New Gen 3 Ather 450X And 450 Plus: Expectation Vs Reality

The new Ather 450X and 450 Plus are here and while they offer more range and better handling now, is the marque managing our expectations well? After all, Ather has been widely considered as the gold standard among the two-wheeled EVs here in India. Hence, here is a quick look at what’s new on the Ather 450s and what we would’ve liked over and above it.

Expectation - More Range

With brands like Ola and Simple squeezing out well over a 100km of range with their EV offerings, we were hoping the new Ather would also do the same, and maybe even better.

Reality
Ather has addressed the issue and now offers a 20 per cent larger battery pack. The old 2.9kWh battery pack is replaced by a larger 3.7kWh unit enabling the new 450X to deliver a 105km ‘TrueRange’ in Eco Mode, that’s up by 20km from Gen-2’s 85km. In fact Ather claims the ARAI range figure is 146km.

Expectation - More Performance

The Ather’s greatest trait is its performance calibration. Twist the throttle and power is fed to you seamlessly, and that’s why it’s such a fun scooter to ride. But, can you blame us enthusiasts for wanting more than its 90kmph top-speed?

Reality
Unfortunately, both the motor and its peak power (6kW) remain unchanged and hence, the new gen 3 is no more powerful than the outgoing gen 2. That said, Ather says, thanks to the larger battery pack, the performance load is now more evenly distributed among the cells. This not only helps in keeping the battery cool but also allows you to hold ‘Wrap’ and ‘Sport’ modes for longer durations.

Expectation - Multi-Level Regenerative Braking

In theory, this feature would’ve helped Ather get back some of the range while also improving the overall braking on the scooter.            

Reality
While the multi-stage, regen braking has not made its way to the new 450s, the new MRF tyres certainly help the scooter feel more sure-footed around corners and at greater speeds. While the braking hardware remains unchanged, the new tyres do not squeal as much under hard braking. Hence, while they still lock up, the whole experience is not as nerve-racking anymore.

Expectation - New Colours and Design

The design of the Ather 450’s is sporty and modern, but somewhat conventional. Hence, the option of youthful colours and possibly, a fresher design would have made the new deal sweeter.

Reality
This is the department where we feel Ather really dropped the ball. Yes, they revised the rearview mirror stems which offer better visibility than before, but everything else is the same, even the colours. The new tyres and mirrors help in accentuating the new Ather’s sporty look a bit, but a bit more from the designers at Ather would have been ideal.

Verdict

The new third-generation Ather 450X and 450 Plus are priced at Rs 1,57,507 and Rs 1,35,996 (ex-showroom including State subsidy), respectively. That’s Rs 5,106 more than a 450X Gen-2, and while it’s not too big a number given these updates, we are certain there was room for more on the Gen-3, but unfortunately, we can’t always have our cake and eat it too!