Honda Activa 125: Pros, Cons, Should You Buy It?

What works in its favour and what could have been better? Read on to find out

The 2019 Honda Activa 125 is the first BS6-compliant scooter to go on sale in India. And if you think that the updated Activa 125 has received just a new engine, you couldn’t be more wrong. Because the Japanese bike maker has tweaked almost every part of the scooter to make it more refined and feature-rich than before. However, all that comes with an expensive price tag of Rs 74,490 (ex-showroom Delhi). So here’s what works in its favour and what doesn’t in case you were planning to buy it:

Pros:

Incredibly smooth and silent electric start:

Usually, petrol-powered scooters make the traditional ‘khichkhichkhich’ sound while starting. However, Honda doesn’t want its customers to hear that noise from its premium scooter. Hence, they have equipped the BS6 Activa 125 with an ACG starter, which allows for a silent start. 

Also read: 2019 Honda Activa 125 BS6: Variants Explained

Stop-start system works seamlessly:

Now, we have seen this feature in several other scooters and motorcycles, but Honda has perfected it. Moreover, the ACG starter works its magic here as well and the moment you twist the throttle, it’s just seamless action. 

Spacious and comfortable seat:

The Activa 125 isn’t a sporty scooter in any shape or form but a premium family-oriented scooter. So, Honda has equipped it with a big comfortable seat. While it might be good for urban commutes, you might start to feel a bit uncomfortable on longer rides. 

Cons:

Performance not up to the mark of other 125cc scooters:

The 2019 Activa 125 gets an all-new 125cc fuel-injected motor, which makes 8.29PS and 10.3Nm of torque. While the engine feels quite comfortable at 70kmph, it takes its own sweet time to reach there. Compared to this, the BS4-compliant Hero Maestro 125 and the Suzuki Access offer a much better performance here.

Ride quality gets bouncy with a pillion on board:

The suspension setup is on the softer side, which results in plush ride quality. However, the same can’t be said with a pillion on board as the ride might feel a bit wallowy while going over undulations. 

No boot light or USB charger as standard, even on the Deluxe model:

Now, we are not nit-picking here. Yes, it comes with several segment-first features, but for a scooter that costs Rs 74,490, we were expecting Honda to throw a boot light or a USB charger into the list as standard features. 

Should you buy it? 

If you’re looking for a premium feature-rich 125cc scooter, the new BS6-compliant Activa 125 might work for you. However, it falls short when it comes to performance and you have a better option in the form of the TVS NTorq 125 Race Edition -- for Rs 11,000 less! Now, the Activa 125 is the only scooter, which adheres to the new emission norms in the 125cc segment. So we have to reserve our judgement until almost every manufacturer updates their lineup.