Honda QC3 vs TVS iQube vs Bajaj Chetak vs VIDA VX2 vs Ather Konarc: Comparison and Buying Guide

Comparing the Honda QC3, TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, VIDA VX2 and Ather Konarc comes down to what you value most. Buy the TVS iQube or Bajaj Chetak for a proven, easy-to-service scooter. Pick the VIDA VX2 for the lowest upfront price. Go for the Ather Konarc if you want the newest hardware and longer service intervals. Consider the Honda QC3 (₹1.35 lakh, 145 km claimed range) only if you live in one of its five launch cities, because Honda hasn't published its top speed or motor power yet.

You've probably got five tabs open — each with a different range number and a price that shifts by city. Same here. This guide strips out the marketing and compares these scooters on what you'll actually feel: real-world range, running costs, service, and everyday usability.

One heads-up before we start. Every range figure below is an IDC claim (the standard test-cycle number), and every price is ex-showroom, checked on 30 September 2026. Both move around. Use them to shortlist, then confirm with your local dealer. New to electric scooters? EVFY's roundup of the best electric scooters in India in 2026 is a good warm-up.

The fast verdict: choose this if...

• Choose the Honda QC3 if you live in Delhi, Agra, Cuttack, Surat or Kollam, want a fixed-battery scooter with a smart key, a 5-inch TFT and 32 litres of storage, and don't mind being an early adopter. Skip it if you need confirmed performance numbers or a dealer outside those five cities.
• Choose the TVS iQube if you want the safest all-rounder. It crossed one million customers in August 2026, comes in a wide spread of battery sizes, and TVS also sells it on a battery subscription from ₹59,999.
• Choose the Bajaj Chetak if build and space matter to you. It has a metal body and the largest standard boot here at 35 litres. Just decode the new C25, C30 and C35 naming before you shop.
• Choose the VIDA VX2 if budget and flexibility win. Removable batteries, a plug-in fixed-battery Go FB, and four battery sizes from 2.2 kWh to 4.4 kWh give you plenty of choice.
• Choose the Ather Konarc if you want the most modern hardware: a 14-inch front wheel, service every 10,000 km or a year, and a 7-inch display on most variants. Check delivery dates first, because the cheapest S 100 doesn't reach buyers until Q1 2027.

Specs and prices side by side

These seven rows are the variants that compete in the roughly ₹1.1 to ₹1.5 lakh band, which is where most family-scooter buyers land. Watch the two iQube rows: the 3.1 kWh is cheaper, but the 3.5 kWh is the fair match for the QC3.

Prices are quoted for different cities, so they aren't perfectly like-for-like. Subsidies, local taxes and introductory pricing (Honda's is one) all shift them. Get an on-road quote from each dealer before you compare.

A few cheaper options sit just outside this table: the Konarc S 100 at ₹1 lakh, and battery-subscription versions of the iQube (from ₹59,999) and VX2 (from ₹59,490 at launch). We'll get to what those really cost later.

Honda QC3: the newcomer with unanswered questions

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Honda launched the QC3 on 22 September 2026 at ₹1.35 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It's the company's third electric scooter in India after the QC1 and the Activa e:, and both earlier models were widely seen as under-equipped for their prices. The QC3 answers with a fixed 3.0 kWh battery, a 145 km IDC claim, a 5-inch TFT with Honda RoadSync navigation, and a smart key. EVFY's Honda QC3 launch report covers the colours, booking details and launch cities.

Here's the thing, though. Imagine walking into a showroom and asking the top speed, and the salesperson shrugs. That's the QC3 today: Honda hasn't published motor power or top speed. On paper it also matches the iQube 3.5 kWh on both price and claimed range, so it has to win on something else. Honda's answer is brand trust.

What works

• 32 litres of underseat storage, up from the QC1's 26 litres and not eaten by swappable batteries like on the Activa e:
• Smart key, TFT display and turn-by-turn navigation from day one
• A bundled portable charger that plugs into a regular 15A socket
• Honda's name and dealer network behind it

What doesn't

• No top speed, motor output or battery warranty details yet
• Sales only in Delhi, Agra, Cuttack, Surat and Kollam for now, through RedWing dealers
• No delivery timeline for the ₹5,000 bookings
• No price or range advantage over the iQube 3.5 kWh

Best for: early adopters in a launch city who'd rather have a Honda badge than a spec-sheet win. Everyone else should wait for the first real-world road tests.

TVS iQube: the safe, proven all-rounder

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The iQube has been on sale since 2020, and TVS announced in August 2026 that it has crossed one million customers. That's a lot of scooters on the road, which means a lot of known quirks and fixes. TVS was also India's top electric two-wheeler seller in August 2026, ahead of Bajaj, according to EVFY's August 2026 EV retail sales roundup.

