Ampere Nexus First Ride Review: The Best Allrounder Electric Scooter?

Jack of all trades. Master of none?

Ampere has made a significant entry into the electric scooter segment with the launch of the Nexus in India, priced at Rs 1,09,900 (ex-showroom Delhi, under the Electric Mobility Promotional Scheme 2024). I had the opportunity to take this sleek-looking e-scooter for a spin, and here’s what I found.

Design and Build Quality

The Ampere Nexus has a design that appeals to both family and younger riders, with clean lines and a sporty undertone. The front LED headlight looks quite handsome and makes the people look back twice when you go past them, while the rear design maintains a subtle but sporty appeal. The build quality is commendable, especially in the fit and finish, with no noticeable panel gaps. The switches have a premium feel, providing a satisfying click and ensuring ease of use.

The large and roomy seat is perfect for two passengers. However, taller riders (those above 5 feet 11 inches) may find it uncomfortable during U-turns as their knees tend to hit the handlebars—a minor but notable drawback.

Battery, Range and Performance

The Ampere Nexus is powered by a 4kW swingarm-mounted motor, offering a respectable top speed of 93kmph. The scooter offers three primary riding modes—Eco, Comfort, and Power. While Eco mode prioritises range over performance, Power mode offers a more spirited ride. Comfort mode strikes the perfect balance between performance and range, making it the most enjoyable for everyday commuting.

However, there’s a noticeable throttle lag in Eco and Comfort modes. Despite this, the scooter’s performance is quite good for its 3kWh LFP battery, which provides a claimed range of 136km, although we couldn’t test this during our short ride. Based on experience, you can expect a real-world range of around 105km with a mix of riding modes, more than enough for daily commutes.

Handling and Ride Quality

One of the highlights of the Ampere Nexus is its agility. The lightweight design and nimble handling make it perfect for weaving through traffic. The suspension setup, however, is a bit on the firmer side, especially at the rear. While this results in a slightly harsh ride quality especially over potholes, the suspension performs better when riding with a pillion as it becomes more plush, making it more family-friendly.

The braking system, which features a disc at the front and drum at the rear, is effective but requires a firm squeeze of the levers to extract all the braking performance. Once engaged, the brakes bring the scooter to a halt swiftly, although an initial bite is somewhat lacking.

Features

Ampere has packed the Nexus with a host of features to keep up with its rivals. The ST variant gets a 7-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth, WiFi connectivity, and turn-by-turn navigation. However, the absence of Google Maps, which is available on competitors like Ather, is a noticeable miss. That said, the turn-by-turn navigation works reasonably well, despite encountering a minor glitch where the distance travelled was overestimated by quite a margin even though the actual distance travelled was barely anything.

The practical aspects of the scooter are well thought out. The front cubby hole is deep enough to hold a half-litre water bottle, and the under-seat storage of 24 litres is spacious enough to carry your weekly groceries. The Nexus also features a handy limp-home mode, which activates when the battery falls below 20%, but since the scooter was with us for a short duration of time, is something which we could not test.

Should you buy the Ampere Nexus?

The Ampere Nexus stands out as a solid contender in the electric scooter market, especially if you’re looking for a family-oriented scooter that offers a bit of everything. It addresses several common concerns seen in other electric scooters. For instance, if you like the retro charm of the Bajaj Chetak but feel it lacks agility, or if you appreciate the Ather 450X but find its storage space insufficient, the Nexus offers a well-balanced alternative. Additionally, it performs better than the TVS iQube in terms of power.

In many ways, the Ampere Nexus is a jack-of-all-trades—but in this case, that’s a good thing. It delivers enough comfort for older riders, thanks to its large seat and practical storage options, which would appeal to the family. Simultaneously, its performance is punchy enough to keep younger riders happy.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a scooter that offers comfort, storage, and decent performance without specialising in just one area, the Ampere Nexus is an excellent choice for the entire family.