Honda Activa 125 BS-VI FI has entered history books by becoming the first BS-VI compliant two-wheeler to go on sale in India. Launched on September 11, Activa BS6 is available at a starting price of Rs 67,490 (ex-showroom, Delhi). That’s about Rs 7,000 costlier than the BS-IV model.
New Activa 125 also comes with a range of feature upgrades. Here’s a quick comparison between Activa BS6 and rivals that will also be getting a BS6 upgrade in the coming months. New Honda Activa BS6 vs Hero Maestro FI vs Suzuki Access.
Design: All three scooters come with trendy, youthful design that would appeal to the young generation. Activa BS6 looks sharper and sportier with its updated LED position lamp, restyled front apron, chrome badging on the sides, and chrome infused tail light. Colour options include Midnight Blue Metallic, Pearl Precious White, Rebel Red Metallic and Heavy Grey Metallic.
Suzuki Access 125 is distinguishable with its chrome headlamp, chrome muffler cover, stylish tail lamp and aluminium grab rail. Customers can choose from six colour options – Pearl Suzuki Deep Blue, Candy Sonama Red, Mettalic Sonic Silver, Glass Sparkle Black, Mettalic Matt Fibroin Grey, and Pearl Mirage White. Hero Maestro Edge 125 FI comes in a sporty package, featuring always headlamp on, trendy triangle shaped lightening insignia and attractive textured seat. Colour options include Panther Black and Pearl Fadeless White.
Engine specs: As all three scooters are powered by 125 cc engine, difference in power and torque output is marginal. Activa 125 BS6 engine generates max power of 8.2 hp @ 6,500 rpm and max torque of 10.3 Nm @ 5,000 rpm. According to Honda, new Activa 125 is 13% more fuel efficient, as compared to BS-IV model. Suzuki Access 125 gets its power from a 124 cc single-cylinder, air cooled engine that generates 8.6 hp @ 7,000 rpm and 10.2 Nm @ 5,000 rpm. Hero Maestro Edge 125 FI was India’s first scooter to offer programmed fuel injection (FI). It is powered by a 124.6 cc air cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes 9.1 hp @ 7,000 rpm and 10.2 Nm @ 5,000 rpm.
Dimensions and weight: Measuring 1,870 mm in length, Access 125 is the longest among the three scooters. It also has a sleek body, measuring 655 mm in width. The other two scooters have width of more than 700 mm. Height and wheelbase is almost the same for all three scooters, give and take 10-20 mm. The lightest scooter is Access with a kerb weight of 101 kg. Activa BS6 is heaviest at 111 kg while Maestro weighs 110 kg.
Features: Honda 125 BS6 comes with several new features that give it a definitive edge over rivals. For example, Activa BS6 has silent start system, which does away with the gear meshing sound of BS-IV model. The older model utilized a stator unit for ignition, which produced the usual engine start sound. Another improvement is the Idling Stop System, which helps save fuel. It works by switching off the engine when it’s in idle mode.
This saves fuel at traffic signals and other brief halts. Activa BS6 also gets side stand indicator with engine inhibitor function. This make the scooter safer, as the engine won’t start as long as the side stand is in down position. Overtaking with Activa BS6 has also become a lot easier and safer with the new pass switch.
There are certain features that are common, for example, both Activa BS6 and Maestro Edge come with external fuel filling. Also, the fuel lid can be opened remotely via the multi-function console at the front. External fuel filling is not available with Suzuki Access 125. All three scooters offer ports for charging mobile phones and other digital devices. All three scooters are equipped with digital cum analogue instrument console and offer combined braking system (CBS).
Price: Activa BS6 is available in three variants, Standard (Rs 67,490), Alloy (Rs 70,990) and Deluxe (Rs 74,490). All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi. Suzuki Access retails in the range of Rs 55,977 – Rs 60,878 whereas Hero Maestro Edge FI is priced at Rs 63,200. Access and Maestro will also be getting BS6 upgrade in the coming months and they too will undergo a price hike. A price comparison will be more appropriate at that time.
Honda Activa is already a bestselling scooter and launch of BS6 variant can help boost sales further. Customers who may have been postponing their purchase decision in wait of a BS6 scooter would certainly be interested in buying Activa BS6.
This post was last modified on September 26, 2019 1:07 pm