The 110 cc scooter space has had one dominant model for the longest time, it is the Honda Activa! But, with the Xoom 110, Hero MotoCorp wants to have another crack at the segment! But the Honda Dio, is more suited to be a rival of the Hero Xoom 110. The Maestro 110 is still on sale, but it hasn’t fired the way it was supposed to. And ultimately, the goal is to get solid sales numbers, right? Is the Hero Xoom 110 up to the task, or not? That’s what we aim to find out!
Small but sprightly! The Hero Xoom 110 loves to zip around
Let’s start straight with the performance. The experience of riding the Xoom 110 complements its sport design. The motor feels very sprightly and even with my weight, it feels like a dash to hoot in and around the city! Yes, now Hero may or may not have billed it as a sporty scooter, but it definitely feels like one! Now, the spring in the step of this scooter is definitely more than any other 110 cc scooter. And yes, the pull from slow speeds is on the fun side and not on the boring, sedate side! And if you have enough real estate, you can cross 90 kmph too. The downside is that the engine feels low on refinement, with vibrations setting in early and clearing out as you increase speed.
Refinement is a little lacking at low speeds. Gets better at higher speeds
You will ride the Xoom 110 at slower speeds in the city and the vibrations cease only after 60 kmph or so. Yes, you will have to live with it, but it isn’t a deal-breaker if you are thinking so. The scooter manages to redeem itself by being a sweet handling machine. At 109 kg, it is not super light but it is compact, and fun to ride around in the city. Filtering through traffic is really easy and the scooter isn’t scared of corners either.
The Xoom 110 does not shy away from corners, in fact loves attacking them with gusto!
The wide 100 section tyre at the rear and a stable front end make cornering fun! The brakes have decent bit and good progression, so if you want to drop anchor in a jiffy, it is not going be a problem either. The ride quality is firm but not stiff, to the point of being uncomfortable. You will feel a few sharp bumps or ruts, but the regular undulations will be dealt with easily.
The 110 cc engine makes 8.05 bhp at 7,250 rpm along with 8.7 Nm at 5,750 rpm
The engine is paired to a regular CVT unit. And it is a frugal motor too. The scooter has average efficiency of close to 51 kmpl, which isn’t far off from the claimed efficiency of 56.5 kmpl. The Xoom does well to offer a range of 260 km plus on a single tank of fuel.
The seat on the scooter is nice and comfy for long commutes
And you won’t have any problems spending a lot of time on the move, with the scooter either! It offers comfy ergonomics, with a nicely padded seat, that isn’t too soft or too hard. Tall riders may find the seat cramped but not uncomfortable. Although, the space on the footboard is compromised to an extent by the open glovebox.
The digital display is not the coolest, but is neat and shows the required information
Hero has done well to give it a decent list of features too! There’s a digital instrument console, with Bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation and so on, but only on the top-spec ZX trim. The important bit is the real-time efficiency that the display shows, apart from the usual things.
The underseat storage is not the best in class but can accommodate groceries and books and the likes.
There is no space for a helmet or your bag though! And there’s a USB port to charge your mobile phone too.
These little LED lamps on either side, light up the moment you turn the handle. The throw is not that great though!
The feature that Hero highlights the most on the Xoom 110, are the cornering lights! Yes, it is an industry first feature for any mass market scooter or a motorcycle, for that matter. Let’s show you how this works! So you see, thanks to a fitted gyroscope and an accelerometer these cornering lights, light up every time the scooter changes directions. Now, I tested the feature in the dark and the illumination is not that great. Nonetheless, it is a fantastic feature to have.
We like the outgoing, sporty design on the Xoom 110. Refreshing to see this from Hero MotoCorp
The design on the Hero Xoom 110 is really sporty and it is going to make you stand out, whether you are a college-goer or a young professional, or just someone who owns the scooter. The H-Motif upfront on the LED headlight and the LED taillight looks cool and the overall design on the scooter is something that you wouldn’t see any other 110 cc scooter.
The LED headlight unit looks cool and futuristic
For all the good bits, Hero could have done well to offer more quality on the scooter. The plastic parts are not up to the mark and the finish isn’t at par with other scooters in the segment. It is something that some people will care about.
The other niggle is the fact that the Xoom 110 misses out on a multi-function key slot and an external fuel-filler cap, which is something that may irk you.
Hero says that it was done on purpose, because adding a fuel filler cap at the rear would have spoiled the sporty lines on the rear section of the scooter.
| Hero Xoom 110 Variants | Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi) |
| LX | Rs. 69,099 |
| VX | Rs. 72,299 |
| ZX | Rs. 77,199 |
Now, the Xoom 110 gets three variants – LX, VX and ZX. The variant we are riding today is the top-spec ZX variant. It gets Bluetooth connectivity, a wider 100 section tyre at the rear along with cast alloy wheels and a disc brake up front. Variant to variant, the Honda Activa is more expensive, while the Dio is more affordable. But the difference in prices isn’t huge.
Overall performance is more than likeable
The Hero Xoom 110! Well, it is scooter that actually delights you and frustrates you in equal measure! Because it has the potential to be the best in the segment. The performance and the dynamics are really good. Then, the design is excellent, and there is a tonne of features as well.
A little more focus on quality would have made it perhaps the best 110 cc scooter on offer
But the engine could have been more refined and the quality better! And then, there are misses like the multi-function key slot and the external fuel filler cap. But, having said all of that, the Hero Xoom 110 makes for a solid choice if you are in the market for a 110 cc scooter.
Photography: Apoorv Choudhary
