Honda Activa e at autoX Awards: Best Bikes of 2025 Ranked

The Activa is a well-known name in the scooter market, and deservedly so. After all, it has shattered various sales records for Honda. So, when Honda decided to launch an electric version of the Activa – the Activa e – we expected it to deliver on all fronts. However, that was not the case. It looks smart, feels solid, and oozes brilliant quality just like other Honda products, but beyond that, things begin to feel rather underwhelming.

The Activa e comes with two swappable batteries, which are designed well, and don’t weigh a lot. However, the problem is that they can’t be charged at home – there is no way to plug in and charge the scooter or the batteries. The only option is to swap the batteries.

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On top of it, Honda is only offering the scooter with a subscription-based Battery as a Service (BaaS) model, meaning owners will have to pay a monthly fee for the batteries. Now, considering the Activa e is not what you’d call a competitively priced offering, the added battery subscription makes things worse. Had it been priced close to ₹1 lakh (ex-showroom), the value equation would have made more sense.

The swappable battery setup also eats into the very thing most scooter buyers care about – storage. The under-seat storage space is minimal, leaving little room for storing everyday items. The suspension is also disappointing – it feels overly stiff for everyday city riding. And the odd weight distribution also makes it feel a bit nervous around corners. You never get that planted, confident feeling when the scooter shifts its weight from side to side.

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On the plus side, its 7-inch digital instrument cluster is one of its best features. It’s not a touchscreen, but that’s not a problem at all, given how smooth and responsive its interface is. The buttons on the handlebar are also quite intuitive. The unit displays a wealth of information without cluttering the screen. The Activa e also comes with keyless operation, which is a nice touch; however, it’s more of a novelty than a real advantage.