Hero Xoom Combat Edition: First Ride Review

Gallery Introduction The Visuals The Package The Ride Should you buy it?

Introduction

The 110cc scooter segment is mainly dominated by practical family scooters like the Honda Activa and TVS Jupiter. However, if you want a pinch of excitement and fun while staying in this frugal territory, the Hero Xoom 110 is one of your options.

The Xoom has been around for almost two years now and hasn’t really been able to set the sales chart on fire. So, in June this year, Hero launched the Combat edition of the Xoom, which you see here. This is just a cosmetically different iteration of the ZX variant of the scooter. Although we have reviewed the Xoom before, the riding experience on the latest iteration is slightly different from the one we rode last year. In that case, we tell you how our last couple of days with the Xoom have been and whether you should consider buying it.

The Visuals

The design of the Xoom is undoubtedly its strongest trait. It looks youthful, sporty, and funky. Whichever angle you look at it from, it appears proportionate and likeable. The entire bodywork has sharp cuts and creases throughout, with layered and edgy front apron and underseat panels. The Combat edition gets fancier graphics than the rest of the variants and the grey paint scheme, Hero says, is inspired by fighter jets. Besides the different set of decals, there’s a Combat Edition badge on the handlebar to keep reminding you of it being the top-end variant of the scooter.

The Package

Powering the Xoom is a 110.9cc engine that produces 8.05bhp and 8.7Nm. It rides on 12-inch alloy wheels at both ends with telescopic forks and a monoshock. Braking is handled by a disc-drum combination in the Combat edition with combined braking system.

On the feature front, there’s a digital console with Bluetooth connectivity which gives access to turn-by-turn navigation, and call and SMS alerts. It also gets a USB charger, LED headlamp and tail lamp and cornering lights that are more brag-worthy than useful. Further, Hero has equipped it with i3S technology which automatically turns the engine off if you’re idling it at a standstill for a few seconds. Turning it back on is just a matter of pulling in one of the brake levers and rolling on the accelerator. It should save you a few drops of petrol every time you come to a halt at a fuel pump or a traffic signal.

Where the Xoom is underwhelming is in terms of storage space and other practical features. The under-seat storage provision, for instance, cannot even accommodate a half-face helmet or an average sized, fully stuffed backpack. It’s the same story on the footboard. With your legs occupying most of the space, forget carrying huge grocery bags or an LPG cylinder. What you have as a saving grace are two cubby holes which are big enough to store small things like water bottles or a wallet.

Similarly, it is deprived of some convenience-oriented features that have become a norm in 2024. It misses out on remote seat opening function and the external fuel filler cap has also been given a miss. In this day and age, getting off the scooter and opening the seat to fuel up looks a little uncool. The addition of a parking brake would’ve also added to the convenience factor.

The Ride

The Xoom might visually look compact, but it doesn’t feel so when you’re on the saddle. The seat is decently spacious and your legs have enough room to not foul with the handlebar even if you’re as tall as me at 5’11’’. It’s only when you take a tight u-turn that the handlebar rubs against your knees but that is acceptable for a scooter. Plus, although the footboard isn’t really large, your feet will never demand more space.

The Xoom has the engine performance to match its sporty aesthetics. It feels quick off the line and even the roll-on acceleration feels peppy, especially from 30-40kmph of speeds which makes it fun to ride in the city. The acceleration mellows down significantly beyond 60kmph and it maxes out at around 85-88kmph. What came as a pleasant surprise is the level of refinement and the lack of vibrations from this engine. Unlike the first iteration we rode last year which was quite vibey, the latest model feels smooth and you can only feel a minor buzz from 70kmph onwards. Overall, it’s a smooth and zippy engine. It’s also fuel efficient as we extracted a mileage of slightly over 50kmpl in our test.

On the move, the suspension setup does a good job of absorbing undulations. With small wheels and limited suspension travel, you certainly feel the sharper bumps or potholes. However, if the surface imperfections aren’t extreme and you’re at a controlled pace, the suspension setup does a good job of ironing out the dips and crests. It has a slightly firm edge to it but never really gets uncomfortable. The mild firmness aids in handling and the Xoom comes across as extremely agile and light on its feet. However, the brakes could be better as the rear feels too soft and the front lever lacks feel. The overall stopping is acceptable though.

Should you buy it?

If you’re out in the market for a frugal 110cc scooter but with a dash of youthfulness and fun, the Hero Xoom 110 is certainly a good option. It truly stands out in the looks department, the engine performance feels peppy in the city, it is comfortable in terms of seating space and ride quality, the stopping power is acceptable, and the handling is par for the course. Hero has also worked on the engine refinement and the vibrations are almost non-existent now. What adds to the positives is the good fuel efficiency, a competitive price tag and Hero’s vast service network. But do remember that the lack of storage space and the absence of basic features like an external fuel filler cap will cause some inconvenience at regular intervals.

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi