TVS iQube ST: TVS bumped up the iQube ST’s price again last month – third time since January, if you’re counting. The top variant now costs a hefty ₹1.61 lakh (ex-showroom), which is nearly ₹15,000 more than early buyers paid just last year. My dealer buddy in Bangalore claims it’s due to “battery material costs and supply chain issues” – that classic excuse manufacturers trot out whenever they want more cash. Despite this, waiting periods have actually dropped to 2-3 weeks in most cities, suggesting production is finally catching up with demand. Competing models from Ather and Ola are also seeing similar price hikes, so maybe it’s just the new normal for premium electric scooters in 2025. Still stings though, especially when you realize the base petrol Jupiter costs less than half.
TVS iQube ST Range Claims vs. Reality – The Numbers Game Nobody Wins
TVS claims an ambitious 145 km range on a single charge, but let’s be real – you’ll never see those numbers unless you’re riding downhill with a tailwind in Eco mode. My obsessive record-keeping shows about 110-115 km in mixed city riding with Normal mode, dropping to around 95 km if you can’t resist the temptation of Sport mode. That’s still better than most competitors, but falls noticeably short of the brochure promises. The range estimator has gotten more accurate with recent software updates, though it still gets confused by dramatic riding style changes. One weird quirk I’ve noticed – range seems better in morning rides than evening commutes through identical routes, probably due to higher ambient temperatures affecting battery efficiency.
That Touchscreen – Beautiful but Occasionally Infuriating
The 7-inch TFT touchscreen is gorgeous on paper – bright, colorful, and packed with features. In practice? It’s a mixed bag that occasionally makes me miss simple analog dials. Sunlight visibility is excellent, but the touch response gets finicky with even slightly damp fingers or when wearing certain types of gloves. The UI design clearly prioritized aesthetics over usability, burying commonly used functions three menus deep. Music controls are unnecessarily complicated, and the voice command system works about 70% of the time – which somehow feels worse than if it never worked at all. That said, the turn-by-turn navigation is genuinely useful, and ride statistics tracking helps justify the premium you’re paying for all this tech. The April software update finally fixed that annoying Bluetooth disconnection issue that plagued early adopters.
Motor Performance – Surprisingly Punchy for Something So Quiet
The 7.2 kW motor delivers surprisingly spirited acceleration, especially from 0-40 km/h where it leaves most 125cc petrol scooters eating dust. Top speed is limited to 82 km/h, which feels adequate for urban use but slightly constraining on open highways. The three riding modes genuinely feel different – Eco is perfectly usable (unlike some competitors where it feels like riding through molasses), Normal hits the sweet spot for daily commuting, and Sport provides that addictive electric torque surge that never gets old. TVS’s throttle calibration deserves special praise – it’s smooth and predictable without the jerky on-off response plaguing some other e-scooters. One quirk worth mentioning – performance noticeably drops below 20% battery, with Sport mode becoming essentially identical to Normal mode regardless of what the display shows.
Build Quality – Premium Where It Matters, Cheap Where It Doesn’t
After three months and 2,000+ kilometers, I’ve developed a love-hate relationship with the iQube ST’s build quality. Most touch points feel premium – the switchgear operates with satisfying clicks, the seat material resists scuffs admirably, and nothing has developed annoying rattles despite Mumbai’s apocalyptic road surfaces. On the flip side, some plastic body panels feel disappointingly thin, especially around the under-seat storage area where they flex noticeably when pressed. The front mudguard seems particularly flimsy and has already developed stress marks around the mounting points. The paintwork, however, remains impressive – that Copper Bronze color shows incredible depth under direct sunlight and has resisted minor scratches better than expected. The LED lighting package is excellent, with a headlight that actually illuminates the road properly – a rarity in this segment.
Charging Headaches – The Part Nobody Warns You About
The proprietary charger that comes with the iQube ST is bulkier than I’d like, making it cumbersome to carry around just in case. Home charging from 0-80% takes about 4.5 hours, with the final 20% requiring another hour – typical lithium-ion charging curve behavior. Public infrastructure for TVS remains limited compared to the Ather grid, though the situation is improving in major cities. The charging port location at the front of the floorboard looks clean but proves awkward in tight parking spots where approaching from the front isn’t possible. The biggest annoyance? You can’t use the increasingly common public chargers popping up unless they specifically support TVS’s system. I’ve been caught with low battery several times, passing charging stations that couldn’t help me – a uniquely modern form of range anxiety.
TVS iQube ST Practical Ownership – The Daily Reality Nobody Reviews
After the initial honeymoon phase, certain aspects of iQube ownership become more apparent. The under-seat storage easily swallows a half-face helmet with room for smaller items, though full-face helmets remain a tight squeeze. The floorboard is slightly narrower than some competitors, which might feel constraining for riders with larger feet. The side stand sensor is unnecessarily sensitive, cutting power if the stand isn’t fully retracted – I’ve had a few embarrassing moments at traffic lights because of this. On the positive side, the companion app has improved dramatically since launch, with fewer crashes and more useful features like ride statistics and charging station locations. The first scheduled maintenance was surprisingly affordable at just ₹650, though that will likely increase as the scooter ages. The biggest ownership advantage? Never worrying about fuel prices or searching for petrol stations during shortages. Despite its flaws, the silent, smooth ride makes returning to a petrol scooter feel like a significant downgrade.