Honda Dio

The Dio has always had a stylish and sharp design, and the latest-gen Dio combines the sharp bodywork with graphics that gives it a more youthful vibe. While the overall shape is still similar to the older Dio, it adds modern elements like an apron-mounted all-LED headlight with a sleek DRL mounted on the handlebar cowl. At the rear, the sporty looking split grab rails are complemented by an angular tail lamp flanked by bulb-type indicators at either ends.

Powering the Honda Dio is a 109.51cc air-cooled BS6.2-compliant engine which produces 7.85PS at 8000rpm and 9.03Nm at 5250rpm. This makes it slightly more powerful and torquier than the Honda Activa 6G. In a typical Honda fashion, the engine is pretty refined, and comes with several friction-reduction technologies to ensure optimum refinement and mileage.

At 103kg (kerb), the scooter is on the lighter side. For the longest time, it used to come with a leading link front suspension. However, the newer generation versions come with a telescopic fork, improving the ride quality considerably, especially thanks to the larger 12-inch front wheel. That said, the rear still continues with a 10-inch wheel. The scooter still uses 130mm drum brakes at both ends. Honda could’ve given this new Dio a front disc, at least in the H-Smart variant. The scooter also has a seat height of 765mm which makes it accessible to shorter riders and gets a ground clearance of 160mm that can absorb most bumps and potholes without the bottom scraping.

The Honda Dio comes with a single-piece contoured seat that’s 650mm long. At 765mm tall, the seat is pretty accessible too. This coupled with the light 103kg kerb weight makes it ideal for beginner riders. The inclusion of a larger 12-inch front wheel and the telescopic fork makes it a lot more comfortable on bad roads than the older-generation Dio.

The Honda Dio comes with several features from the  Honda Activa 6G, like a silent starter. The external fuel filler cap has also made things quite convenient for the rider, and the side stand engine cut-off function adds an extra layer of safety.

The new fully digital instrument cluster is quite info-packed with real-time and average fuel efficiency aside from the regular set of information like a trip meter, fuel gauge, and odometer. The H-smart variant comes with quite a bit of additional features like we saw on the Activa 6G H-Smart like the remote key fob, instead of a physical key bringing new features such as remote locator, and proximity unlock. It also gets a silent starter for smooth, effortless starts.

The Honda Dio is a great choice for those looking for tried-and-tested options in the sporty 110cc scooter segment. While the addition of keyless features in the latest generation is welcome, it would’ve been a lot more helpful if Honda had offered smartphone connectivity with turn-by-turn navigation. Summing up, if you want Activa-like reliability with snazzy styling, then the Honda Dio should be a great buy.