BREAKING: Honda Activa 125 Gets Smarter And Greener

After launching the Honda Activa 6G H-Smart, the Japanese manufacturer has followed suit with the launch of the updated Activa 125, compliant with BS6 Phase 2 (or OBD2) emission norms. The company now offers a new Honda Activa 125 H-Smart variant along with the already existing (but now updated to comply with the new emission norms) drum with steel wheels, drum with alloys, and disc variants.

What’s The Price? Who Are Its Rivals?

• Take a look at the prices variant-wise, and their comparison with the ex-showroom Delhi prices as on early March 2023:

• As you can see, Honda has hiked the prices of its already-existing variants as well. The Honda Activa 125 range is now better equipped to go up against the TVS Jupiter 125, Hero Destini 125 Xtec, and the Yamaha Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid. 

How Many Variants Are There?

• Honda has introduced a new H-Smart variant, in addition to the already existing three variants (drum with steel wheels, drum with alloys, and disc). 
• As the name suggests, the base variant comes with drum brakes and steel wheels.
• You also have the option to choose a variant with alloy wheels with either a front 190mm disc or a 130mm drum. More on the new H-Smart variant in the following paragraph.

What’s New?

The new H-Smart variant comes with the same set of features that Honda offers in the Activa 6G H-Smart variant. The Smart Key works in conjunction with a 5-in-1 lock switch on the apron. Here are its highlights:

• Smart Find: If you’re in the vicinity of your scooter, you can find it by pressing the Answer Back button. It will light up all the four indicators twice.
• Smart Unlock: You can lock or unlock the scooter without inserting the physical key. With this enabled, if there’s no activity after 20 seconds, the scooter will automatically lock its handle.  
• Smart Start: If the Smart Key is within the range of two metres of the scooter, then the rider can start it by rotating the knob on the apron to ‘Ignition’, and push the start button. There’s no need to insert the key with this feature.
• Smart Safe: The Smart Key and the ECU have an electronically matching ID, and the former has an immobiliser system that, as per Honda, prevents a non-registered key from starting the engine.
• The Smart Key fob also helps in unlocking the seat, as well as the fuel tank lid. That said, you’ll still have to use the knob to unlock the seat/fuel tank cap, and lift them up open physically. 
• To justify the premium, Honda is offering a small open glove box on the left side of the apron.
• The company also says it has redesigned the 18-litre underseat storage to optimise space better. That said, its arch nemesis, (and the best-selling 125cc scooter in India) the Suzuki Access 125, has a bigger 21.8 litre underseat storage.
• The 2023 Honda Activa 125 uses the same 124cc single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine, but it makes 8.3PS and 10.4Nm. That’s just 0.01PS and 0.1Nm more than the predecessor. While it is BS6 Phase-2 compliant, there’s no flex-fuel compatibility.

What’s Unchanged?

• Gets the same semi-digital console with a digital inset that shows real-time and average mileage, distance-to-empty, along with the other run-of-the-mill information.
• Other features including the LED headlight, chrome embellishments, silent starter, side stand engine kill function remain the same
• Retains the same underpinnings: telescopic fork, three-step preload-adjustable rear monoshock, a 190mm front disc/ 130mm drum, and a 130mm rear drum. 
• The base variant weighs 110kg whereas the alloy wheels equipped variants weigh 109kg.
• The fuel tank capacity also remains the same at 5.3 litres.

What Should Have Been Changed?

• The H-Smart variant is a welcome addition, but the convenience it offers is not very substantial. We’d have appreciated if Honda had equipped the scooter with smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. 
• Instead of the small open glove box, Honda should’ve given a proper full-sized, closed one with a USB charging port. That would’ve been a lot more practical.

ZigSays:

The Rs 2,000 premium for the H-Smart over the Disc with alloy wheel variant is nominal for the kind of practical features it offers. That said, despite the new feature, the scooter still lacks in the practicality department as both its primary rivals, the Suzuki Access 125 and the TVS Jupiter 125, are better. The former offers turn-by-turn navigation, whereas the latter comes with an apron-mounted fuel lid for extra convenience and a massive 33 litre underseat storage for extra practicality.