The Hero Vida has been in the market for a long time, but it was not perceived well initially owing to its steep asking price. However, Hero has made the necessary revisions to bring down the prices. Especially the V1 Plus which sits below the V1 Pro model that we tested, at INR 98,000 after FAME-II and state subsidies, if applicable. A marginally smaller battery pack and 10km less range separates the Plus from the Pro model, hence, this review will help you narrow down to either of the two models.

Does the job, doesn’t amaze you

Let’s begin with the design of Hero Vida. Well, it’s not a highlight for me. Given the option to choose from a wide variety of colour options, all of them feature a dual-tone scheme, which is more of a gimmick to hide the modular rear frame than a design choice. It would have made sense if the modular storage space had some use case and was easily detachable, but as I found out, it requires unbolting several screws, the outcome of which doesn’t look pleasing or practical. 

Apart from that, the scooter looks fine but nothing stands out, except for the protective cover for the hub motor that protrudes quite a lot. Case in point, the centre stand also hangs a lot lower than it should, obstructing with ramps and speed breakers now and then, fouling with the otherwise decent ground clearance. The headlight and tail light of the Vida boast the corporate design for the daytime running light, similar to what we have also seen in the Xoom and Karizma models from Hero stable.

Swinging over

Once you swing your leg over the Vida, you notice the TFT cluster, which looks sharp and boasts the right amount of contrast and brightness. You can toggle through the limited options via touch whereas the control buttons take over once you start going. I once tried to fiddle with the control switches without the gloves and their sharp edges were quick to carve a dent on my finger.

But it doesn’t go to say that the quality is not satisfactory. Trust me, the entire switch gear, contains a LOT of buttons but feels great to use. There is also an SOS button for emergency, whose operation is nothing less than the starting sequence of a Lamborghini. A party trick that I would never want to boast about to my friends. In addition, the Vida also packs a suite of telematics, which was not accessible on our test unit since it is registered with the phone number of the vehicle owner.

Would charging worry you? 

Enough talking on the sidelines, let’s address more important details now. The portable battery solution is the only detail that makes the Vida stand out from the crop of other motor-bolted two-wheelers. The Vida allows you to carry its batteries anywhere you like and charge with the regular wall socket. 

It definitely is a workout in itself since each battery weighs 11 kilograms and the brick-shaped charger with a long hanging cable carries equal inconvenience, if not weight. However, you are not supposed to carry both batteries. The idea here is to charge one battery whenever you feel the need to juice up, especially when you do not have a wall socket in your parking.

The portable charger takes close to three hours to charge a single battery. You also get the option to charge the scooter using the same charger and it takes six hours to fully replenish both batteries. I spent a good 15 minutes to find the tiny charging port, which sits near the front hinge of the seat.

The third charging option is a lot faster though, as it takes close to 65 minutes for a full charge. Since Vida and Ather are close allies, it also benefits from Ather Grid charging infrastructure. Unfortunately, Vida has not launched any battery-swapping solution for its scooters, which should be a lot more convenient given it already boasts portable batteries. 

I ran it through a range test without altering my riding style, which is not calm and sedate. Based on my observations, the Vida V1 Pro runs between 80-90 km on a single charge, depending upon your style of riding. 

The Vida, therefore is one of the most versatile scooters out there, offering three charging solutions along with a dependable public charging infrastructure.

Does it excite you?

Instantaneous torque is one element that makes every electric vehicle exciting. They lack the character of an internal combustion engine, but the surge with which they catapult is a whole new experience. The Vida is no different but it tries to do a couple of things with a tinge of ease. You start in the eco mode which is the most sedate and efficient, as the name suggests. Capping speed at 45kmph, it is not ideal for city use and a lousy throttle response doesn’t help either.

The performance becomes likeable when you flick the riding mode switch to Ride. The acceleration becomes brisk and the scooter surges ahead until you reach 69kmph. Yes, I tested it!

With my weight and frame (95kg and 6’1”), the Vida V1 Pro resists going beyond 69kmph in the Ride mode. Thankfully, there is a Sport mode as well, which not only makes the acceleration brisker but also opens the top speed to 82kmph. I like the way the Vida changes its demeanour from a very calm and sedate commuter to an alert and fast city-zipper. Of course, it cannot match the speed of the Ola S1 Pro or the Ather Apex, but I never found performance to be a limiting factor in my experience with the Vida.

Gliding over everything

In my books, the ride quality of the Vida has to be one of its highlights. When I received the scooter, it felt really soft and a little unsettled over rough roads. Getting the tyres filled up changed the feeling and while it gained a bit of stiffness, the experience turned out to be very likeable. The Vida deals with speed breakers, potholes and road undulations maturely. 

However, every time I run over a series of speed breakers, its charger thuds and bashes under the seat. A felt liner or a charger cover could have contained the noise but that’s not provided with the package. 

Speaking of handling, the Vida feels surefooted when tackling the curves. The tyres offer a decent amount of grip and the scooter leans into the bends confidently. The braking performance is adequate but the rear brake, which is a drum unit, could have felt better with more bite and feedback. 

More convenient than you think!

The Vida V1 Pro is more convenient, thanks to its portable batteries and other changing solutions. However, it further packs a few convenient features up its sleeves, elevating the overall riding experience. To begin with, like every other electric scooter, the Vida offers a reverse mode, so do not discount it as a run-of-the-mill feature, since Vida has paid good attention to it. 

When the reverse mode is engaged, the Vida lets you move both in reverse and forward in the same mode. This was made possible because of the intelligent accelerator control, which can be twisted in either direction for ease of use. 

Furthermore, the Vida also packs cruise control, which works at speeds above 30kmph. The operation is easy as it engages with a press of a button. The only caveat is that when you resume cruise control after braking, it lunges ahead with a strong acceleration and could catch you off guard sometimes.

The reckoning

If you’ve been a patient reader until now, I’m sure you’re contemplating riding one home. Here is a piece of advice: do not go with the Pro and get the Plus instead. The Vida V1 Plus costs under a lakh on-road and doesn’t compromise on any feature that the Pro model offers. The only actual miss is the 10km less range, which is down to the smaller battery pack of the Plus model. The Vida V1 makes absolute sense if you do not have a dedicated parking spot with a wall socket to charge since it offers you the convenience of charging batteries at your home.