The premium maxi-scooter segment is steadily gathering momentum in India, and Honda has now committed to it with the unveiling of the much-anticipated ADV160. The adventure-styled scooter joins the Hero Xoom 160 and Yamaha Aerox 155, giving buyers another premium 160cc, liquid-cooled option.
Honda, however, has arrived with a trick up its sleeve. The ADV160 has been showcased with an E85-compatible flex-fuel engine, making it the first flex-fuel scooter to be showcased in India. We compare its specifications with those of its closest rivals to see how the three stack up on paper.
Honda ADV160 vs rivals: Engine and output
The ADV160 produces the most power and torque.
Honda has the upper hand on paper here, producing the highest output while also boasting the best power-to-weight ratio of the three. Interestingly, these output figures are marginally higher than those of the ADV160 sold in several overseas markets. Honda also pulled a surprise by showcasing the ADV160 with an E85-compatible flex-fuel engine, making it the first flex-fuel scooter to be showcased in India. While ethanol’s higher octane rating can allow manufacturers to adopt more aggressive engine calibration, Honda hasn’t attributed the ADV160’s class-leading performance specifically to its flex-fuel capability. The Aerox 155 follows closely behind and, thanks to its lower kerb weight, isn’t far off the ADV160 in terms of power-to-weight ratio. The Xoom 160, meanwhile, ranks third on outright performance and also has the lowest power-to-weight ratio, owing largely to it being the heaviest scooter in this comparison.
Honda ADV160 vs rivals: Weight and dimension
The ADV160 comes with the most fuel-carrying capacity
Honda is yet to reveal most of the ADV160’s weight and dimension specifications for the India-spec model, so the figures above have been sourced from the scooter sold in international markets and should be taken with a pinch of salt. Even so, the ADV160 appears to strike a middle ground between its two rivals, undercutting both in seat height while offering the largest underseat storage and fuel tank. The Aerox 155 remains the lightest scooter here and also has the longest wheelbase, while the Xoom 160 is the heaviest but offers a higher ground clearance than the Yamaha.
Honda ADV160 vs rivals: Tyres, brakes and suspension
All three scooters get single-channel ABS
There’s little to separate the three scooters when it comes to cycle parts, with telescopic front forks, twin rear shock absorbers and single-channel ABS standard across the board. The ADV160 and Xoom 160 get a larger 240mm front disc, while the Aerox uses a slightly smaller 230mm unit. Hero has equipped the Xoom with the widest front tyre, whereas the Aerox gets the widest rear tyre. The ADV160, meanwhile, is the only scooter here to combine a 14-inch front wheel with a 13-inch rear, while both the Xoom and Aerox ride on 14-inch wheels at both ends.
Honda ADV160 vs rivals: Features
The ADV160 clearly leads the way when it comes to features. It is the only scooter here to combine a TFT instrument cluster with traction control, an adjustable windscreen and an idling stop system, while also offering the largest underseat storage. The Xoom 160 and Aerox 155 both get smartphone connectivity, navigation and keyless ignition, but rely on LCD instrument clusters. Of the two, only the Aerox offers traction control, while the Xoom counters with an adventure-style design and a competitive feature list. Overall, Honda has equipped the ADV160 with the most comprehensive package on paper.
