Bajaj Chetak 3001 vs Ather Rizta S 2.9kWh: Detailed Comparison

The Bajaj Chetak 3001 and  Ather Rizta S 2.9kWh sit at almost the same price and even have similar range figures. The former’s a neo-retro styled  electric scooter, while the latter’s more of a modern, futuristic EV. So which is the one you should get? Let’s find out: 

Price & Variants

Prices mentioned above are ex-showroom Bengaluru

• Ather scooters have historically been a bit more expensive than rivals and the Rizta S is no different. The 2.9kWh trim costs almost Rs 8,000 more than the Chetak 3001 and while it’s not a dealbreaker, it’s definitely a solid gap. 

• Bajaj has priced the Chetak 3001 very competitively as always. In short, it’s the Bajaj electric scooter that wins this battle. 

(Image for representation purpose)

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Dimensions & Design 

• The Ather Rizta’s seat is the more spacious of the two but is also quite a lot wider. So while the seat height is accessible, the thick seat might be the reason shorter riders wouldn’t be able to flat foot as easily on the Rizta, when compared to the Chetak, which is a lot slimmer. 

• There’s a difference in the way the  scooters are styled as well. While the Rizta isn’t as pointy and sharp as the Ather 450 scooters, it looks modern, especially by family scooter standards. The Chetak, on the other hand, takes the neo-retro route and we have to admit, it looks very handsome. In fact, the Chetak is one of the best looking scooters in India as of now. 

Features & Safety

• Both scooters have a lot of features but do not get them all as standard. Bajaj has something called the TecPac, while Ather has Ather Connect, both of which are the paid subscriptions through which you can unlock all the connected features. 

• In our opinion, most of these features are gimmicks that you will probably never use so it’s fine if you don’t opt for them. The Rizta already has important features like hill hold and FallSafe(detects the fall and cuts off the motor) as standard, so you don’t need to pay extra to unlock Ather Connect. 

• Another win for the Rizta S is that while it gets an LCD, it feels a lot more premium than the Chetak’s. Ather first introduced this LCD for the 450S a couple of years ago and the best part is that it doesn’t feel like a compromise. It doesn’t have the appeal of a TFT but it still looks good, scores high on readability, and still feels quite premium. 

Motors 

• Don’t let the difference in the peak outputs misguide you, because both the Chetak 3001 and Rizta S 2.9kWh are fairly docile scooters. If you twist the throttle hard you will see that the Rizta has more performance but for most purposes, they’re pretty much on par. 

• The Rizta S does have the higher top speed, so if your commutes include riding on the highway, the Rizta S will be more competent out there without a doubt. 

• One thing though, is that both the Chetak and the Rizta aren’t exactly small  like the Ather 450X. So if you like riding in a spirited manner and going for small gaps in the city, you’ll have to keep that in mind. 

• Where the Rizta S lags behind though, is with its ride quality. Unfortunately it’s only a bit more comfortable than the 450X. While it’s not a dealbreaker, we’re used to experiencing those plush comfort levels on family scooters like the TVS iQube, TVS Jupiter 110, and Honda Activa 6G. And that makes us wish that the Rizta was just a bit more pliant. While the Chetak isn’t superbly comfortable in itself, it does the job better than the Ather. 

(Image for representation purpose)

Verdict 

The Ather Rizta S 2.9kWh is better than the Bajaj Chetak 3001 in terms of features, performance, and looks (if you want something more modern). But the ride quality is where the Chetak takes the cake and that’s an extremely important aspect for a family scooter. Combined with the fact that the Chetak 3001 is the more affordable scooter makes it the winner of this comparo. 

That said, if you’re on the younger side and are ready to bear a bit of discomfort, the Rizta S 2.9kWh is more spacious and its better performance might appeal to you more than the Chetak. Those looking for a slightly higher top-speed and better claimed range may also consider the higher-end variant, the Rizta S 3.7kWh.

Comparisons With Other Rivals:

• If you want something fun to ride, get the iQube 2.2kWh, but if you want something more commuting-oriented, get the Chetak 3001
• Your parents might like the old school Chetak more while you will gravitate towards the fun little iQube S
• If comfort is your number one priority, the Chetak is more comfortable than the Rizta Z
• The Chetak looks better and is a lot more reliable than the Ola S1X
• The Ola S1 Pro 4kWh might have more performance and range but the Chetak is a scooter you can rely on much more easily
• The VX2 Plus’ removable batteries will help you if you don’t have a charging port nearby
• The Vida V2 Pro might have more range but the Chetak is the better selling scooter which might give you more peace of mine
• The Chetak 3001 is more comfortable of the two but the Indie’s massive storage facilities might make it more practical, if storage is of utmost importance for you
• Chetak 3501 vs Ampere Nexus ST - The Nexus ST is a good scooter but it’s not as popular as the Chetak, making the Chetak the safer purchase of the two.