The new Destini 110 is an affordable, family oriented scooter that was launched in September last year. In a segment dominated by the Honda Activa and TVS Jupiter, Hero has positioned the Destini as a value-focused alternative with a noticeably lower price tag. For this review, we rode the top-spec ZX variant, which comes equipped with a front disc brake and a pillion backrest.
Hero Destini 110 Design & Features – 6/10
Styling might not be to everyone’s taste, and it feels built to a cost.
The Destini 110 carries forward the neo-retro styling theme seen on the Destini 125. It gets an LED projector headlamp, an H-shaped DRL and tail-light, alongside chrome accents, giving it its unique identity. It makes use of metal panels on the side and the front mudguard. Design is subjective, but I do think that you will either like the design of the Destini or not so much. There is no in between. It might be appreciated more by older riders, while not so much by the youth. There are a total of five colour schemes; the VX variant is available in black, blue and white, while the ZX variant swaps the white and blue options for grey and red. Overall finish quality and attention to detail can stand to improve, and it doesn’t match its top rivals in this category.
Feature-wise, the Destini keeps things simple. The digi-analogue instrument cluster displays a trip meter, odometer and real-time fuel efficiency alongside the analogue speedometer. Underseat storage is on the smaller side but can accommodate a half-face helmet, along with a few essentials. Up front, there’s a large storage pocket that easily fits a water bottle, and a Type-A USB charging port sits conveniently above it. The 5.3-litre fuel tank gets an external filler cap, which is a practical touch for daily use. It does miss out on Bluetooth connectivity, which might be a deal breaker for some users.
Hero’s i3S (idle stop-start system) feature worked fairly well in traffic. The engine cuts off after a few seconds at a signal and restarts smoothly with a twist of the throttle while engaging the brake. Only on rare occasions did it hesitate slightly before firing back to life.
Hero Destini 110 Performance & Fuel Economy – 8/10
Adequate performance for daily commuting in the city; also has good fuel efficiency.
In real-world riding scenarios, the power delivery feels linear and the throttle response is gentle, making it easy for beginners as well as older users to manage. It builds up speed progressively and feels predictable and unintimidating to ride in the city. The scooter feels in its sweet spot between 30kph and 60kph, which easily covers city riding conditions. Push it harder, and it will eventually reach highway speeds, but some vibrations can be felt on the floorboard. Additionally, overtakes do require planning when cruising at higher speeds. Overall, the Destini 110 feels good enough for daily commutes, delivering its performance in a peaceful manner. It is not a scooter that’s meant for aggressive riding, but that’s perfectly fine given its target audience.
In our tests, the performance was almost on par with the Honda Activa and TVS Jupiter. Up to 40kph, both scooters have a very slight acceleration advantage over the Destini, but as it built speed, it took 18.18 seconds to get from 0-80kph. In our mileage tests, we got 54.2kpl in the city with gentle riding – not exceeding 50kph. Out on the highway, the scooter achieved an impressive 64.1kpl, while maintaining a top speed of 60-70kph.
This makes it quite a fuel-efficient scooter, and the live average fuel efficiency reading is a nice touch that will help mileage-conscious riders extract the most out of their scooter. Do keep in mind that our tests were conducted maintaining legal speed limits, so mileage will vary depending on riding style and conditions.
Hero Destini 110 Ride & Handling – 9/10
Offers really good comfort and feels stable at higher speeds.
The suspension setup of this scooter comprises telescopic forks at the front, a monoshock at the rear, and it rides on 12-inch alloy wheels. The setup is really well tuned for our road conditions and is able to take on bad roads, potholes and speedbreakers in a very plush manner. Paired with the well-padded seat, it provides a really comfortable riding experience, and this is one of the Destini’s biggest strengths.
It is also confidence-inspiring, even with the constantly changing nature of our road conditions, and you really don’t have to worry about slowing down for unexpected potholes in the way. The tyres offer good grip in the dry, and when it comes to cornering, this is not the sharpest handler but does things in a calmer and more predictable way. A little effort is required when changing direction or filtering through traffic, but it’s something a rider will get accustomed to as they spend more time with it. The Destini 110 feels planted and stable in most situations, giving a rider good confidence.
With a height of 5ft 7in, I fit well on the scooter, but the wide seat meant I was not able to flat foot despite the low 770mm seat height. It is also one of the heaviest scooters in the segment with a kerb weight of 114kg. This makes it approximately 10kg heavier than the Activa and Jupiter, but it is not an issue to handle at a standstill or on the go. While riding, there was ample space ahead for my knees, and I could sit properly upright. A pillion will also be comfortable on this seat and get the additional support of a backrest with the ZX variant.
Braking is decent for the performance it offers on this top-spec variant with a disc brake. It is not the sharpest setup but gets the job done decently well in the city. However, I did notice while emergency braking and getting on both levers urgently that it can cause the front end to lock and slip.
Hero Destini 110 Price & Verdict
A simple scooter with an affordable price tag, but could do with better fit and finish.
The scooter is priced at Rs 72,000 for the base VX variant and goes up to Rs 79,750 for the top-spec ZX variant. This makes it around Rs 10,000 more affordable than the top variant of the Activa and Rs 7,000 less than the top-spec variant of the Jupiter. Overall, the Destini 110 is a simple and easy-to-ride scooter, and what it has going for it is good mileage, great comfort and a price that undercuts the Activa and Jupiter. That said, it does miss out on connectivity features, and while it is more affordable, its quality levels clearly feel like it was built to undercut its rivals on price.
Ved Janve
Rishaad Mody
Autocar India News Desk