The range starts around ₹1.11 lakh and climbs with battery size, from 2.2 kWh up to 5.3 kWh. The 3.5 kWh version is the one to compare with the QC3: about ₹1.36 lakh, a 145 km IDC claim, an 82 km/h top speed and a 5-inch TFT with 118-plus connected features. Reviewers describe a wide, supportive seat and a ride close to a petrol scooter's.

What works

• Six years of real-world use behind it
• A wide ladder of battery sizes, so you can buy only the range you need
• A battery-subscription option from ₹59,999 if you want a low upfront price
• Backed by TVS's petrol-scooter dealer base (the Jupiter alone has passed 9 million customers), which usually means a workshop within reach

What doesn't

• The 3.5 kWh takes about 4 h 30 min to reach 80%, slower than the Chetak C35 (3 h to 3 h 25 min) or the QC3 (2 h 40 min)
• Variant names, battery sizes and prices have shifted repeatedly through 2026, so quotes can get confusing
• 32 litres of storage, a little behind the Chetak's 35 litres (the MillionR special edition adds a front box for 35.5 litres)

Best for: buyers who want the lowest-drama choice and plan to keep the scooter for years. Ask the dealer to name the exact variant and battery size in your quote.

Bajaj Chetak: the metal-bodied one with the big boot

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The Chetak is the scooter you pick when you'd rather knock on the panel than tap a touchscreen. It has a steel body, a 35-litre boot and, according to Bajaj, more than 6 lakh riders. Reviewers regularly single out its roomy seat, which suits taller riders. In EVFY's top-trim comparison with the iQube and Ather Rizta, the Chetak 3501 managed about 120 km in eco mode and stood out for an accurate range readout and a strong headlamp for night riding.

The line-up is now three families: C25 (2.5 kWh, 113 km), C30 (3.0 kWh, up to 131 km) and C35 (3.5 kWh, 151 to 153 km). The C35 is the one that competes with the QC3. It comes in three trims that differ mainly in brakes, top speed and connectivity:

• C3503 at ₹1.24 lakh: drum brakes, 70 km/h, LCD display, Bluetooth
• C3502 at ₹1.37 lakh: front disc, 80 km/h, full app connectivity
• C3501 at ₹1.52 lakh: front disc, 80 km/h, 0-80% in about 3 hours

All prices are ex-showroom Bengaluru.

What works

• The largest standard boot here (35 litres) and a full metal body
• IP67 water and dust protection on the C3503, and reverse mode across the range
• A 3 h 25 min charge to 80% on the C3503, faster than the iQube 3.5 kWh

What doesn't

• The naming is a maze (C2501, C3001, C3503, C3502, C3501), so double-check which trim you're quoted
• Extras such as music control and guide-me-home lights need the optional TecPac
• At ₹1.52 lakh, the C3501 costs more than the QC3, the iQube 3.5 kWh or the Konarc S 161
• Standard warranty is 3 years or 50,000 km, so compare that against rivals before you sign

Best for: riders who want space and solid build, and who'll take a test ride to confirm the trim they actually need. If you don't care about a disc brake or 80 km/h, the C3503 is the value pick.

VIDA VX2: the flexible, budget-friendly pick

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Hero's VIDA VX2 launched in July 2025 with a headline number that made rivals nervous: ₹59,490 if you lease the battery instead of buying it. Since then the range has grown to five variants and four battery sizes, and there's now a plug-in fixed-battery option for people who don't want to carry packs around. EVFY's VIDA VX2 launch report has the original launch details and battery-subscription terms.

The current line-up, by IDC claim: Go 2.2 kWh (93 km), Go FB 3.1 kWh fixed (128 km, ₹1.13 lakh ex-showroom Delhi), Go and Plus 3.4 kWh (146 km) and Plus 4.4 kWh (187 km, about ₹1.44 lakh at launch). The motor is a 6 kW unit, and the Go and Go FB top out at 70 km/h.

What works

• Four battery sizes from 2.2 to 4.4 kWh, plus a subscription option that slashes the upfront cost
• Removable batteries on most variants, a real plus if you live in a flat and can't run a cable to your parking spot
• A 187 km claim on the top Plus, well above the 145 to 161 km of the 3 to 3.5 kWh rivals
• Up to 5 years or 50,000 km of warranty cover, per launch reports, and free battery replacement on the subscription plan if health drops below 70%

What doesn't

• Boot space shrinks when two batteries live under the seat: 27.2 litres on the Plus and Go FB versus 33.2 litres on the single-battery Go
• A subscription keeps costing you every month, so run the numbers over three or four years
• It's a newer platform than the iQube or Chetak, so there's less long-term ownership data
• Hero's own running-cost claim (₹0.96 per km on the subscription) is a launch-era figure, so ask for the current plan sheet

Best for: budget-first buyers and flat-dwellers. Vida also claims more than 5,900 fast-charging stations and 700 service touchpoints, which is worth checking against your own neighbourhood.

