Honda Amaze vs Proton Saga
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The Honda Amaze wins on money kept: 62% retained after three years vs 56%, worth about R 46 360 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Amaze | Saga | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 256 800 | R 199 900 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 4 488/m | R 3 494/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 79% | 75% |
| Retained after 3 years | 62% | 56% |
| Value after 3 years | R 158 715 | R 112 355 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 98 085 | R 87 545 |
| Value after 5 years | R 121 239 | R 83 165 |
| Our tier | Budget & entry level | Chinese (new entrant) |
Honda Amaze →
The Amaze started out in SA as the Brio-based sedan in 2013 and became a standalone budget sedan with the 2018 second generation, followed by a new model in 2025. It sells to buyers who want an affordable, dependable small sedan, and CVT versions are popular with e-hailing drivers. Resale holds up well for the price bracket thanks to Honda's reliability reputation.
Known for: cheap dependable automatic sedan motoring
Proton Saga →
Budget sedan that joined the new-era range in March 2023 priced from R199,900, making it one of SA's cheapest three-box cars. A 70 kW 1.3 with manual or four-speed auto keeps things basic. New-era Proton resale is still unproven.
Known for: sub-r200k budget sedan
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Honda Amaze or the Proton Saga?
The Honda Amaze. It keeps about 62% of its price after three years against 56% for the Proton Saga, a gap of 6 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Honda Amaze loses about R 98 085 over three years and the Proton Saga loses about R 87 545. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Honda Amaze runs about R 4 488 per month and the Proton Saga about R 3 494, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.