Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) finally pulled the wraps of its secret new offering - Honda Cliq yesterday and the scooter has brought some surprises along with it. The all-new model is targeted at rural India as a cross between convenience and practicality, and is the most affordable offering from Honda's stable. Now, we've told you all you need to know about the Honda Cliq, and have also told you about our first ride experience, but we can't help but ask, how the does the new Honda Cliq stack up against Honda's well established models - Activa and Dio. Both models need no introduction in India with the Activa being the bestselling scooter in the country for the longest time. So, how does the Cliq compete against its siblings? We do a quick comparison on paper to find out.
The Honda Cliq looks rugged yet funky with its dynamic body work
Both the Honda Activa 4G and Honda Dio have a strong following in the Indian market. The Activa 4G is easily one of the most universally accepted scooters there is and that shows up in its design too. The Activa's styling is conservative but it has received trims and tweaks over the years, keeping it relevant and practical. The Honda Dio has always been the younger offering with a sporty design language and edgier body work. The body mounted front headlamp gives it the distinctive touch and we really like the LED DRL that was introduced on the 2017 edition.
In contrast, you could have a polarized opinion about the Honda Cliq. The design isn't the most likeable and that has to do with the utilitarian factor thrown in. Think of it like the Mahindra Bolero of scooters. The body work takes some time to get used to and there is a strong likeability for the scooter. The headlamp cluster is reminiscent of the Dio, while the side panels look funky with the striking decals and the additional cladding borrowed from the Navi.
The Honda Cliq gets USB charging socket along with CBS and AHO
The Honda Cliq is on par with its siblings with a USB charging socket, wide seat and ample of under-seat storage space. The wider floorboard has been incorporated to accommodate the legs and luggage, given the scooter's utilitarian application. You also get an optional rear luggage carrier on the Cliq scooter. The biggest difference on the Cliq though are the on-road, off-road tubeless tyres that offer improved grip even on poor road conditions. Given the road quality in the more inland parts of India (and some cities too), the tyres should really be helpful.
All three scooters get auto headlamp on function and Combi-Braking System (CBS) as part of the standard kit. The Dio is the only scooter here which misses out on the USB charging socket which is optional on the Activa.
The Honda Cliq is the most affordable offering here and the most compact as well. At 1745 mm in length, the Cliq is about the 36 mm smaller than the Dio, which is the longest scooter here, and 16 mm smaller than the Activa. The Cliq is also narrow at 695 mm, when compared to the 710 mm width of the other two scooters. Honda's rural offering remains the shortest at 1039 mm, while the Activa is the tallest scooter in this comparison at 1149 mm. Interestingly though, the Honda Cliq gets the longest wheelbase at 1241 mm, which 3 mm longer than its siblings.
The Honda Activa 4G is the oldest offering in this comparison and also the heaviest too at 108 kg. However, the sturdy scooter gets an all-metal body that is appreciated by many which makes for the additional weight. In contrast, the Honda Dio is considerably lighter with a kerb weight of 103 kg, whereas the all-new Honda Cliq sharing the same underpinnings is marginally lighter at 102 kg. Interestingly, the Honda Cliq weighs the same as the Navi, despite the additional bodywork.
2017 Honda Activa 4G
Much like the Navi, the Honda Cliq is derived from the Honda Activa and shares the same underpinnings. In fact, all three offerings here use the same 109.2 cc single-cylinder engine tuned for 8 bhp of power and 9 Nm of torque. The key difference though is that power comes in earlier on the Dio and Cliq at 7000 rpm, 500 rpm before the Activa 4G. Torque, on the other hand, is available at 5500 rpm on all three models.
While the output remains the same, the kerb weight will make a major difference in performance. Compared to the Activa, the Dio is much appreciated for its peppy nature being 5 kg lighter. Expect something similar from the Cliq as well, which is 6 kg lighter than Activa and gets plastic body work.
2017 Honda Dio
The Honda Cliq is the latest result of the manufacturer's domestic R&D division after the Navi. And much like the latter, the company has kept costs low on the Cliq scooter. Targeted at rural markets where the market penetration of automatic scooters is still low, the Honda Cliq gets a significant advantage with its pricing of Rs. 42,499 (ex-showroom, Delhi). The model is about Rs. 6600 cheaper than the Honda Dio and a healthy Rs. 8200 cheaper than the Activa 4G.
The price difference over Honda's older scooters should play an important role in attracting new buyers towards the Cliq. Its practical design makes it more diverse as well in terms of usability and that adds to the perks of the scooter.
The Honda Cliq will be available across India in a phased manner
The Honda Cliq looks promising and has been designed keeping smaller towns and cities in mind. Fortunately, Honda decided to not make it boring then. The Cliq offers similar features and powertrain as its siblings, albeit for a much lower price tag. What also works are the thoughtful additions like the wider floorboard and luggage rack that will help small business owners to transport luggage with less hassle. The Honda Cliq is built to a cost without feeling like one and that just might work in the scooter's favour.
