Honda Activa e: vs TVS iQube S: Spec Comparison

Honda has finally ventured into the electric vehicle space in India with the new Activa e:. Carrying forward a legacy is not an easy task, and the Activa e: definitely tries its best here. But is it good enough to take on one of the segment leaders, i.e. the TVS iQube? Particularly, the S variant? The comparison of the spec sheet below gives us a fair idea.

Honda Activa e: vs TVS iQube S: Battery, Charger And Range

Both scooters get similarly powered batteries, but the TVS iQube’s is slightly bigger. With two batteries on board, the Honda Active e: interestingly ends up with a slightly more range, though. With swappable battery technology, the Honda Activa e: is also relieved of any charging time. Sadly, this advantage takes a back seat when you realise that there is barely any space for luggage under the seat.  

Honda Activa e: vs TVS iQube S: Performance

From a performance point of view, Honda has set the speed limit slightly high at 80 kmph, whereas the TVS iQube tops out at 78 kmph. Acceleration timings of both the scooters even read similar, but the iQube should be slightly quicker because it is smaller, and lighter than the Activa e:. 

Honda Activa e: vs TVS iQube S: Underpinnings

Unlike the TVS iQube S, which is built around a frame designed to accommodate a battery pack, the Honda Activa e: boasts a very conventional frame where the batteries are placed inside the boot space. And in the iQube S, the batteries are cleverly packaged beneath the footboard. 

On the suspension front, the Activa e: goes for a single-sided shock absorber at the rear. And while both ride on the same wheel size, the iQube S will get the better of braking with a bigger disc brake at the front. 

Honda Activa e: vs TVS iQube S: Dimension

The seat height is more accessible on the Japanese scooter here, and yet the ground clearance remains unfazed which is 14 mm taller than the TVS’. Despite its larger proportions, the Honda Activa e: still manages to weigh almost the same as the TVS iQube S, with both batteries on board. 

Honda Activa e: vs TVS iQube S: Features

On the features front, both scooters are available with a 7-inch TFT cluster. But on the connectivity front, its Honda’s RoadSync Duo that is the more intuitive of the two. It gets you full-map navigation, compared to just turn-by-turn navigation on the iQube S. Additionally, Honda also has provisions to initiate calls on the go, but in the TVS iQube S, it's limited to an alert only. 

Besides, music playback control is common in both. Both scooters are also available with all-LED lighting. Lastly, the Honda Activa e: gets the benefit of three ride modes – Econ, Standard, and Sport. The TVS iQube S is available with just two ride modes – Eco and Power. 

Honda Activa e: vs TVS iQube S: Conclusion

The Honda Activa e: presents itself as a good alternative to the TVS iQube S. But the limited scope of practicality is a major deal breaker here. Performance is also on par here, making both ideal for the city commute. But the flexibility that comes with swappable batteries will be a big boon, especially for someone who can’t afford long charging hours. But just how feasible would the whole experience turn out to be and how rapidly would Honda be able to scale up its swap stations across India remains to be seen. With limited availability, at least initially, the Activa e: could be on the backfoot. And TVS might just get the upper hand for a while in this battle.