Ather Konarc: the newest platform, with a real-world range number

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Ather launched the Konarc on 29 August 2026. It's the first scooter on Ather's new EL platform and the cheapest Ather yet, starting at ₹1 lakh (ex-showroom, Bengaluru). Deliveries of the S 125 and S 161 began in September, in phases. EVFY's full Konarc price list and delivery schedule tracks each variant, and its pre-launch explainer shows where the Konarc slots in below the Rizta.

The S trims come in three sizes: S 100 (2.1 kWh, ₹1 lakh), S 125 (2.7 kWh, ₹1.22 lakh) and S 161 (3.5 kWh, ₹1.45 lakh). The number in each name is the IDC range. Feature-loaded Z variants (with the new electronic braking system and app-based boot unlock) and a 200 km version are announced but not on sale yet.

Here's something most launch coverage skips. Ather also publishes a TrueRange figure: 80 km, 100 km and 130 km for the three S trims. That's about 80% of the IDC number, and it's the closest thing to an honest real-world estimate on this whole list.

What works

• A 1,352 mm wheelbase (the longest of any Ather), a 14-inch front wheel and 90/100 mm of suspension travel, all aimed at ride comfort
• Service every 10,000 km or one year, whichever comes first, which cuts workshop visits
• A 7-inch display on the S 125 and S 161, plus Park Assist reverse and AutoHold
• A 31-litre boot, IP67-rated motor and battery, and three years of AtherConnect included

What doesn't

• The standard 450W charger needs about 4 h 30 min (S 125) or 5 h 40 min (S 161) for 80%, unless you add the 900W off-board charger
• Standard warranty is 3 years or 30,000 km, shorter than some rivals, though it's extendable
• The cheapest S 100 (drum brakes, smaller 4.2-inch display) doesn't reach buyers until Q1 2027
• A brand-new platform means no long-term track record yet

Best for: tech-first buyers who ride a lot and want fewer service visits. If you want the electronic braking and boot unlock, wait for the Z.

Range and battery: claimed vs real-world

Plan on roughly 65 to 80 percent of the IDC number in everyday riding. Ather's own TrueRange figures land at about 80%. In EVFY's top-trim comparison, the Chetak 3501 managed about 120 km in eco mode against a 153 km claim, which works out to 78%. Reviewers who ride at real-world speeds above 50 km/h report about 80 to 90 km from 3 kWh-class scooters like the iQube 3.1, Chetak 3001 and Ather Rizta 2.9, which is closer to two-thirds of their claims. Eco mode can stretch past 100 km, but it caps you at 35 to 40 km/h.

Here's that rule of thumb applied to our six rows. The last column is my planning band, not a test result.

That means the QC3 and iQube are effectively tied on range, the Chetak has a small edge, and only the Konarc S 161 (or a bigger VX2 Plus) gives you a clear step up.

How much range do you actually need? Try these three commutes:

• 15 km a day: any base pack works. Entry variants like the iQube 2.2, Konarc S 100, Chetak C2501 or VX2 Go have more than enough range.
• 30 km a day: every scooter here is fine, and you'll plug in every two to three days.
• 60 km a day: now it gets tight. A 60 km commute against a 94 km worst case leaves almost nothing for a detour, a pillion or a stiff headwind.

My rule: pick a pack whose low-end planning range is at least 1.5 times your daily distance. For 60 km, that points to the 3.5 kWh class or bigger.

One more thing. Hills, a pillion, fast riding and a cold-soaked battery all shave the number down. Test it yourself in the first fortnight and note where the gauge sits at day's end.

Performance, comfort and practicality compared

Here's the honest truth: at city speeds, these scooters feel closer than the spec sheets suggest. The iQube, Chetak and Konarc all weigh roughly 125 to 130 kg, and every scooter here with a published top speed caps out between 70 and 82 km/h. Where they differ is in details you'll notice on day three.

Performance

• VIDA VX2 has the strongest motor on paper at 6 kW. The Chetak C3501 is rated at 4.8 kW, the Konarc S 125 and S 161 at 4.7 kW, and the iQube 3.5 kWh at about 4.4 kW. Honda hasn't published the QC3's figure.
• Top speed peaks at 82 km/h on the iQube and 80 km/h on the Chetak C3501 and C3502. The VX2 Go, Go FB and every Konarc S trim stop at 70 km/h.
• If you never leave the city, a 10 km/h gap won't matter. If you use a bypass or flyover daily, it will.

