I’m planning to buy an electric scooter, but unfortunately, there aren’t many options that come with both ABS and traction control. Recently, I was riding my dad’s scooter when the front wheel locked up. Although I like the Ather Apex, I’m not comfortable with the fact that it doesn’t come with ABS. I have a couple of questions. Will all electric scooters eventually be mandated by law to have ABS? I also like the TVS X electric scooter, as it’s fun to ride. Is it a safe choice in terms of maintenance, considering it’s a relatively new model? I don’t use the scooter much and ride only around 1,000km a year. This is mainly a purchase for my happiness. My budget is up to Rs 5 lakh. I’m not considering a petrol scooter because of my low usage and the additional maintenance it would require. Any advice would be appreciated.

autocar.india

•4d

For a first-time driver who is not very confident, the Nissan Magnite CVT and Renault Kiger CVT are the most natural fits, while the Honda Elevate CVT remains a good choice if the extra size is manageable. The Magnite and Kiger are compact, have light steering, good all-round visibility, around 205mm ground clearance and 360-degree cameras, making them particularly easy to place in tight traffic and parking spaces. The CVTs are also smooth and predictable, which is useful for a new driver. The Kia Seltos 1.5 IVT is another good option, and its IVT is essentially a CVT in operation, but the Seltos is larger and therefore not quite as unintimidating as the Magnite or Kiger. The Honda Elevate CVT has several advantages for a new driver, particularly its good bonnet visibility, upright driving position, 220mm ground clearance, light and predictable CVT and 5.2m turning circle. Its 4.3m length, however, will make tight parking slightly more challenging than in the Magnite or Kiger. The current Elevate's lack of a factory 360-degree camera is also a drawback, although the upcoming Elevate facelift is expected to get a 360-degree camera, which would make it a considerably better match for this requirement. An EV can be even easier in traffic because there is no gear changing and the response is very smooth, so the Punch EV is worth considering if home charging is available.

Nissan Magnite

Renault Kiger

Honda Elevate (2023-2026)

Tata Punch EV

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•1d

It would be unfair to both segments of bike to be pitted against each other because their intended purpose is very different. A commuter bike is an affordable, no-nonsense, comfortable, fuel efficient and reliable mode of transport but it isn't necessarily the best at any measurable metric nor is it going to be the most exciting. On the other hand, an adventure bike will bring in a lot of rough road and off-road capability and long distance touring too will be made easier. However, these are generally heavier and more expensive machines which aren't necessarily the best for your daily needs unless you live in an area with long stretches of bumpy, bouncy and shoddily-laden roads. We'd advise you to make your choice between both categories depending on what your preferences are.