This is Hero Motorcorp’s first 125 cc scooter in the market and it’s up against some tough competitors. The Hero Destini 125 has been launched in two variants - the LX priced at Rs 54,650 and the VX priced at Rs 57,500, ex-showroom. As far as prices go, it is priced competitively against the Honda Activa 125 and Suzuki Access 125, its main rivals.
Even in the 110 cc scooter segment, it has been up against rivals like the TVS Jupiter and Honda Activa 110, where it has always been a battle for the number three slot. So in the 125 cc segment, Hero has tried to load the Destini with as many features as possible, without getting too pricey.
Hero Destini 125 vs Honda Activa 125
Hero is positioning the Destini 125 as a family scooter - which means it doesn’t quite compare with the likes of the TVS NTorq and the Aprilia SR 125 from Piaggio. Those are sporty scooters.
The Destini 125 is 1,809 mm long and 729 mm wide – which makes it slightly shorter, but wider than the Honda Activa 125. Both scooters have similar ground clearance of 155 mm.
The scooter comes with a digital & analogue instrument panel, with side stand indicator thrown in. A key feature of this scooter is its i3S tech – a start-stop system that automatically switches off the engine in traffic, which ends up saving fuel. Although Hero hasn’t given out official fuel economy figures, it claims its about the same as the rest of the segment, which is about 60 kmpl.
The scooter also sports an underseat lamp and USB charging port. It comes with 10-inch wheels front and rear, while its rival sports 12-inchers. Also it has drum brakes on both wheels, while the Honda Activa gets a disc up front on its top-end variant. The Hero Destini 125 also has a combi-braking system, where both brakes apply even if only one brake lever is pulled.
The pricing is what is attractive at first. And that’s the advantage Hero is hoping will shape the Destini 125’s destiny.
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