Comfort and stability

• The Konarc has the biggest front wheel (14 inches) and a 1,352 mm wheelbase, and Ather says it was tuned for ride comfort.
• The Chetak has a similar 1,355 mm wheelbase and a 775 mm seat height.
• The iQube has a shorter 1,301 mm wheelbase on the 4.7 kWh S, but reviewers praise its wide seat and petrol-scooter-like ride.
• Base trims of the Chetak (C3503), VX2 Go and Konarc S 100 use drum brakes at the front. Check that before you buy if you ride hard or carry a pillion.

Storage

• Chetak 35 L, VX2 Go 33.2 L, QC3 and iQube 32 L, Konarc 31 L, VX2 Plus and Go FB 27.2 L.
• Those numbers hide one problem: layout matters as much as litres. Carry your own helmet into the showroom and see whether it actually fits with the seat closed.

A small thing that becomes a big thing: the QC3 has a smart key, and the Konarc Z will unlock its boot through an app. If you're forever fumbling for keys with shopping in your hands, that convenience is worth real money.

Features and tech: screens, apps and safety

The Konarc and QC3 look the most modern on paper, and the Chetak's top trims have caught up. But features change sharply by variant, so read the trim, not the brand.

Here's my take. The screen is the shiny bit, but the software policy is what ages. Ask each dealer two questions: how long do over-the-air updates continue, and what does the app cost after the free period? Ather includes AtherConnect free for three years, which hints that a paid plan follows.

On safety, look for the boring things. Hill hold, AutoHold, a front disc brake and IP67-rated electricals matter more on a rainy Monday than a cricket-score widget. Ather's electronic braking system is the most interesting safety upgrade here, but it's limited to the Z trims that haven't launched yet.

True cost of ownership: battery, warranty, charging and service

The sticker price is only half the story. The battery plan, the warranty and the workshop near you decide what you'll actually pay over five years.

Battery subscription vs buying outright

Both the VIDA VX2 and TVS iQube offer a cheaper scooter where you lease the battery. It's tempting, so run the numbers.

Take the VX2 Go at its launch prices: ₹99,490 outright versus ₹59,490 on the subscription, a ₹40,000 gap. Hero quoted a running cost of ₹0.96 per km on the subscription. Assume that includes power. If you own the battery, my estimate for electricity is about ₹0.30 per km at ₹8 a unit. That leaves a difference of roughly ₹0.66 per km. Here's how long the ₹40,000 saving lasts:

So subscribe if you ride lightly or plan to sell early. Buy outright if you ride 40 km or more a day and plan to keep the scooter beyond about four years. These are launch-era figures and my own assumptions, so ask for today's plan sheet before you decide. EVFY's guide to financing an EV in India reaches a similar conclusion: a loan tends to cost less if you keep a vehicle for five years or more, while battery-as-a-service wins if you plan to sell or upgrade within about three years.

Charging cost

A full charge on a 3 kWh scooter uses roughly 3.3 units from the wall. At ₹8 a unit that's about ₹26, or about ₹0.25 to ₹0.30 per km using the planning ranges above. A petrol scooter typically costs several times more per km.

Warranty

• Honda QC3: battery warranty terms haven't been confirmed
• TVS iQube: up to 5 years in EVFY's top-trim comparison, so confirm the exact terms for your variant
• Bajaj Chetak: 3 years or 50,000 km as standard, with cover extendable up to 5 years
• VIDA VX2: up to 5 years or 50,000 km, per launch reports
• Ather Konarc: 3 years or 30,000 km, extendable to 5 years or 60,000 km with AtherStack Pro

Service, subsidies and resale

• Service: Ather says the Konarc needs service only every 10,000 km or a year. Vida claims 700-plus service touchpoints. Honda's QC3 is in five cities. For everyone, check the workshop near your home and office, not the national map.
• Subsidies: the iQube prices quoted here include the PM E-Drive subsidy, while VIDA's Go FB price excludes it. EVFY's August 2026 sales report notes the scheme now runs to 31 March 2028 at ₹2,500 per kWh, capped at ₹5,000 per vehicle, so the gap is small. Still, ask every dealer for the on-road price so you compare like with like.
• Insurance: a standard comprehensive policy doesn't automatically cover battery water ingress or electrical short-circuit damage. Read EVFY's EV insurance guide before you add or skip a battery cover.
• Resale: the iQube and Chetak have years of used-market history. The QC3 and Konarc have none, so budget for a steeper unknown when you sell.

Final takeaway

No scooter here wins every category, and that's the good news: you can pick on what matters to you.

If you want the least drama, buy the iQube or Chetak. If money is tight or you can't charge at your parking spot, look hard at the VIDA VX2. If you want the newest platform and don't mind a shorter standard warranty, the Konarc S 161 is the most interesting scooter of the lot. And the Honda QC3? It's a promising scooter that hasn't earned a verdict yet — so wait for the road tests unless you're in a launch city and love the badge.

Whatever you choose, apply the same haircut to every range number, ask for the on-road price in writing, and ride it before you pay.