There was a time in the Indian scooter segment when Bajaj Auto led the market with their popular Chetak scooter series and rivals like LML played along well. Out of the picture, a new revolution was set to arrive with the onslaught of geared scooters. Kinetic and Honda came into a JV and rolled out 2-stroke scooters with CVT gearboxes, they did well for a good span of time but then the JV came to an end due to the emission norms which 2-stroke Kinetic didn't pass. Kinetic tried in their own place but Honda brought a name which we have now associated with our hearts- The Activa which hit the production in 1999 and it devastated the gearless scooter market!
Also read: 2020 Hero Glamour 125 BS6 vs Honda SP 125 BS6: The Battle of 125s!
TVS already had the Scooty Pep series but it was mainly targeted towards women. Men always shunned the Pep series as it used to look very slim and lacked a masculine appeal. Honda Activa, on the other hand, was accepted by both the genders thanks to its wide body and sober aesthetics. Honda Activa crossed 2.5 crore sales milestone in November 2018. Enough of the history lesson, now it is time to know how and why the Honda Activa dominated the market!
Reliability
Honda's engines are known for their reliability and buttery smooth operations, Activa is no exception. 109.51cc single-cylinder engine delivers great power in city traffic and it is extremely smooth too. Reliability is a score in favour of Activa, you can easily do 50,000 plus kilometres on the ODO without any engine repair and overhaul. The latest Activa 6G also gets Fuel-injection which makes it BS6 compliant. The full metal body which is solid, reliable and can withstand abuses our daily life throws at it.
Features
Honda Activa has always been a fairly equipped scooter and it is getting better with every generation change. The latest Ativa 6G we have in the marker gets telescopic forks, semi-digital console, LED headlight, a silent starter with ACG, external fuel filling cap, engine kill switch integrated with starter button, 3-step adjustable rear suspension and combined braking system. Activa is also offered with a 125cc engine which offers even more features.
Efficiency
Honda has always tried to increase fuel efficiency with the passing generations of the Honda Activa. Honda unveiled its Honda Eco Technology (HET) with the Activa 3g and Honda claimed 60 kilometres against a litre back in 2015. Honda Activa 6G now claims 10% more mileage than the previous generations thanks to globally acclaimed eSP technology and addition of Fuel-injection system. The eSP technology helps in a silent start, reduces friction and increases mileage by 10%.
Honda's Dealership Network
Honda has placed its dealerships and service stations in the length and breadth of the country and finding a Honda dealership isn't a task. Honda two-wheelers have the second-largest dealership network in India after Hero Motocorp. With 6000 touchpoints in India, the service quality and ownership experience are also good as no Activa owner has problems regarding service and spares.
Pricing
Honda Activa 6G is priced at Rs 64,464 for the Standard variant and Rs 65,964 for the Deluxe variant. If we compare it with its direct rival which is TVS Jupiter, then the Jupiter range stars from Rs 61,449 and goes to Rs 67,911. All prices are ex-showroom, New Delhi. Despite a slight premium over the Jupiter in the base variant, Honda Activa delivers a perfect ownership experience with zippy performance and it comes out to be a perfect overall package.
