TVS X Electric Scooter Review: Does It Have The X Factor?

Rs 2.50 lakh for an electric scooter! Not convinced…are you?

Rs 2.50 lakh! That money will get you 1 Triumph Speed 400, 2 TVS Apache RTR 160 4Vs, 3 Hero Splendor Plus Xtecs, 4 Hero HF Deluxes and 5 TVS XL 100s… And all of these are impressive two-wheelers in their respective segments. But now TVS is asking you to keep all of that aside, and spend all that money on its new electric scooter, the X! So, Rs 2,49,990 for an electric scooter. Does it really make sense? Let me tell you about it: 

It’s A Looker! 

Yes, the TVS X looks just as good in real life as it does in the pictures. The red colour is eye-catching without being gaudy, but what stands out are the blue inserts on the chassis, motor, side panels and even the brake callipers. It looks gorgeous and is nicely built as well. 

For me, the Ather 450X is India’s best looking scooter, but at the end of the day it is a compact scooter and has a minimalist design. The X, on the other hand, is quite large and muscular, and will make you look twice. I can see it being the centre of attention when parked in public spaces.  

Goes Well…

Now, the first ride had a tightly packed schedule, so we got to ride the scooter for only around 15 minutes. So instead of juggling between the three riding modes (Xtealth, Xtride and Xonic), we decided to slot it into Xonic and experience its performance to the fullest. 

And it was definitely fun. The scooter pulls to around 80kmph nicely and there is that sense of excitement. How much better it is than Ather’s warp mode though, is something we can’t give a definite answer for now. 

…Turns Very Well

The 130-135kg kerb weight means the X weighs almost as much as the Yamaha R15 V4, but all of that weight disappears the moment you start riding it. It feels incredibly light to turn into a corner, and if you’re not careful enough, you might end up leaning it a fair bit more than what you intended to. But you still don’t worry about it,  as the weight makes it stable and inspires confidence to lean it more each time. I found myself carrying speeds through corners that I otherwise never would on a scooter.  

…And Stops Brilliantly! 

I LOVE a good set of brakes, for they encourage me to go that much faster, and the X’ brakes did not disappoint. The front brake has a sharp initial bite and a tap should be more than enough to give you the stopping power for most situations. For the time when you really need to grab it, do it without hesitation, as the front ABS will ensure you won’t lock up your front. 

The rear brake has a sharp bite as well, and the lack of ABS means it’s too easy to get the rear sliding. But once you’re used to the sharpness, you will feel very confident riding the X fast, because all the stopping power you need is just a tap away.  

Packs World Class Features

Nope, I haven’t forgotten about the TVS X’ tablet... err, I mean console. The 10-inch TFT tablet is the biggest any two-wheeler in the world has ever seen and it packs a LOT of  features. But what really stood out was how nice it was to use. The screen responds immediately and that includes even the Google Maps function. The placement of the icons, too, is similar to what you usually experience on a tablet or a smartphone, and my fingers knew exactly where each icon was almost immediately. 

Decently Practical Too

Scooters have to be practical in India and the X has its fair share of practicality. The 18-litre boot might not sound like a lot but it’s quite deep. So instead of keeping things horizontally (like you usually do in scooters), you can actually keep things vertically and hence carry more that way. But what really stood out was the sheer space on offer. The rider seat is big and the floorboard has plenty of space for you to move your feet around. So both short and tall riders will be able to move their butt and legs around a fair bit to find a riding position they are comfortable with. 

And all that floorboard space really helps when taking tight u-turns. You see, long-legged people like me always ended up hitting their knees with the handlebar when taking u-turns in compact scooters like the Ather 450X. But the X has so much space that I never faced any such issue.

And while the pillion seat might look small, both Aamir (6’2 and about 95kg) and I (6’0 and about 67kg) fit on it surprisingly comfortably. So, taking pillions for short city rides will not be an issue. 

But The Price! 

Rs 2.50 lakh is a lot of money and splurging it on an electric scooter will still be a tough choice for many. That’s true especially now, given that you have so many high quality two-wheelers that you can buy for a lesser amount of money. That said, I have a bigger problem with the TVS X than its price…

It Lacks The X Factor

TVS knew that it wasn’t going to set sales charts on fire with the X. It was more of an exhibition as to what the brand can really do in terms of design and technology, and I have no issues with that. The TVS X is very nice in many ways but I just wish the X was INCREDIBLE in one particular department…incredible to a point where it becomes a segment benchmark. A 200km range, or maybe a 130kmph top speed or something on those lines, you know? 

The X is an expensive scooter and it wouldn’t have made that much of a difference had it been a bit more expensive. But it being outrageously good in one department would’ve given buyers that sense of pride, knowing that their electric scooter can do something that no other Indian electric scooter can. 

Should You Buy The TVS X Electric Scooter?

The TVS X is a fun scooter and if features and looks are all that you’re looking for (and if you don’t have major budget constraints), there’s nothing quite like the X. But if you want an incredible riding experience to match the price, we’d suggest you wait a bit for our road test review, in which we’ll be able to answer more questions about the X.