Ather 450S

The Ather 450S continues the same design as the 450X, and from a distance, it’s impossible to tell the two models apart. The design lines are sharp and sporty and the electric scooter has a fairly narrow profile, making it look a bit smaller than a lot of its competitors. The 450S gets a pointed LED headlight along with neatly integrated LED turn indicators in the handlebar cover at the front and the body panels at the rear. While the design is sporty and attractive, it has remain unchanged since the original 450X, and now looks a bit dated. The only way you can tell the 450S apart from the 450X is by looking at the small name sticker on the front apron, and of course, the 450S’s colour LCD console vs the 450X’s colour TFT touchscreen display.

The Ather 450S is available in four colour options - Cosmic Black, Still White, Salt Green and Space Grey.

The Ather 450S features a motor with a peak output of 5.4kW and 22Nm, slightly less powerful than the 450X's 6.4kW and 27Nm. This translates to a slightly slower acceleration, with the Ather claiming that the 450S can go from 0 to 40kmph in 3.9 seconds, compared to the 450X's 3.3 seconds. While the difference is subtle off the line, it becomes more apparent as you build up speed.  The Ather 450S offers three riding modes: Smart Eco, Ride, and Sport. Unlike the 450X, it lacks Warp mode, but it even in Sport mode, the 450S feels quite quick. Importantly, the 450S get the same top speed as the 450X, of 90kmph.

One significant change in the Ather 450S is its battery capacity, which has been reduced to 2.9kWh from the 450X's 3.7kWh.This has resulted in the Ather 450S giving a slightly lower ARAI certified range of 115km compared to the 450X's 145km. However, Ather assures us that in real-world conditions, the 450S will still deliver a range of 90km, which should make it adequate for most people and their daily commutes. It's important to note that Ather's range predictions are incredibly accurate, ensuring you get what's promised. But for those who have a very long daily commute or can’t charge the scooter at home or don’t have easy access to the Ather Grid fast charging network, the 450S might not be their best option.

The Ather 450S is built on the same platform as the 450X - same aluminium and steel hybrid chassis, telescopic fork, monoshock, 12-inch wheels and tyres. The only notable difference is the smaller battery pack (under the floorboard) and smaller motor. This has resulted in a lighter kerb weight for the 450S - 108kg, which is 3.6kg lighter than the 450X. This seemingly minor weight reduction has a bit of an impact on handling. The 450S tips in and turns more effortlessly than its sibling, inspiring confidence in turns. The Ather 450S In our opinion, the 450S holds the title of India's best handling electric scooter.

This good handling though comes at the cost of ride quality, which is a bit on the firmer side. Solo riders will feel some of the large bumps on the road, but the moment you get a pillion on board, the ride quality improves significantly.

The 450S gets a 200mm disc brake at the front and 190mm disc at the rear - same as the 450X, and is equipped with a combined braking system for added safety. The brakes feel sharp and responsive, and work really well in bringing the scooter to a halt quickly.

The seating posture on the 450S is the same as that on the 450X Gen 3 (which got a slightly revised seat). The rider’s seat height is just 780mm, which should make it very easy for riders of all heights to get their feet on the ground. The pillion seat, although a bit tricky to climb on, is probably the most comfortable in the business. The 450S, just like the 450X, gets a flat floorboard, which although not the largest in class, is decently accommodating for carrying office bags or groceries. The underseat storage, at 22 litres is not huge, but should be adequate for most. The only problem is that when you put the portable charger under the seat, you have practically no storage space left.

Unlike the 450X's color TFT screen, the 450S opts for a 7-inch color LCD console without a touchscreen. Despite this, the new console offers excellent visibility even in bright sunlight. While you miss out on Google Maps, the Ather App provides turn-by-turn navigation from MapMyIndia. Additionally, the 450S includes most features from the 450X, along with some new additions.

The absence of a touchscreen means the 450S introduces new switchgear, including a joystick for menu navigation. These new buttons are intuitive to use and feel very well made.

The 450S also offers mobile connectivity for music control and call/message alerts. One big new feature on the 450S is coasting regen, which provides mild regenerative braking when you release the throttle, creating a similar experience to engine braking on an ICE scooter. This feature allows the battery to charge a little bit when you release the throttle. The Fall Detection feature shuts off the motor in the event of a crash and automatically alerts your chosen contacts through the Ather App.

Auto Hold, a favourite from the 450X, is present on the 450S as well, and works beautifully when stopping on an incline. Plus, there’s a one-touch reverse mode now that is a convenient addition. There’s also an emergency stop signal feature, which will flash the brake light rapidly under hard, emergency braking, notifying other road users behind you that you’re slowing down rapidly, thereby increasing safety

If you like your electric scooters to be a little sporty and fun, the 450S is a great option. However, if the 90km of real world range isn’t enough for your needs, you might need to consider other options like the Ola S1 Pro or even the Ather 450X. Although the 450S might seem a bit pricey compared to the competition, Ather’s reputation for making solid scooters which handle Indian roads and conditions like a champ, and features that work exactly as advertised, should make the slightly higher price a little easier to swallow.