Bajaj and TVS! Two storied brands, with rich history and heritage, stepped into the electric two-wheeler segment, almost at the same time! And today, it is time for them, once again, to go head to head. The Bajaj Chetak and the TVS iQube, both these scooters have been in the market for three years now and this is the first time we are pitting them against each other, because these two scooters are traditional rivals in the real sense.
TVS iQube vs Bajaj Chetak: Design
(The Chetak has a nice retro design, with a Vespa-like flavour. It gets excellent fit & finish)
The iQube and the Chetak are poles apart in terms of design and yet look quite handsome. The Bajaj carries a quintessential neo-retro design, with the round LED headlight, curved front apron and the Vespa-esque silhouette and a shapely rear section. The fit and finish on the Chetak is excellent all around, and the scooter looks quite proportionate. The single-sided swingarm at the rear and the trailing link suspension show off the lovely 12-inch alloys.
(The iQube gets a conventional design and is solidly built too)
The iQube on the other hand, is more conventional in its design. Solidly built, the design on the iQube has universal appeal, having a fine balance of form and function.
TVS iQube vs Bajaj Chetak: Features
(The iQube S now gets a 7-inch colour TFT display and it can be controlled by a 5-way joystick on the left switch cube)
There’s a 7-inch colour TFT display on the iQube which is nice and easy to read. The theme changes depending on the mode you ride in. Plus, the display also shows when the scooter goes into regen mode. The controls can be accessed via a 5-way joystick on the left switch cube, which feels intuitive to use. The centre-piece on the Chetak is the circular negative LCD display which shows a decent bit of info but is not the easiest to read, especially in bright daylight.
(The Chetak offers more practicality and a wider, comfier seat, but scores low on features)
Both scooters get Bluetooth and app connectivity, with call alerts, geo-fencing, USB charging port as standard along with full LED lighting and a low-speed reverse gear. The TVS iQube gets turn-by-turn navigation additionally. The Chetak and the iQube get 18 and 17 litres of underseat storage. The Chetak also has an additional cubbyhole on the inside of the front apron. In terms of features, the iQube S edges ahead, and in terms of practicality, the Chetak takes the win!
TVS iQube vs Bajaj Chetak: Performance
(The Chetak offers a nice, comfy ride and looks good on the move)
The Chetak makes more power but the iQube makes more torque. The Chetak has a rated top-speed of just 63 kmph, which may be a little too less for commuting duties, especially in bigger cities, but it makes up in other departments.
(The iQube S feels more planted and is the better handing scooter of the two)
If it is performance that you are looking for straight up then the TVS iQube is a better bet. It has higher top-speed of 78 kmph. It handles better thanks to the telescopic front for and it is lighter at 119 kgs. So if it is speed and performance that you are looking for, then the TVS iQube is a better bet. But if it is comfort that you are looking for and practicality, then the Chetak scores marginally higher in terms of ride quality and comfier ergonomics. Plus, thanks to its metal body, the Chetak weighs 133 kilograms, significantly heavier than the iQube.
(The TVS iQube is also the sprightlier of the two)
The iQube feels more planted at higher speeds and feels lighter on its feet. Both scooters offer decent braking performance, in terms of feel and bite. Both scooters have two riding modes – the Chetak has Eco and Sports while the iQube has Eco and Power.
(The Chetak charges quicker than the TVS)
As far as charging times are concerned, the Chetak takes less time to charge than the iQube. From zero, the Chetak takes about 4 hours to charge fully, while the TVS takes up to 4 hours 30 minutes to charge fully with a 650-watt charger.
TVS iQube vs Bajaj Chetak: Prices and Verdict
| Prices | Bajaj Chetak Premium | TVS iQube S |
|---|---|---|
| (ex-Showroom, Delhi) | Rs. 1,51,958 | Rs. 92,976 |
| (On-road, Delhi) | Rs. 1,57,943 | Rs. 1,09,256 |
Bajaj says that the Chetak is doing really well in rural and semi-urban areas, that’s because the brand, the name ‘Chetak’, still has a lot of pull. It is a beautifully crafted scooter, it looks really good, is well finished is proportionate and is comfortable and practical as well. But the footprint of the Chetak is not as widespread as the TVS iQube. So, the winner of this comparison has to be the TVS iQube because if you are looking for performance and features, the TVS iQube makes a lot of sense. Plus, the big deciding factor is the fact that this is priced at Rs. 1.10 lakh (on-road, Delhi) while that is priced at Rs. 1.58 lakh (on-road, Delhi). So, there’s a huge price difference and yes, the TVS iQube comes across as a more well-rounded package.
TVS iQube vs Bajaj Chetak: Specifications
| Specifications | Bajaj Chetak | TVS iQube S |
|---|---|---|
| Motor (Hub Mounted) | Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor | Brushless DC Motor |
| Battery | Lithium Ion Battery (2.884 kWh) | Lithium-Ion Battery (3.04 kWh) |
| Max Power | 3.8 kW | 3 kW |
| Peak Torque | 20 Nm | 33 Nm |
| Gearbox | Single-speed Constant Mesh | Automatic |
| Front Suspension | Trailing Link | Telescopic |
| Rear Suspension | Monoshock | Adjustable Twin Shock Absorbers |
| Ground Clearance | 145 mm | 157 mm |
| Real World Range | 90 km (Eco Mode) 80 km (Sports Mode) | 100 km (Eco Mode) 75 km (Power Mode) |
| Weight | 133 kg | 118.8 kg |
| Top Speed | 63 kmph | 78 kmph |
| Underseat storage | 18 litres | 17 litres |
| Charging Time | 4 hours | 4 hours 30 mins (10-80%) |
