Ever since its rebirth in an electric avatar, the Chetak has earned itself a decent standing amongst other electric scooters, mainly for its premium feel and overall quality. Still, a lot of owners did make it evident that it needed a performance upgrade. Bajaj has finally given it a much-needed upgrade with an increased range, new features, and most importantly, a higher top speed.
Riding the newly updated Chetak Premium, the first thing I noticed was that the ride quality and general seating ergonomics remain unchanged, which is a good thing. A stiff suspension and chassis, almost always, amount to good handling and cornering. And while the top speed has gone up to 73 kph, from 63 kph on the older generation, the acceleration and throttle characteristics remain the same – linear and consistent. Another factor that we liked was the range prediction accuracy, which is pretty much on par with the benchmark.
What has changed is the battery pack, as it now features a larger 3.2 kWh battery pack, while managing to fit within the same dimensions. This has been achieved by the usage of more densely packed cells, to increase the range to 127 km on a single charge, as claimed by Bajaj. These updates, though they seem minimal to most, are pretty substantial in terms of the real-world functionality of the EV. The Chetak now also gets two dedicated ride modes, Eco and Sport, which regulate the acceleration while maintaining the 73 kph top speed.
The updated Chetak now features a new 5-inch TFT instrument cluster, which looks neatly laid out, along with revised switchgear, which, again, feels pretty premium and easy to use with riding gloves on. The connected features like the turn-by-turn navigation work seamlessly through the Chetak mobile app. We do have to keep in mind though, that most of these features are bundled with the TECPAC package, which pumps up the cost.
One facet of the EV that we did find lacking was the braking system. Granted, the test ride was subject to a sudden downpour, but nonetheless, we would have liked a bit more stopping power. The under-seat storage has gone up on paper, but it still can’t fit a full-face helmet though.
Overall, the Chetak Premium is still the same easygoing electric scooter that feels really nice to cruise around on. Quality, durability and reliability still seem to be the major selling points, and considering the updates made, it should be able to keep its current consumer base happy, and maybe even draw in new ones.
MOTODATA
Bajaj Chetak PremiumPOWERTRAIN
Motor:
Battery:
Peak Power:
Peak Torque:
PMSM type
3.2-kWh lithium ion pack
4.08 kW (5.47 bhp)
1.6 kgm
CHASSIS
Type: Tubular frame
BRAKES
F/R: Disc / Drum
TYRES
F/R: 90/90 R12 / 90/100 R12
DIMENSIONS
L/W/H (mm):
Wheelbase:
Ground Clearance:
Seat height:
Kerb Weight:
1896/724/1133
1330 mm
160 mm
NA
118 kg
CHARGING TIME
0-100%:
IDC Range:
4 hours 30 minutes
127 km
PRICE
Rs 1.35 lakh to Rs 1.44 lakh (ex-showroom)
