Top 6 scooter launches of 2016

Top 6 scooter launches of 2016

Having started off as secondary modes of transport, scooters have become a serious threat for the motorcycle market in India. The rate at which scooter sales have been growing have forced manufacturers to rethink their strategies. Here are six scooters that made us and the rest of the industry sit up and take notice, in 2016.

Honda Navi

Honda’s monkey bikes have earned cult status among enthusiasts the world over for the past five decades. So you can imagine our surprise when they first unveiled the Navi at the Auto Expo. True, the Navi is nowhere as sophisticated as a Grom and is essentially a younger Activa wearing shorts and a tee-shirt. But credit where it is due, it was a brave decision to try something radical in a market like India. And a lucrative price tag of Rs 43,367 (ex-showroom, Mumbai) makes it even more irresistible. We tried to find out Navi’s  practicality quotient by putting it through a series of tests, you can read how it fared over here.

Yamaha Cygnus Ray ZR

The Yamaha Ray made a big impact in the Indian market when it first went on sale back in 2012, its sharp styling striking the right chord with the youth. Building on this model, the Japanese manufacturer unveiled the Cygnus Ray ZR at the Auto Expo. While Yamaha disappointed us by ditching the fancy bits like the adjustable levers and the golden alloy wheels, it did retain the aggressive lines and sporty paint schemes. Click here to read the first ride review of the Yamaha Cygus Ray ZR.

TVS Jupiter MillionR

The TVS Jupiter has carved out a niche in the Indian scooter market, managing to hold its own in a segment dominated by the Honda Activa. As a celebration of its success, the company launched the Jupiter MillionR edition with a front disc brake. So if you want a Jupiter but exclusivity is also a priority, the Jupiter MillionR is just the right variant for you. Click here to see how the Jupiter MillionR stacks up against the Yamaha Cygnus Ray ZR.

Suzuki Access

The Suzuki Access has always been one of our favourite scooters, though the company took a giant leap with the launch of the 2016 model. The cosmetic updates give the Suzuki Access 125 a refreshing neo-retro look while the technological updates have made it lighter, faster and more efficient than before. Click here to see whether this was enough to make the Suzuki Access a better buy than the Honda Activa 125.

Aprilia SR 150

Owning the SR 150 gives you the right to brag that you own an ‘Aprilia’. If this isn’t a legit reason to own one, then the peppy 150cc engine and its styling should be enough to convince you to get your cheque book out. Of course you would be forced to rethink it as soon as get a taste of the ride quality, but ‘no pain, no gain’, right? But is the Aprilia SR 150 good enough to humble a 150cc motorcycle like the Bajaj V15? Click here to find out.

Vespa 946 Emporio Armani

Too often, the things you want most are the ones that you can’t afford. The Vespa 946 Emporio Armani is one of these. The Aprilia SR 150 would have been my most desirable scooter in this list, had it not been for the Vespa 946 Emporio Armani. Priced at a whopping Rs 12.04 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), the 946 Emporio Armani is a lot more than a scooter, it is art with two wheels. And if you think that the price tag is no big deal, you can spend an additional lakh or two speccing it up with leather luggage and other fancy bits.

Vespa VXL 150 70th Anniversary Edition

The Vespa VXL 150 70th Anniversary Edition deserves a special mention for evoking nostalgic memories. Unlike the 946 Emporio Armani, it doesn’t have a price tag which yanks you back to reality. With a relatively affordable price tag of Rs 1.0 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), you can continue to day dream about owning one someday. Click here to read our first impressions of the Vespa VXL 150 70th Anniversary Edition.