Honda Brio Amaze 1.2 S CVT (Second Gen) (2018–2020) (Discontinued) - ฿499,000

The Honda Brio Amaze 1.2 S CVT lives or dies on its CVT, so drive it from cold and again when warm and reject any shudder, whine or delay on take-up. Look for even tyre wear, check that the car tracks straight with your hands loose on the wheel, and inspect the boot floor and door bottoms for damp. Records of regular oil and gearbox fluid changes are worth more than low mileage on its own.

The Honda Brio Amaze 1.2 S CVT is bought second hand today, and the asking price swings mainly on mileage, condition and how complete the service book is. Beyond the purchase, allow for tyres, a full service on handover and the cost of transferring ownership. Day to day it is one of the cheaper four-doors to keep on the road, because parts are common and the fuel figure is strong.

The Honda Brio Amaze 1.2 S CVT is the lighter and more frugal option next to the Toyota Yaris Ativ and Nissan Almera, leaning on a 1,199 cc engine and a 23.3 km/L rating rather than on size. It gives up cabin and rear-seat space to make that case, with a 2,470 mm wheelbase to share between five people. Sit in the back seat of all three before you decide, because that is where the difference is largest.

The Honda Brio Amaze 1.2 S CVT was rated at 23.3 km/L, so a commuter typically emptied the 35 L tank once a week or less. Rainy-season traffic, heavy air conditioning use and a fully loaded car all cut into that rating, as they do with any small petrol car. Even so, fuel is rarely the part of the monthly budget that owners of this car complain about.