It's been nearly two years since Hero first showed off a rather production-ready looking concept of the Hero Xoom 160 at EICMA and almost 9 months since it was launched at the Auto Expo earlier this year. The scooter is now finally on sale and we’ve had a chance to see what it's like.
Hero Xoom 160 Design and Style - 9/10
It carries a large, proportionate and handsome design
The biggest thing the Xoom 160 has going for it is its style and presence. This is a thoroughly stylish scooter with a tall frontal area that packs sporty twin LED headlamps and a big windshield. The side profile is unmistakable for anything but a maxi scooter and the large exhaust as well as the sleek tail design neatly sum up the ADV-maxi scooter theme. Smaller details like the neatly integrated cast aluminium rear grab handle, smart looking pillion footpegs and the chunky aluminium swingarm all add to the appeal.
The overall effect is of a large scooter that turns heads on the road, especially if you go for the brighter choices amongst the four available colour options. At a closer look, it's a familiar story with Hero’s premium products where some of the plastics used could be of a higher quality and the same applies to the switchgear as well. In fact, this switchgear is a step down from recent products like the Xoom 125 in terms of how it looks and feels.
Hero Xoom 160 seating position and comfort - 8/10
It will fit riders of all sizes
Given that this is a rather large scooter and it weighs a hefty 142 kg, Hero has done a good job with making the seat height as accessible as possible. At 787mm, it's not only low on paper, but also helps shorter riders get their feet down easily. One of the ways this friendliness has been achieved has been by giving the seat a downward slope.
Taller riders will also find decent comfort on this scooter, but the sloping seat can become a mild irritant over time. It’s definitely not as uncomfortable for bigger riders as the Xoom 125, but it could have been better - although this is something that can be improved by aftermarket seat modifiers. What’s nice out of the box is that the pillion seat is wide and spacious.
Hero Xoom 160 Engine and Performance - 8/10
A smooth motor with good highway performance
Hero has created a brand new 156cc liquid-cooled engine for this scooter. Like its main rival the Yamaha Aerox 155, it used a 4-valve SOHC valvetrain design and the power and torque figures are also very similar at 14.8hp and 14Nm.
| Engine and output | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 156cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled |
| Power | 14.6hp at 8,000rpm |
| Torque | 14Nm at 6,500rpm |
| Gearbox | CVT |
The exhaust sound is rather conventional but the engine is quite smooth with no harsh vibrations to complain about. The motor and CVT gearing appear to have been tuned for a gradual, yet strong rate of acceleration rather than bursting off the line the moment you twist the accelerator.
The Xoom 160 keeps building pace as you cross 60 and 80kph and it should show you an indicated top speed of somewhere between 110-120kph. Top speed wise, it will probably slot in between the new TVS Ntorq 150 and the Yamaha Aerox 155. This level of performance will make the Xoom quite handy on longer inter-city rides like Mumbai-Pune.
Throttle response is smooth and predictable and while the engine’s performance itself is fine, the accelerator has an excessively long twist action which quickly becomes annoying. You need to make an exaggerated twist of your right wrist to access all the performance and it feels quite counter-productive given that people would buy this scooter with the expectation of effortless performance. A quicker-action throttle would greatly improve the riding experience.
Hero Xoom 160 suspension comfort and handling - 6/10
It's not what many people may have been expecting
The communication around this scooter has positioned it as an ADV-style maxi scooter and that’s quite an exciting proposition for anyone who lives in an area with bad roads. Moreover, the Xoom 160 has a little more suspension travel than most scooters with 97mm at the front and 94mm at the rear. However, on the road, the Xoom doesn’t end up having that plush, absorptive suspension set up that many people have been hoping for.
Instead, it carries an inherent air of firmness in its suspension that reminds me of the Aerox 155. It might be a little more forgiving than the Yamaha, but it's similar in nature and this is a disappointment. With 155mm of ground clearance, bad roads can be dealt with as well as on any other scooter, but you do need to reduce the pace. The Xoom doesn’t like being hustled over broken surfaces and its weight will quickly become apparent as it pitches you out of the seat over bigger bumps. This behaviour also rules out any potential of the Xoom 160 being that oddball off-roader that some people may have been hoping for.
Over smaller bumps, things aren’t so offensive and the Xoom is nicely comfortable on a smooth road. It also has a pleasantly light steering feel at very slow crawling speeds in traffic and feels well-balanced in these conditions. We only encountered a couple of corners on our test route, but it felt a bit awkward through them. From what we’ve experienced so far, it's not as natural and intuitive a handler as most of its 14-inch wheel rivals. However this is something we’d like to further evaluate when we get to spend more time with it.
Braking performance is acceptable and while the front disc definitely isn’t as sharp as some rivals, the scooter slows decently enough when both brakes are used. Like most scooters in this class, it gets a rear drum brake and single channel ABS.
| Suspension, tyres and brakes | |
|---|---|
| Suspension (F/R) | Telescopic fork / Monoshock |
| Tyres (F/R) | 120/70-14 / 140/60-14 |
| Brakes | Disc / Drum |
Hero Xoom 160 features and safety - 8/10
It scores well in some areas and misses out in others
My favourite feature on the Xoom 160 is the keyless function whereby you have a rotary knob that is used to start the ignition or open the centre tunnel mounted fuel-filler cap. Another small button next to this knob lets you open the boot, although you can also do this via a button on the key fob.
Boot space on paper is just 22-litres, but this is one of the very few scooters in India that can accommodate a large fullface helmet and that’s another great convenience. A large 7-litre tank means it should have decent fuel range as well.
There is also a closable cubby on the left side of the front apron and while the plastic clasp that closes it could have been nicer, it's a good storage space that can hold a large smartphone.
The above mentioned features work well and do a great job of elevating the premium user experience with this scooter. However, other areas like the simple LCD display and lack of traction control do put the Xoom 160 on the back foot when compared to some rivals. Neither really bothered me, but a TFT display would have been appropriate at this price. Even so, you do get Bluetooth connectivity with call alerts and navigation assists with this LCD display
Hero Xoom 160 price and verdict - 7/10
The price doesn’t reflect Hero’s usual competitiveness
At Rs 1.49 lakh ex-showroom Delhi, this scooter is priced on par with the Yamaha Aerox and is positioned significantly higher than 150cc plus air-cooled options from Aprilia and TVS.
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs 1.49 lakh |
On the one hand, the pricing is reasonable when you consider the sheer size, design and attention to detail in areas like the swingarm. But on the other hand, it is priced uncomfortably close to the Yamaha Aerox and the Xoom 160 lacks Hero’s typical cost competitiveness.
For those of you who have been hoping for a super absorptive, plush-riding scooter that can effortlessly eat through bad roads, the Xoom 160 will disappoint. But as a large, stylish and premium-looking maxi-scooter with good convenience baked in, this is currently one of the best locally made options. If you’re lucky enough to have consistently smooth roads around you, you’ll probably really like what the Xoom 160 has to offer.
Also See: Hero Xoom 160 video review
