The scooter segment in India is an integral part of the two-wheeler market in India. Scooter consumers are growing day by day, thanks to the extreme ease of handling of these vehicles. These scooters are lightweight, gearless, easy to ride, and come with reasonably good mileage figures. All these factors have made scooters a reliable vehicle for commuting and short distances.

Some of the most prominent models in the Indian scooter segment are the Honda Activa, Vespa S, Suzuki Swish and Mahindra Rodeo. Here’s a look at these models against each other.

Appearance: If looks can kill, then no other scooter has the charisma of the Vespa S, which is so vibrant and eye-catching. He stands out from the crowd because of this and therefore cannot go unnoticed. Scooters like the Honda Activa, on the other hand, have the same old bland design and colours, which are less inspiring.

However, the Mahindra Rodeo and Suzuki Swish come with much more attractive colors and graphics than the segment leader Activa. If styling is your main choice, Vespa is the best, followed by Swish and Rodeo. The Activa will be the least preferred model for those looking for a stylish scooter.

Engine power: The Honda Activa is powered by a 124.9 cc air-cooled engine with 8.75 hp of power and 10.1 Nm of torque. An average mileage of 55 kmpl is offered on city roads. The Vespa S is powered by a powerful 125cc air-cooled engine, 10.1PS and 10.60Nm, with a mileage of 57 kmpl on urban roads. The Suzuki Swish is powered by an air-cooled 124cc engine with an output of 8.7PS and a torque of 9.8Nm, with a mileage of 56.3kmpl on urban roads. The Mahindra Rodeo is powered by an air-cooled 124.6cc engine with 8.2PS of power and 9Nm of torque, with a mileage of 45.6 kmpl. The Vespa is the fastest and most powerful of all, while the Rodeo is the weakest of all.

Cost: The new Activa has an ex-showroom rate of INR 68700/- and above. The corresponding figures for Vespa S, Swish and Rodeo are INR 87450/-, 57300/- and 57600/- respectively. The Vespa is the most expensive, while the Swish and Rodeo are about the same price and the Activa is not very cheap.

Conclusions: Although the Vespa looks great and runs faster and more powerful than the others, its premium price cannot be justified by performance. Honda offers reasonable ride quality and has many desirable features, but its price can be much higher. Swish is competitively priced and comes with good ride quality and features. Rodeo, while competitively priced, is let down by poor performance.