Can the Dio 125 Be The New King Of The 125cc Sporty Scooters?

Honda has given the Dio nameplate, which is a trend-setter for sporty 110cc scooters, a 125cc model (with its H-Smart features) recently to take on the TVS NTorq 125. The NTorq 125 completely changed the 125cc sporty scooter segment in India when it arrived and has been the undisputed king of it since then. And with the Race XP variant, it set a new performance benchmark in its class. Suzuki also came up with the Avenis 125 a couple of years back in two variants - Ride Connect and Race Edition, to tackle the NTorq in its home front. 

So, how does the Honda Dio 125 Smart fare against the TVS NTorq 125 Race XP and the Suzuki Avenis Race Edition, at least on paper? Let’s take a look:

Engine

Specifications	Honda Dio 125 Smart	TVS NTorq 125 Race XP	Suzuki Avenis Race Edition
Engine	123.97cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine	124.8cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine	124cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine
Power	8.25PS	10.2PS	8.7PS
Torque	10.3Nm	10.5Nm	10Nm

The TVS NTorq 125 Race XP has a big advantage over the Honda Dio 125 Smart and the Suzuki Avenis Race Edition with 1.95PS and 1.5PS over them respectively. Even the base variant of the NTorq 125 produces 1PS and 0.6PS more over the sporty scooters from Honda and Suzuki. So, the trend setter for the sporty 125cc segment is still providing the most exciting performance. But there is something else that is more advantageous for the Dio 125 and the Avenis. More on that later, though.   

Underpinnings

The suspension setup in all three scooters is similar but the Honda Dio 125 gets a 3-step adjustable monoshock which will allow you to adjust the suspension according to your needs. But, the NTorq 125’s bigger 12-inch tyre at the rear should provide more stability compared to the 10-inch rear tyres available in the Dio 125 and the Avenis. 

Dimensions

The stability of the bigger 12-inch rear tyre should be complemented by the longer wheelbase on the TVS NTorq 125. 

The Honda Dio 125 Smart has the highest ground clearance among the three sporty scooters. So, it should be able to handle rough surfaces and undulations more easily, which is a boon in Indian road conditions. Also, it is the lightest scooter compared to the NTorq 125 Race XP and the Avenis Race Edition. So, the Honda Dio 125 Smart should be more agile and easier to handle in the urban jungle.  

Features

Honda has given the Dio 125 Smart its H-Smart features with a key fob that allows you to lock/unlock and start the scooter without inserting the key among other functionalities. But it misses out on turn-by-turn navigation and Bluetooth connectivity compared to the NTorq 125 Race XP and the Avenis Race Edition. 

The connectivity features like voice assist available in the NTorq 125 are available through an app. The other features like incoming call alert, SMS alert, missed call alert are displayed on the instrument console. The same goes for the Suzuki Avenis as well. But if you want a TFT instrument console with a full range of connectivity features, then the NTorq 125 has you covered with the XT variant. It gets a fully-digital TFT console that has voice assist and displays navigation, social media notifications and even cricket scores on top of the standard smartphone notifications!

And to top it all, the TVS NTorq 125 Race XP gets two riding modes which will help you immensely in controlling the power delivery of the scooter.  

As we have seen, the Honda Dio 125 Smart falls way short of the features expected in a sporty 125cc scooter these days.

Price & Verdict

(all prices ex-showroom Delhi)

After looking at all the aspects of the scooters, the Honda Dio 125 gets lesser performance and features than the other two scooters. It is lighter, though, which should make it a better handling scooter. And it also comes with the lowest price tag, which is always a vital factor. But if you shell out just Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,341 more for the Suzuki Avenis Race Edition and the TVS NTorq 125 Race XP respectively, you get more performance and much more features to make your everyday commutes more exciting and convenient at the same time. 

And lastly, atleast on paper,  the NTorq 125 Race XP is still the best option when it comes to a 125cc sporty scooter with its combination of superior performance, apt handling characteristics and extensive features list.