Hero Splendor Plus XTec Road Test Review: 5 Numbers That Define The Country’s Iconic Commuter

Mathematics has never been my strongest suit, and probably never will. But thanks to my job, there’s no escaping number-crunching. But as much as I hate this, for the review of the new Hero Splendor Plus XTec, I am more than happy to do so. While acceleration or braking figures may not be this humble commuter’s strength, these five figures tell the story of the Splendor’s success:

2.24 Lakh

That’s how many Splendors Hero MotoCorp sold in March 2022. In fact, this is the story for almost every month. This commuter accounts for over half the sales of the Indian two-wheeler giant. No other two-wheeler has come close to achieving what this bike has since its debut.

In fact, the second highest-selling two-wheeler in our market, the Honda Activa 6G, managed to sell just about half as much as the Splendor in March this year. The next figure tells you exactly why that’s the case.

95

That’s not the top speed of the Hero Splendor but the fuel economy we achieved on the highway. In the city too, its 83.kmpl mileage is commendable, and makes it the most fuel-efficient two-wheeler we have tested so far.

But Hero MotoCorp hasn’t compromised performance to achieve these mind-boggling figures. The 97.2cc sloper engine is peppy and has enough low-end grunt to make commutes enjoyable.

As much as we love the frugal engine, that’s not going to be enough to appease the tech-savvy generation, right? And Hero has taken care of that with the XTec variant.

5

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That’s the number of segment-first features the new Hero Splendor Plus XTec flaunts. Not only does it get an all-digital instrument console, but also features Bluetooth connectivity and USB charging too. There’s no navigation on offer, but it gets calls and SMS alerts. There’s also a real-time mileage indicator which, coupled with the i3s system, should help you milk out even more mileage from your fuel-sipper.

But that’s not all. The new Splendor now features a side-stand engine cut-off and a bank angle sensor that kills the engine when the bike tips over.

While the new features are definitely appreciated, the Splendor Plus XTec remains virtually unchanged.

28

Years, that’s how long the Splendor has been since the Hero Splendor made its debut and in all these years, it has retained its iconic design. Of course, over the years Hero has given it alloy wheels, new liveries and paint schemes, and even an LED DRL (exclusive to the XTec), but it still retains its square-ish headlight and indicators, slim tank profile and the long single-piece saddle.

Even the suspension and braking setup hasn’t seen a massive update for almost three decades, but even today it takes up anything you throw at it in its stride.

Now, coming to the final and most critical number…

72,900

That’s how much you’ll have to shell out for the new Hero Splendor Plus XTec. Considering that the current crop of 110cc commuters are priced lower than this variant of the Splendor, the XTec is by no means cheap. However, with over two lakh units being sold every month, Hero MotoCorp certainly knows what it is doing.

Verdict

The Hero Splendor has been in the Indian market for almost 30 years now, and despite the minimal changes, continues to be at par with its rivals. Now, with the Splendor Plus XTec, Hero MotoCorp has pushed the envelope further, giving this puny commuter a bunch of features that even the 110cc or most 125cc motorcycles do not have. These, coupled with the nimble handling and excellent fuel economy, are what keep it relevant even today.