kmpl (MT) and 24.32 kmpl (AMT). Tata Aeris: 19.80 kmpl MT. Honda Amaze: 18.6 kmpl MT and CVT. Dzire’s mileage advantage is significant — at 1,500 km/month, Dzire saves Rs 1,000-1,800 monthly vs Amaze. Dzire CNG at 34.16 km/kg has the lowest running cost.
