Ather 450X Gen 3 Road Test Review In 7 Pics

Feels like a gourmet dish: tasty, but not enough to satisfy your hunger

Ather has been the flag bearer for two-wheeled EVs in India: both the 450X and 450 Plus are well-rounded products. Everything on them works and works flawlessly, but while the market leader was busy staying consistent, the competition caught up. So in our first encounter with the new gen-3 450X and 450 Plus, we check whether the improved range, features and better price is enough for Ather to fend off the Ola S1 Pro, Simple One and TVS iQube.

Design:

The biggest miss for Ather with the Gen-3 is in this department. Sure, the current form is not boring by any means, but it has been around for some time now. Moreover, people expect something new with every update, something that visually sets their purchase apart from what others have and this one simply does not offer that.  

Mirrors:

Yes these mirror stems are new, but those are more a technical betterment than an outright aesthetic update, if you ask me.  

Performance:

The Ather 450X has traditionally been accepted as a sporty scooter that just happens to be electric. Why then would Ather not give the new gen-3 a bit more performance? Baffles me! Yes, it continues to be just as exciting as before which again, is not dull by any means, but some added oomph is sorely missed. 

Battery:

Finally a segment where both scooters get a much-needed revision. They get a 25 percent larger battery pack which is claimed to be 20 percent more efficient, and helps in areas like improving the true range from 85km to 105km in Eco mode. Heat management is also better, as more cells in a pack means less load on individual units, which in turn means holding Warp and Sport mode for longer is easier now. 

  





Ride and Handling:

If you are planning on buying an Ather, this is another change you will appreciate apart from the battery. Both 450 Gen-3 scooters come shod in new, rounder-profile MRF tyres, which improve the overall handling and braking feedback. Leaning into corners feels progressive and the new tyres hold their composure better than the older ones under hard braking. 

Features and Accessories:

Gen-3 does not get any new features per se, but underneath the 7-inch TFT screen, the RAM is up from 1GB to 2GB and the ROM from 8GB to 16GB. This makes room for more features in the future, the user interface runs smoother and apps can run faster too. 


In terms of accessories the new scooters get a TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system) and a conventional side footrest as an optional extra. Have a look at our accessories explained story to know more.

Check Out Ather 450X Price 
Simple One vs Ather 450X Gen 3: Photo Comparison
Simple One First Ride Review: Likes And Dislikes
Ather 450X vs Ola S1 Pro Road Test Comparison Review

Verdict:

Has Ather done enough? In terms of improving the gen-2 450X and 450 Plus, yes, to a certain degree they have. Both get that critical bump in range. But the competition has more. In fact, they have better performance and features too, so it is only a matter of time before one of them cracks the riding experience magic Ather has nailed all these years, then the throne is up for grabs. It is one thing to do things right, but it is also important to do enough in this fast-paced world.