Honda Brio Amaze 1.2 RS CVT (Facelift) (2016–2018) (Discontinued) - ฿577,000

The Honda Brio Amaze 1.2 RS CVT should be judged on its CVT first: it must pull away smoothly, with no shudder or flaring once the car is warm. Ask what has been done about gearbox fluid, look underneath for corrosion and listen for knocks from the suspension over a rough surface. Check that the air conditioning still blows cold after a long idle, because that is where a tired small car usually shows itself.

The Honda Brio Amaze 1.2 RS CVT is a used purchase now, so what you pay turns on mileage, service history and condition rather than on any list price. Set money aside beyond the car itself for a full service, tyres and the transfer paperwork. A tidier example with proof of gearbox servicing usually works out cheaper over the first year than the cheapest one you can find.

The Honda Brio Amaze 1.2 RS CVT is the smaller and simpler choice against the Toyota Yaris Ativ, Nissan Almera and Honda City, built around a 1,198 cc engine, a CVT and a 400 L boot. Its case was always low running costs and easy town driving rather than presence or cabin space. Drive the shortlist back to back, because the differences in rear room and refinement matter more than anything you can read on paper.

The Honda Brio Amaze 1.2 RS CVT was rated at 20.4 km/L, which for most owners meant filling the 35 L tank about once a week on a normal commute. Heavy stop-start traffic, constant air conditioning and a full load of passengers all pull that figure down. Even allowing for that, monthly fuel spend sits at the modest end for a five-seat sedan.