Ather recently launched its first scooter on the completely new EL platform. Called the Konarc, it is currently available in six variants, starting at Rs 99,999 and going up to Rs 1.45 lakh at the moment. However, it appears that Ather is looking to make sure that there’s a Konarc at every price range. The most affordable Konarc S with 100km range isn’t going to be available until early next year, which makes the Konarc S 125km range variant the entry-level Konarc. So, how does it compare to the offerings from legacy manufacturers? Let’s find out.
Ather Konarc S 125 vs rivals: Motor, battery and charging
Chetak offers the most range
These scooters rarely compare 1:1 in specifications, but if we take range as the most important factor, these are Ather Konarc’s closest rivals. As such, the Vida VX2 Go is the most powerful here, while the iQube develops the most torque. However, the Chetak quotes the highest range of the lot, and it sweetens the deal further by offering the fastest bundled charger (750W) and the shortest 0-80 charging time.
Ather Konarc S 125 vs rivals: Dimensions and underpinnings
iQube is the lightest and has the lowest seat height
The C3001 and the Konarc have the longest and second-longest wheelbase, respectively, and they’re on the heavier side as well; the latter is explained by their metal body panels. Seat height is more or less on par, but if you care about the minutest of numbers, the Vida VX2’s is the tallest of the bunch. However, we wouldn’t expect that to deter buyers from choosing the Vida.
Ather Konarc S 125 vs rivals: Brakes, tyres and suspension
Konarc is the only one with a 14” wheel
Ather’s biggest advantage over the others is its 14-inch front wheel, something none of the other scooters has. It also has the widest rear tyre, even though they all use 12-inch wheels. As for brakes, Chetak is the only one here without a disc brake. It is also the only one to feature a leading-link front suspension, paying homage to the design used on the original petrol-powered Chetak of yesteryear, whereas the others get a more modern telescopic fork.
Ather Konarc S 125 vs rivals: Features
Basics sorted, with more features requiring subscriptions
Ather has reserved the top-shelf feature set for the Konarc Z line, which is slated to release late next year. As standard, the Konarc gets the largest-in-size 7-inch LCD cluster. It also has AirWalk, a feature that will make manually moving the scooter easier. No other scooter in this comparison can match that. The iQube gets a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster, the C3001 gets a monochrome LCD cluster, and the VX2 Go 3.1 gets a 4.2-inch LCD. They all also offer ride modes and basic smartphone connectivity as standard.
However, most of Ather’s tech features require Ather StackPro, which costs Rs 16,000 for the Konarc S 125km variant. This is a big add-on to the overall price of the scooter, but it is a one-time purchase. If you spring for it, you do get a lot of features such as TrueRange, AutoHold and Vehicle FallSafe. Ather also promises yearly software upgrades and new features, a claim no other manufacturer on this list can meet or beat.
The other scooters also require a paid subscription to access the full feature suite. However, Ather’s is the most expensive and has the highest number of features. Chetak offers a lifetime subscription to its TecPac for Rs 3,000. Vida and TVS charge Rs 999 and Rs 900 per year, respectively, for theirs.
Ather Konarc S 125 vs rivals: Price
TVS is the most expensive, while Vida is the most affordable
Of this lot, the Konarc S is the second most expensive scooter to buy, behind only the TVS iQube. If you prefer to keep things simpler, both price-wise and features-wise, the Chetak and the Vida offer that: a lean feature set with promising range for the price. However, remember that real-world experience, such as comfort, can change this equation, and we can only comment on that after riding them.
The prices listed are ex-showroom, Bengaluru.
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
