Bajaj Chetak Urbane Electric Scooter: Same Price, Other Options

Here’s what else you could buy for the price of Bajaj’s first electric scooter!

Bajaj has finally launched the Chetak electric scooter at Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom Pune and Bengaluru) for the base Urbane variant. At this price, you have a variety of two-wheelers from different genres to choose from and here are some of the top alternatives:

Ather 450: Rs 1,06,926

The most obvious alternative is the Ather 450, which is priced at Rs 1,06,926 (ex-showroom Bengaluru, including FAME II subsidy). Compared to the Chetak, the Ather 450 comes with a lot more advanced, touch-sensitive, smartphone-compatible TFT instrument cluster with Over The Air update capability, fast-charging capability, lighter bodywork and a more sporty-looking design. It comes with a real-world range of 55-75km per charge, which is less than Chetak’s claimed range of 95km in Eco mode.

All said and done, the Ather 450 is only available in Bengaluru and Chennai at the moment. However the more premium variant, the Ather 450X, will be available in Pune, so expect the Bengaluru-based startup to introduce the standard 450 in Pune soon.

Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220: Rs  1,03,872

The Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220 is one of the most affordable true-blue cruisers that you can buy in India. Priced at Rs 1,03,872 (ex-showroom Pune), it is armed with a 220cc air-cooled motor with oil cooling. This cruiser puts out 13.99kW as opposed to the Chetak’s 4.08kW peak power. At 17.5Nm, it even makes 1.5Nm more torque than the electric scooter. 

Also, thanks to the 5-speed transmission, 13-litre fuel tank, and laidback ergonomics, the motorcycle is a lot more highway-worthy than the Chetak.

TVS Apache RTR 160 4V BS6 base model: Rs 99,950

Priced at Rs 99,950 (ex-showroom Pune, for the drum brake), the BS6 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is the only BS6-compliant motorcycle in this list. The BS6 version comes with a LED headlamp and fuel injection as standard. Its 159.7cc air-cooled engine with oil cooler generates 16.02PS and 14.2Nm. 

In the real world, the Apache RTR 160 4V BS6 doesn’t feel all that lethargic despite the slight drop in power compared to the BS4 model. Overall, this is a good choice if you want a motorcycle that offers a good balance between everyday commuting and the occasional weekend rides.

Vespa ZX 125 CBS: Rs 99,144

If you want an authentic, old-school, petrol-powered scooter, then you can buy the Vespa ZX 125 BS6 for Rs 99,144 (ex-showroom Pune). This scooter’s design language is quite similar to the Chetak and it is powered by a 125cc fuel-injected engine. 

Like the Chetak, it also comes with a trailing link front suspension and a single rear shock absorber. However, this scooter comes with a front disc as standard whereas the Chetak Urbane variant gets a front drum brake. Both scooters get a rear drum unit as standard.

Revolt RV 400: Rs 98,999

The Revolt RV 400 is the only electric motorcycle in this list. It is priced at Rs 98,999 (ex-showroom Delhi, including subsidies). However, what’s unique about this electric bike is that you can also opt for a monthly payment plan, under which you’ll have to pay just Rs 3,999 for 37 months. While this might be cheaper in the short term, you will end up paying a lot more cumulatively at the end of 37 months.

Another distinct advantage of the Revolt RV 400 is that it not only offers a lot more range (150km in Eco mode), but also gets the convenience of swappable batteries. Thanks to this, you can instantly swap the batteries at Revolt’s swap stations instead of waiting for it to charge completely.