2018 Honda Dio: What’s New?

A few days ago Honda launched the 2018 Dio in two variants: Standard and Deluxe. While the Standard variant received a price tag of Rs 51,292, the Deluxe variant has been priced at Rs 53,292 (ex-Delhi), a hike of around Rs 1,000 from the previous generation. So, what do you get for an extra thousand bucks this year? Let's find out.

What is new?

LED lighting

While its predecessor came with an LED strip and conventional headlight setup, the 2018 Honda Dio now comes with an all-LED headlamp unit lifted straight from the Honda Grazia and the new Honda Activa 5G. Considering the current competition the Dio goes up against, this is certainly a welcome addition.

4-in-1 lock

 

 

Another convenient feature taken from the Honda Grazia and the Honda Activa 5G is the new 4-in-1 lock, which includes an under-seat lock, handlebar lock and the ignition. While this may seem like a small upgrade, it certainly is a convenient feature to have.

Digital instrument cluster

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Honda has ditched the dated analogue console for an all-new fully digital one… only on the Deluxe variant, which is pricier by Rs 2,000. This instrument console comes packed with 3-step Eco Speed Indicator and service due indicator.

New Colours

Speaking of new things, the 2018 Dio comes in five colours: Orange, Yellow, Red, Blue and Metallic Grey. While the Deluxe variant gets Metallic Yellow, Metallic Green, Black and Metallic Grey paint schemes. But that's not it: for the extra dough, the Deluxe variant also comes with golden rims!

What's not?

Design

While the 2018 Honda Dio has received some significant updates, none of them are on the design front. It continues to sport the same youth-centric design with sharp lines and racy decals.

The Engine

Power still comes from the same 109.19cc single-cylinder engine, which produces 8PS of power at 7000rpm and 8.91Nm of torque at 5500rpm. This engine also powers the Honda Activa 5G.

So, does the 2018 Honda Dio justify its price hike? Certainly. For around Rs 1,000, the updates are worth it, considering you get LED headlamps and a 4-in-1 ignition lock on the standard variant itself. However, you do have to shell out an extra Rs. 2,000 for the fully digital instrument cluster and golden rims, which is quite steep. We really do wish Honda had offered these on the standard variant itself.