Ather 450S

The Ather 450S is the latest addition to Ather Energy's electric scooter lineup, designed to offer an affordable alternative to their flagship model, the 450X. The key differences between the two being a smaller battery and a slightly less powerful motor along with some less features on the 450S. 

Design And Colours

Maintaining the same design language as the 450X, the Ather 450S exudes a sharp and sporty aesthetic, coupled with a relatively narrow profile. While the design remains appealing, it has not evolved since the original 450X. So for now, the 450S and 450X can be differentiated only by the small name sticker on the front apron and the 450S' colour LCD console. 

Battery And Range

One notable change in the Ather 450S is the 2.9kWh (0.8kWh less than the 450X) battery pack, resulting in a slightly lower ARAI certified range of 115km, as opposed to the 450X's 145km. Ather, however, asserts that in real-world usage, the 450S can still deliver a commendable range of 90km, making it suitable for most daily commutes. It's crucial to mention that Ather's range predictions have proven to be highly accurate, ensuring customers receive the expected performance. That said, those with very long daily commutes or limited charging options might not find the 450S to be a very suitable choice.

Motor And Performance

The Ather 450S features a motor with a peak output of 5.4kW and 22Nm, slightly less powerful than the 450X's 6.4kW and 27Nm. This translates to a slightly slower acceleration, with the 450S reaching 0 to 40kmph in 3.9 seconds, compared to the 450X's 3.3 seconds. This difference becomes more apparent as speed increases.

The 450S offers three riding modes: Smart Eco, Ride, and Sport, lacking the Warp mode found in the 450X. Despite this, the 450S remains notably quick in Sport mode. And importantly, it shares the same top speed as the 450X, capped at 90kmph.

Handling And Ride Quality

Built on the same platform as the 450X, the Ather 450S incorporates an aluminum and steel hybrid chassis, telescopic fork, monoshock and 12-inch wheels. The key difference lies in the smaller battery pack and motor, resulting in a lighter kerb weight of 108kg, which is 3.6kg less than the 450X. This minor reduction in weight significantly enhances handling, instilling confidence in corners. However, this exceptional handling comes at the cost of a somewhat firmer ride quality. While solo riders may feel road imperfections, the ride quality improves noticeably with a pillion on board.

The 450S features a 200mm disc brake at the front and a 190mm disc at the rear, accompanied by a combined braking system for enhanced safety. The brakes offer sharp and responsive performance, bringing the scooter to a rapid stop.

Comfort And Storage

The seating posture of the 450S aligns with the 450X Gen 3, offering a seat height of 780mm, ensuring accessibility for riders of various heights. The pillion seat, though slightly challenging to access, is considered one of the most comfortable in the segment. The flat floorboard, while not the largest, provides reasonable space for carrying items like office bags or groceries. The 22-liter underseat storage, though not expansive, should suffice for most needs. However, accommodating the portable charger under the seat leaves minimal storage space.

Features

The 450S’ 7-inch LCD console has excellent visibility, even in bright sunlight. While it lacks Google Maps, the Ather application includes turn-by-turn navigation from MapMyIndia. Additionally, the 450S maintains most features of the 450X and introduces some new ones.

The absence of a touchscreen necessitates new switchgear, including a joystick for menu navigation, which we found to be intuitive and well built. The 450S also offers music control and call/message alerts. A standout feature is coasting regen, providing mild regenerative braking when you roll off the throttle, similar to engine braking on an ICE scooter. This functionality aids in recharging the battery during deceleration. The Fall Detection feature shuts off the motor during a crash event and alerts chosen contacts through the Ather App. Auto Hold, a favoured feature from the 450X, is present in the 450S and functions smoothly when stopping on inclines. Additionally, a one-touch reverse mode has been introduced for added convenience, along with an emergency stop signal feature that rapidly flashes the brake light during hard braking, enhancing safety.

Price And Rivals

The Ather 450S is competitively priced, with an ex-showroom price of Rs 1.30 lakh. However, to access the full range of features mentioned earlier, opting for the Pro Pack is necessary, which adds Rs 13,000 to the price, bringing it to Rs 1.43 lakh. While this may appear slightly expensive, Ather offers the flexibility to upgrade to the Pro Pack at a later date. The Ather 450S competes with electric scooters like the Ola S1 Air, Bajaj Chetak, and TVS iQube.

Should You Buy The Ather 450S

For those seeking a sporty electric scooter, the Ather 450S presents a compelling option. However, if the 90km real-world range falls short of your requirements, alternative choices like the Ola S1 Pro or the Ather 450X may be more suitable. Despite the 450S's relatively higher price, Ather's reputation for producing scooters that excel on Indian roads, along with features that perform as promised, make the investment easier to justify.