Bajaj Chetak Review: Likes And Dislikes

A costly affair for something that is rather simple

Despite Bajaj reviving the Chetak name for its first electric scooter many moons ago, it hasn’t been until recently that it met the necessary criteria for national and state subsidies. And even though we had a short spin on the e-scooter months after its first launch, it wasn’t until now that we got to spend quality time with the Chetak, and do some proper testing. So, after a couple weeks of riding, here’s what we liked and wished was better on Bajaj’s sole electric offering.

LIKES

Beautiful Styling

If it were a beauty contest, the Chetak would definitely win the crown for being perhaps the best looking electric scooter on sale in the country. Its Italian heritage isn’t to be discounted as the evolution of the Chetak from a boxy wide body scooter to something that looks elegant, chic and suave is definitely what draws buyers to it. The paint finish is awesome. The piano black switchgear looks top notch. And it does give you the sense of owning something premium.

An Overachiever

The Chetak doesn’t claim to go to the moon and back in one charge. If you peer through its website, you will find that the IDC range claimed by Bajaj is 90km which, from a 3kWh battery pack, should be decent. However, we managed to clock 113.89km on a single charge. This was done by primarily riding within city limits, by a 75kg rider and by maintaining an average speed of around 22-24kmph. 

While the range achieved isn’t the highest by any standards, it does show how good the Chetak’s regenerative braking capabilities are. It actively slows down the scooter once you let go of the throttle, simultaneously charging the battery and adding a little bit of juice. It also has a small sweet zone where you can keep the throttle open at 3-4 percent, where it does free roll a bit so as to not slow down the scooter too much and yet have the regen working.

Simplistic Nature

Given its main intention is to be a viable replacement for ICE family scooters with less daily running, the Chetak does the job well. While it does overachieve in the range department, its performance is predictable. 

It doesn’t bolt off the line but rather saunters in Sport mode. Even if you do keep the scooter in Eco mode, its dynamic mode switching for quick overtakes is something that we do appreciate. You simply need to twist the throttle slightly quicker for the scooter to switch from Eco to Sport and once you ease off, it automatically returns to Eco.

And when you account for things like ride quality, ergonomic comfort and boot space, the Chetak does a good job, enough to keep a small family happy.

DISLIKES

Too Simple

The very same thing that makes it good for a conventional buyer is what holds it back from being a great all rounder. In terms of performance, we aren’t expecting too much more from Bajaj. If the top speed was capped off at 70-75kmph, it would have attracted a wider clientele. Moreover, it would have helped if the Sport mode did feel a bit more ‘sporty’. 

Small Feature Set

Besides all-LED lighting, keyless operation, and a metal body, there aren’t any fancy features that we have come to expect from electric scooters like the Ather 450X, the Ola S1 Pro or even the TVS iQube S. For instance, while the switches look premium, they aren’t tactile enough, especially the turn indicator switches and the horn.

Even the set of connectivity features is virtually non-existent. And the display itself is very cluttered and cannot be viewed in bright sunlight.

Too Pricey

At Rs 1,51,910 (ex-showroom Bengaluru, including FAME-II subsidy), the Chetak is roughly three thousand rupees cheaper than the Ather 450X. But considering what’s on offer in terms of performance and features, it does fall short.

Should You Buy It?

Only and only if you are longing for a gorgeous urban scoot that makes you look cool while commuting. But for everything else, the Chetak doesn’t quite make sense. It isn’t as enthusiastic as a 450X, S1 Pro or the Simple One. It isn’t as comfy, practical or economical as the TVS iQube S. And given the arrival of the Hero Vida V1 Pro, its appeal does get diminished further.