Honda Navi review: Activa redesigned

MotorOctane took this fun bike for a spin around a fun place -- Imagica Adventure Park -- to tell you more about it.

We live in a world of personalisation. Right from our grooming to our gadgets and vehicles too, we prefer to add some individuality to them. Exactly with this thought in mind, Honda has come out with an unusual product, the Honda Navi. 

Styling and design

The Honda Navi is kind of a hybrid, which means a crossover between a scooter and a motorcycle. It gives you the fun of a motorcycle with the convenience of an automatic scooter. The Navi has been designed with the Honda Activa as the base. It shares almost all of its mechanicals including engine and chassis with the Activa. It has been designed completely in India.

The bike is a looker for sure. Beautifully designed, the Navi is a vehicle that will turn heads everytime. The stance and chunky looks of it are appealing enough. The hexagonal headlamp in a grey coloured housing is something unique. The body with bold lines and tapering tail, alike a sporty motorcycle and the black coloured wheels give a lot of character to the Navi.

The dimensions are similar to the Activa too. The Navi is a tad longer than the Activa by 44mm. The best part is that the seat height is exactly the same as Activa, although the Navi looks smaller. It has a slightly higher ground clearance than the Activa, which is a good thing.

The Navi seems to be inspired from Grom, a bike which Honda sells in international markets. The Navi is manufactured in Honda's Gujarat plant. It has been engineered and developed in India, specifically for the Indian Market and will also be exported to other countries.

Colours

The Honda Navi is available in five colour options, namely, Patriot Red, Shasta White, Hooper Green, Black and Sparky Orange.

Engine and performance

Apart from the chassis, the powertrain is also adopted from the Activa, which is a four-stroke, 110cc engine, churning out a maximum power out of 7.8bhp and 8.96Nm of torque. It uses the V-matic (automatic) transmission and can achieve a top-speed of 81 km/h. The Navi also gets Honda Eco Technology which aids in more fuel efficiency without decreasing power output.

Ride and handling

At first glance we felt that the Navi would be a fun to ride bike but actually riding it was even more fun. The bike is extremely nimble and a breeze to swerve in either direction. These kind of dynamics are pure joy in tight spaces which are found in abundance within heavy traffic, market areas and small lanes.

Price

The Honda Navi is priced at Rs 43,000 (on-road, Delhi). The bookings for the Navi have commenced already and the bike is available at dealerships for sale too. Honda has introduced a special app for smartphones, which can be used to book, and explore the Navi.

This app has also had more than 25,000 downloads since. Honda has also launched several customisation options for the Navi, that will help buyers to choose as per their individual tastes. Honda is clearly targeting the age group of 18-21 for the Navi. The deliveries have begun and Honda is revamping its existing showrooms for a better presentation of the Navi.

Verdict

The Navi comes across as an inexpensive option to customers who desire a motorcycle and the convenience of a non-geared scooter. It is a fun vehicle which is a departure from the routine scooter and gives it a new twist. It is expected to appeal to the youth who want a commuter two-wheeler which also has style and is fun.

Moreover the personalisation options at a minimal cost is surely appealing. Honda Navi is a unique proposition and the company is looking at attracting young buyers towards the Honda brand. The Activa has been ruling the market for long now and sells four times more than its closest competitor. This is the reason why Honda is now experimenting with the Navi, which is based on the Activa. This is one vehicle you need to have in your garage!