Hero Xoom 160 First Ride Review: Worth The Wait?

Indian aspirations are on the rise. We want the latest, the funkiest, the most technologically superior, the most feature-packed products in every walk of life. And that same holds true when it comes to scooters because until now, we've looked up to 125 cc products as big. But then the Yamaha Aerox rolled in and that instantly became the benchmark for large, sporty, and meaningful scooters. So, when Hero showcased the Xoom 160 concept a couple of years ago and finally launched it earlier this year at the Auto Expo, there were a lot of expectations. It was a bold step from Hero. But it has been a long wait for the maxi-scooter to finally hit the Indian roads. And now that it is here, we had some critical questions that needed answering. 

IS IT ADVENTUROUS?

Don’t let the design language of the Xoom 160 fool you into thinking that it is some form of a soft-roader, or Hero’s scaled-down version of the Honda X-ADV 750. It is just a scooter that looks rugged but not capable enough of doing muddy stuff. It doesn’t have the foundations or the necessary hardware for it. 

IS IT SUBSTANTIAL?

Hero has played it big and bold when it comes to the styling of the Xoom 160. It claims the scooter has the company’s Dakar rally racer-inferences but I struggled to find the resemblance. It is still pretty impressive and imposing at the same time, making it quite unique in the Indian context, especially from an accessibility standpoint. It certainly feels substantial both when you look at it at standstill as well as from the saddle. Hence, giving you that maxi feel is what the Hero Xoom 160 does brilliantly. 

What I wish Hero had made better is the quality of plastics used, particularly the matte black ones. They look a little cheap and can be easily prone to scratches. Overall, it has been put together rather well with nothing feeling rather flimsy. 

IS IT FUN?

The engine is a ground-up new design with a sense of liveliness packed into it. It isn’t the quickest or the raddest mills out there, taking a fair amount of time to reach speeds up to 65-70 kmph. It does feel noticeably quicker than the 125cc scooters in the market, though, which is exactly what you want from a scooter of this segment.

It will not beat the Yamaha Aerox in a drag race but it will keep pace with it on tours. There’s a certain amount of gruffness that you will appreciate as it toes the fine line between character and harshness. The throaty exhaust note adds to the sense of fun with the motor not feeling numb or lifeless.

One must not forget that the Xoom 160 has a rather large mill and expecting scooter-like great fuel efficiency is not going to be possible. Hence, even though Hero claims the Xoom 160 will return 40kmpl, realistically one should expect 35kmpl when ridden sanely and around 32-33kmpl while going gung ho. 

IS IT COMFY?

Don’t be too bothered by the 142kg weight figure as Hero has found a great way to mask its heft. The Xoom 160 is very well balanced with the mass cleverly optimised for you to not be super bothered by it. Moving it around in the parking is also not a pain and propping it on the main stand takes little effort. 

One cannot miss the spine and getting used to the lack of storage space on the floor wouldn’t take much time. What will take some getting used to is that you will have to sprawl your legs slightly wider than usual at traffic stops as the floor is particularly wide. The seat remains fairly accommodating enough so that even shorter riders find their footing rather easily. 

My grouse with the posture arises from the way the spine has been designed as it isn’t straight. It has an angle that makes gripping it an issue during sport riding. And in case you do decide to extend your feet forwards and go into a relaxed touring-friendly posture, your feet stick out dramatically. With my large size 10 boots, almost all of my toes were exposed and not protected in any manner by the body.

Another particular niggle with the Xoom 160 is the soft padding. This is a typical trait of Hero’s products and it starts to bug the rider on long tours. Urban hustling will not be a bother, though.

DOES IT SOAK BUMPS WELL?

Plush ride? Naah. The Xoom 160 offers a balanced and neutral ride with a taut suspension tune. Hence, on bad roads and small undulations, the imperfections filter through without causing a lot of discomfort. The rear shocks are particularly bouncy and take a while to regain composure. This feeling is a lot more controlled when riding with a pillion as the suspension is tuned for a two-up riding experience. If you're going to be riding solo, take it with a little bit of caution. It is definitely a tad bit on the sportier side, but not jarring and not painful like the original Aerox. 

IS IT SPORTY?

The Xoom handles city traffic with ease, lane changes requiring a little effort but nothing too demanding. Around long sweepers it holds its own well and is fun in its own right. Just don’t expect it to be sharp and nimble in the twisties cause then it will start to falter.

Now, one thing to absolutely note is that the MRF Kurve block-pattern tyres are not the grippiest. These fail to instill any amount of confidence and break traction almost too soon when it starts to rain. Grippier alternatives from Reise Moto would have made the experience all the more confidence inspiring.

DOES IT OFFER MAX CONVENIENCE?

Given the maxi styling, one would expect a large underseat storage space. However, it is far from being called generous or humungous. You do get the option of remote boot unlock, which is convenient, but the actual space is not more than most of its rivals. At 22-litres, it can just about gobble up an ISI-certified full face helmet. However, a proper internationally-certified one doesn’t fit rather well. Hero will sell you a top box of either 22-litres or 29-litres, with the latter likely to be capable of storing your helmet.

IS IT FEATURE-LOADED?

The main thing that still bugs me about Hero’s premium products is the fact that the feature list isn’t as impressive as its commuters. Keyless ignition and a smart key are good bits to have. But the switchgear: felt relevant for the 2010s, not 2025. In fact, the new Hero Glamour X 125 that was recently launched and costs nearly half a lakh rupees less, has better switches. 

And let’s just not talk about the dated LCD console. It is rather boring, plain jane and has no business being on a scooter of its ilk in 2025. Yes, it has bluetooth integration with turn-by-turn navigation but it feels out of place on the Xoom. Perhaps a future variant with the same colour TFT screen from the Hero XPulse 210 would serve the premium proposition of the scooter well.

WORTH THE WAIT?

Absolutely. The Xoom 160 meets India’s growing aspirations and is a great step-up from a 125cc scooter. It is just as competent in the city as it is on the highway. It delights you when you roll on the throttle and stays composed when taking on long sweeping bends. What we ideally would have wanted is for Hero to update the feature set on this maxi- scooter. The screen should not belong on a scooter such as this. And while it is at it, maybe some better tyres also. 

At Rs 1,48,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi), this Hero scooter is definitely worth your consideration. And the brand surely would like to pass on the new GST slab benefits on to the buyers, so expect the asking price to go lower as well.