Ather 450X Gen 3 review: A change that matters

There are now over 40,000 Ather electric scooters on the road today. Every single one of them is a connected vehicle that is gathering all sorts of data on how they are being ridden and used. Ather says it now has over 218 million kilometres of ride data, and it has used all that information along with feedback from existing customers to make this – the 450X Gen 3.

Now, you’re probably thinking that there’s something wrong here because these images seem to show the same Ather 450X that’s currently on sale. And you’d be right because this scooter looks pretty much identical to the current 450X, apart from a new set of mirrors and different tyres. Everything else, from the bodywork and even the paint schemes, is the same – there isn't even a badge telling you that this is the new Gen 3 model.

Ather 450X Gen 3: battery

Fortunately, there are a couple of significant upgrades lurking under the skin and one of them is exactly what Ather customers have been asking for – a bigger battery. The previous Ather 450X had a 2.9kWh battery but the new one is now up to 3.7kWh. That means that the Ather 450X can now offer a claimed real-world range of 105km against the previous 85km (in Eco mode). We’ll have to carry out a full review to confirm that number, but previous experience with the 450X is that Ather’s claims are realistic and that the scooter’s range indicator is incredibly accurate.

Ather also says this battery will have a 25 percent longer life and a 20 percent improvement in thermal management. The company says that this means the scooter can now offer even more consistency in performance, whether you’re riding in a hilly area, or with a pillion. 

Ather 450X Gen 3: performance and chassis

The fan-cooled motor gets a slight bump in peak power output, from 6kW to 6.2kW, but the nominal power remains the same, at 3kW, and Ather claims the same level of performance as before. That means that the 450X will be able to hit an indicated top speed of about 90kph in its top two modes. 

Beyond that, most other things remain the same. The only change to the chassis is in the new mounting points for the larger battery and slightly revised suspension tuning to match the new tyres. Speaking of, the new MRF tyres offer a significant improvement in grip and the company has also moved to a wider, 100-section rear tyre. 

The bigger battery has resulted in a weight gain of about 4kg, but that’s not really something you’re going to notice on the move. We got to ride the scooter on the winding mountain road at Nandi Hills outside Bengaluru and the handling now feels more surefooted, primarily thanks to the new tyres that encourage you to push a little harder. This is definitely a fun handling machine. 

The brakes are unchanged, which means that they are strong, but the rear still locks a little too easily. While the suspension has been re-tuned to match the new tyres, the overall suspension comfort feels the same – it is firm over bad roads. It also remains quite a cramped scooter for tall riders. On the more practical side, the 22-litre boot space is unchanged and the same goes for the large portable charger.

Ather 450X Gen 3: features

While it looks the same, the Ather’s 7.0-inch TFT display now has smoother and faster responses, thanks to the system’s RAM being doubled from 1GB to 2. 

As for those new mirrors, Ather admits that the old ones were a case of form over function and these new ones are designed to be much more functional, while still being quite stylish. The company also admits that many customers have asked for a side-step footrest for the pillion rider, so they’ve come up with a neatly designed accessory that gels well with the scooter’s design.

Obviously, some of these upgrades, like the bigger battery pack, cannot be installed in existing Ather scooters, but the new mirrors and tyres can be. Unfortunately, the accessory sidestep can only be installed on the Gen 3 model so far, although Ather says they're trying to figure out how to make it backwards compatible.

Ather 450X Gen 3: price

This third-gen Ather 450X will replace the existing scooters and there will be a third-gen Ather 450 Plus on offer as well, which will have less range and lower performance. 

The bigger battery pack is going to drive up the price quite significantly, but a good amount of that has been offset by the FAME 2 subsidy and individual state subsidies. Depending on the city, the price has gone up by an average of about 5000 rupees, which is very reasonable.

So that's the Ather 450X Gen 3. As a generation change, it's a bit of a disappointment when it comes to the visual aspect, but it finally crosses the psychological barrier of being able to cover more than 100km per charge. That’s bound to make a lot more people consider one.

Also see:

Ather 450X Gen 3 video review