Honda Activa 5G vs Ather 450: Performance Comparison

Here’s how the two most popular scooters of their respective segments fare when it comes to performance!

Honda revolutionised the scooter segment when it launched the Activa. Its neutral styling along with the refined engine and bulletproof build quality made it the most sought-after scooter in India. Even in its fifth generation, the Activa is still the highest-selling scooter in India. Similarly, Ather Energy created ripples in the electric space with the launch of its first scooter, the Ather 450. Here’s how the two most popular scooters from different worlds fare against each other in our performance test:

Acceleration:

From standstill to 60kmph, the Ather 450 takes 8.29 seconds whereas, at 10.55 seconds, the Honda Activa 5G is 2.26 seconds slower. Being an electric scooter, the Ather offers a surge of torque right from the beginning whereas the Activa takes a little time to achieve the peak torque output - 5,500rpm to be precise. This explains the slight lag in acceleration. Another aspect which works in Ather’s favour when it comes to acceleration is the large pulley driveline, which multiplies the torque at the wheel. However, this comes at a compromise in top speed and that’s reflected in the numbers too: 80.23kmph in the Ather against 90.77kmph in the Activa. That being said, the difference in top speed is also affected by the powertrain’s power curve, apart from the final drive.

Braking:

Coming to a halt from 60kmph to zero takes 22.5m for the Ather 450. Interestingly, the Activa takes just 0.07m (7cm) longer. It’s pretty impressive considering the Activa gets 130mm drum brakes on both ends whereas the Ather gets a premium 200mm front and 190mm rear petal disc. Both scooters come with combined braking system as standard. Another reason why the Ather takes as long as the drum brake-equipped Activa to brake could be because of the low rolling resistance tyres. This type of tyre is designed for more efficiency rather than outright grip. Because of its inherent design, we had to go easy on Ather’s brakes in our tests as they have a tendency to lock up pretty quickly. On the other hand, the Activa is shod with conventional Ceat tubeless rubber on both ends.

Range/Mileage:

We are yet to test the real-world range of the Ather 450, but the brand claims a range of 75km on Eco mode, 65km in Drive mode and 55km on Sport mode. We tested the Honda Activa 5G’s fuel efficiency and it delivered a mileage figure of 58.1kmpl in the city and 55kmpl on the highway. With a 5.3-litre fuel tank, you’ll be able to cover at least 290km on a tankful, which is pretty impressive for a petrol-powered scooter. The Activa also gets the distinct advantage of instant fuel-up.

Also Read: Ather 340 vs Honda Activa 5G DLX: Running Cost Analysis

On the other hand, the Ather takes an hour to charge up to 80 per cent using the Ather Grid, a fast-charging setup. If you use the household 5 amp AC socket to charge, it takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes to reach 80 per cent. 100 per cent charge is achieved in 4 hours and 18 minutes. That being said, the cost of electricity is much lower than the cost of petrol.