India's two-wheeler market has two broad categories – scooters/mopeds and motorcycles. Owing to rising gas prices (Rs 96.72 per litre in Delhi on October 7, 2023), people are increasingly moving towards fuel-efficient vehicles. The first quarter of the ongoing fiscal year saw year-on-year growth of 11 per cent. The Q1 FY2024 sales numbers, which were released a few days ago, show that companies like Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, Suzuki Motorcycles India, and TVS Motor sold more than 41 lakh (41,40,964) scooters and motorcycles. The scooters sub-segment, with total sales of 12,98,355 units, went up by 7 per cent, while the motorcycles category registered an increase of 14 per cent, with total sales of 27,37,348 units, in comparison to Q1 FY2023. And now, in September 2023, the domestic two-wheeler sales of Hero, Honda, TVS, and Bajaj increased by 0.7 per cent year-on-year to 15.10 lakh (1.51 million) units.
Recently, scooters have seen significant growth in India, given their practicality and ease of use. With their compact size and manoeuvrability, scooters offer convenience in terms of navigating through narrow lanes and heavy traffic.
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Also, consumers now look for vehicles that come with better fuel efficiency. Fuel-efficient scooters use advanced engineering and technology and to maximise fuel economy, making them an ideal choice for eco-conscious customers. So, here is a list of the five most fuel-efficient scooters currently on sale in India.
Honda Activa
ARAI-certified figure: 47 to 55km/l
First introduced in 2001, the Honda Activa is one of the best-selling two-wheelers in the Indian market, with prices starting at Rs 76,234 for the standard version and going up to Rs 88,979 (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the Activa 125 H-Smart. It has a claimed mileage of 47 to 55km/l. It comes with two engine options – a 109.51cc single-cylinder air-cooled unit with 7.68bhp and 8.79Nm and a 124cc air-cooled mill with 8.1bhp and 10.4Nm.
Honda is also planning to introduce the Activa Electric scooter before the end of the ongoing fiscal year. In terms of rivalry, the Honda Activa goes toe-to-toe with the likes of the TVS Jupiter, Hero Pleasure Plus, Hero Maestro Edge, and Hero Xoom.
TVS Jupiter
ARAI-certified figure: 62km/l
The Jupiter is the latest model from TVS. Priced between Rs 73,340 and Rs 89,748 (ex-showroom), it is offered in six variants – SMW, Base, ZX, ZX Drum SmartXonnect, ZX Disc SmartXonnect, and Classic – and comes with a 109.7cc single-cylinder 4-stroke CVTi FI engine, which produces 7.77bhp at 7,500rpm. The figure is marginally higher than that of the Honda Activa. The TVS Jupiter makes 8.8Nm of torque at 5,500rpm and offers a claimed fuel efficiency of about 62km/l.
On the feature front, the TVS Jupiter offers turn-by-turn navigation, a digital dashboard with Bluetooth connectivity, a cubby holder below the USB charger, an IntelliGO engine start/stop system, an external fuel filler, iTouch Start, dual-side handle lock, and more.
Suzuki Avenis
ARAI-certified figure: 54.5km/l
The sportier version of the Access 125, the Avenis 125, starts at Rs 92,000 (Rs 300 more for the Race edition). The visual difference between the two is minimal and is restricted to the colour scheme. The Ntorq-rivalling Suzuki Avenis complies with OBD-2 and E20 norms. In terms of the mechanicals, both variants are powered by a 124cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine, which delivers 8.5bhp at 6,750rpm and 10Nm of peak torque at 5,500rpm. The model yields a mileage of 54.5km/l. Apart from the Avenis 125, Suzuki also offers the Access, Burgman Street, and Burgman Street EX in the 125cc scooter segment.
Honda Dio 125
ARAI-certified figure: 50km/l
Launched in July 2023, the all-new Honda Dio 125 scooter is available at a sticker price of Rs 83,400 (Standard), while the Smart variant costs Rs 91,300 (ex-showroom). It is the brand's third 125cc scooter in the market, after the Grazia and the best-seller Activa 125.
The Dio 125 is powered by an OBD2-compliant 123.92cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine with eSP (Enhanced Smart Power) technology. The engine also features a Honda ACG starter, increased tumble flow, improved combustion & reduced friction, and solenoid valves for improved performance. As a result, the power and torque figures are rated at 8.16bhp at 6,250rpm and 10.4Nm at 5,000rpm, respectively. For transmission, the engine is mated to a CVT unit, which sends all the power to the rear wheel.
Yamaha RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid
ARAI-certified figure: 49 to 51km/l
The Ray ZR 125 Fi Hybrid is an all-new scooter from Yamaha, combining the convenience of a petrol scooter with the efficiency of a hybrid powertrain. It is available in two variants – Standard and Rally – with prices starting at Rs 84,730 and topping out at Rs 95,830 (ex-showroom). The scooter is powered by a 125cc single-cylinder engine, which produces 8bhp of maximum power at 6,500rpm and a peak torque of 10.3Nm at 5,000rpm. Also, it is E-20 fuel-compatible and OBD-II compliant. The claimed mileage for all variants ranges from 49 to 51km/l.
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The RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid gets a rear mono-shock and conventional telescopic front forks. The base model's braking hardware consists of 130mm drum brakes on both ends, while the top-of-the-line model has a 190mm front disc and 130mm rear drum.
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