Stylish Revamp for Chetak
Bajaj Chetak 2024 Electric Review: We’ve always liked the Bajaj Chetak electric scooter. It has stylish, retro-modern looks and an impressive fit and finish. But, when we tested it a few years back, we found it lacked in some crucial areas, like features. More importantly, its performance and range were lacking. Now, Bajaj has launched the 2024 Chetak Premium to fix some of those issues. Let’s take a closer look. The Chetak remains one of the best-looking electric scooters on the market. It still gets metal body panels. It has a lovely dual-tone seat. It also gets the same alloy wheels and metallic paint options as this premium version.
Enhanced Features and Design
However, Bajaj has changed the color of these trims. The earlier scooter had brushed aluminum, almost Chrome-like, on it. Here, you get a dark gray finish. The Chetak still has a classy vibe with its timeless design. But, we found some minor panel gaps on a test scooter. Since this was one of the first batches to roll out, they may be fixed in later models. The biggest change on the Chetak Premium is the new 5-in color TFT screen. It replaces the circular monochrome LCD unit of the outgoing scooter. It looks nice and gives you lots of information. But, unlike its rivals, the Ather 450X and the Ola S1 Pro, this is not a touchscreen.
New Color TFT Screen (Bajaj Chetak)
Bajaj says they did this on purpose to save costs and ensure the unit’s longevity. The new screen is bright and colorful. It adds to the Chetak’s premium feel. Here’s a look at the Chetak’s features. Bajaj also added a “tech pack” to the Chetak. This costs 9000 rupees. It adds features like a sports mode, sequential turn signals, and navigation. The tech pack lasts 5 years.
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Battery Upgrade and Increased Range
It can even be added by customers within 1 year of their purchase. Here is the full list of features that the tech pack brings. Speaking of changes to Under the Skin, there have been some crucial ones. The biggest is the battery pack. We have increased the battery’s capacity from 2.9 KW to 3.2 KW in the older model. This is thanks to more energy-dense cells in the pack. As a result, the claimed range has gone up as well.
According to the IDC cycle, the chetak premium will now go 126 km on a charge. It used to do 108 km. That should be a real-world range of about 115 km. For reference, we managed to do 104 km in eco mode on the outgoing Chetak.
Improved Charging Times in Bajaj Chetak
The bigger battery also increases charge times. The Chetak Premium will now go from 0 to 100% in 4 hours 30 minutes from its 800 W onboard charger. That’s 30 minutes more than before. Bajaj has also fixed the issue of the top speed. When we tested it a few years ago, we complained that the top speed was just too low at 63 kph.
Revised Gearing for Higher Speed
Bajaj has revised the gearing. This one now does 73 km/h. It may not seem like a big improvement. But, the higher top speed helps keep up with fast city and highway traffic. Also nice, the top speed isn’t capped in eco mode. So, you can reach 73 kph, just more slowly than in sport mode, which gives stronger acceleration.
Performance and Handling of Bajaj Chetak
The scooter didn’t feel much different from the older model in terms of performance. But, we’ll need to do a full road test to confirm that the Chetak accelerates smoothly. And, that the throttle feels natural, if a bit too sharp. The region also works well, but it isn’t too strong. The ride is firm yet absorbent. It feels composed going over bumps and planted around bends.
Practicality Improvements
Here’s a look at the powertrain and other specifications of the Chetak Premium. There have been improvements on the practicality front, too. You continue to get the front glove box which houses the charging cable. Bajaj Chetak has also reshaped the boot to make it flatter.
Pricing and Conclusion
The boot’s size is up from 17 L to 21 L. But, it still won’t fit a full-face helmet. However, a half-face helmet will fit. The Bajaj Chetak still has a handy luggage hook. I also really like the ergonomics of the Bajaj Chetak. They got it just right. There’s plenty of room on the footboard for my feet. The seat contours, has good padding and is comfy. The handlebar is at the right height. So, the rider’s triangle is on point. The 2024 Bajaj Chetak Premium costs rupees 1.35 lakh ex-showroom. That’s a rupees 15,000 hike over the old model. But, the changes in features, range, battery, and practicality make it worth that.
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