TVS Motor Company has made its foray in the 125 cc scooter segment with a bang with the new NTorq 125. The new scooter has been launched at a competitive price tag of Rs. 58,750 (ex-showroom, Delhi) and looks compelling on paper with its sporty design, impressive power figures and a host of features. In fact, the TVS NTorq 125 is India's first Bluetooth-enabled scooter that allows you to connect your smartphone and access a host of features. The NTorq 125 then, is a promising offering and will be fending off competition from two models. That's the segment leader Suzuki Access 125 and the relatively new Honda Grazia we are talking about. Both these scooters have been liked by the masses and will pose a threat to the new NTorq. With the latter looking extremely promising, we do a quick spec comparison on paper to see how the three models stack up against each other. Also Read: Auto Expo 2018 Live Updates
Also Read: TVS NTorq 125 Scooter Launched In India
(The TVS NTorq 125 looks stylish, sharp and bold)
The 125 cc segment is witnessing a lot of action now and finally customers have a number of offerings to choose from. The TVS NTorq 125 is the newest offering in this space, and is also the most novel as well. The design language is sporty and upmarket, a huge departure from the likes of the TVS Jupiter. The 125 cc scooter gets sharp lines, slender body and a tall stance. The headlamp cluster is located on the front apron with a DRL and the model comes with alloy wheels, split grab rails and an LED taillight.
The Honda Grazia is the second most recent product in this segment and gets a sporty profile with a conventional design. The styling is aggressive, but the scooter keeps the overall design familiar in a bid to keep things comfortable to a wider audience. The Suzuki Access 125, on other hand, is the most unconventional here with retro-inspired styling. The design though reaches out to a wider target audience, unlike the Grazia and NTorq, which are largely targeted at younger and urban customers.
(The TVS NTorq gets Bluetooth-enabled navigation assist and smarphone connectivity)
The TVS NTorq takes the cake here with a massive list of features on offer. The NTorq gets the SmartXonnect feature, a Bluetooth-enabled connected technology system that connects your Android smartphone (for now) with the scooter's system. This opens up the system to a host of features including navigation, in-coming calls and SMS alert, parking location assist and phone battery strength. A complete LCD display for the instrument console is the most advanced in the segment currently and offers op-speed recorder, in-built lap-timer, service reminder, 2 riding statistic modes: Street and Sport.
The Honda Grazia's digital display is basic in comparison, but does its job well with a digital tachometer, trip meter, clock and an odometer. In comparison, the Suzuki Access still uses an analog cluster with a small digital display. The unit looks from a previous generation compared to the other two scooters, especially the NTorq.
(The Honda Grazia is loaded with features and makes the Access look retro)
All three scooters use alloy wheels with tubeless tyres and get a front disc brake. The latter though is standard on the NTorq, while it also gets an engine kill switch. The Grazia is the only offering to get a complete LED headlamp while the NTorq gets a DRL. The TVS NTorq also gets the largest underseat storage at 22 litres, followed by the Access' 21 litre capacity and the Grazia's 18 litre space.
(The Suzuki Access is 5 kg lighter than the Honda Grazia, while the NTorq is the heaviest)
TVS has positioned the new NTorq 125 as a sporty scooter and says the model was developed with inputs from TVS Racing. The model is the most powerful in this comparison with its 124.79 cc single-cylinder, 3-valve engine producing 9.3 bhp and 10.5 Nm of peak torque. The kerb weight measures at 116 kg, making it heavier than its rivals. Both the Suzuki Access and Honda Grazia are similarly specced with their engines making 8.5 bhp and a little over 10 Nm of torque. What changes is the kerb weight on the scooterrs with the Access being the lightest at 102 kg. The Grazia sits in the middle weighing 107 kg. While the Access has proven to be the quicker off the two, it needs to be seen if the NTorq is as fast as it claims to be. TVS says the scooter can hit 0-60 kmph in 9 seconds while the top speed is a claimed 95 kmph.
(The TVS NTorq 125 wins points for its stylish design)
The TVS NTorq feels bang for the buck with its plethora of features and a price tag of Rs. 58,750. For nearly the same price, the Suzuki Access 125 is also on offer for the disc brake variant and is priced at Rs. 58,350. However, feeling grossly overpriced compared to the competition is the Honda Grazia that will set you back by Rs. 62,505 for the range-topping disc variant.
The TVS NTorq 125 looks promising but will appeal to only a younger audience. Right from the styling, performance and features, the scooter is intended for a younger customer base. In contrast, Suzuki Access is targeted at a wide audience. The simplistic scooter appeals to a host of buyers, especially the conservative ones but lacks the features that the competition has to offer. The Honda Grazia then, manages to sit in the middle bringing in a mix of old and new with familiar performance in an all-new design. That said, the NTorq looks promising and certainly something that will be appreciated. We look forward to riding this one.
