Vespa SXL 150

Among the Italian brand's five scooters in the 150cc segment, the Vespa SXL 150 stands out with a stylish design featuring a unique square headlight. The question remains: does it live up to its premium price tag? Let's dive into the details.

The Vespa has a very good looking design and it is highlighted by the square headlight with chrome accents, which complement the stylish chrome mirrors and brake levers well. The 5-spoke alloy wheels look good as well. 

Powering the Vespa SXL 150 is a 150cc, single-cylinder engine, delivering 10.79PS of power at 7,100rpm and 11.26Nm of torque at 5,300rpm. While the 150cc engine provides good initial acceleration, it is not that fast. The small difference in power compared to its 125cc sibling and the performance reflects that. Vibrations are minimal but the engine noise becomes more noticeable at higher speeds.

Sharing the same underpinnings as other Vespa models, the SXL 150 is built on a monocoque steel chassis that contributes to its excellent handling. The light and agile handling ability of the scooter helps in easily manoeuvring it through traffic. While the overall performance of the front disc brake could have been better, it does offer a good bite when the brakes are applied a bit harder. Notably, the scooter maintains stability even under heavy braking as the leading link front suspension is designed to minimise dive while braking hard.

Featuring a single side arm front suspension and a hydraulic shock absorber at the rear, the Vespa SXL 150 has a firm suspension setup that translates to a quite uncomfortable ride over uneven road surfaces. While the tyres offer good grip, the addition of a telescopic fork could have further improved the overall riding experience.

The semi-digital instrument console of the Vespa SXL 150 is neatly arranged, featuring a digital display for the fuel gauge and odometer. However, the switchgear quality falls short of expectations for a premium scooter. On a positive note, the inclusion of a USB charging port and good underseat storage adds practicality to the scooter. The SXL 150 doesn’t get smartphone connectivity, which is a big miss for a premium 150cc scooter.

While it gets a sporty and stylish retro design language along with good initial acceleration and agile handling, the Vespa SXL 150, given its premium price of Rs 1,50,554 (ex-showroom), has a few areas it can improve on, like additional features, enhanced ride comfort, better performance, and improved switchgear quality.