PICS: 2013's most popular 110cc scooters

Peppy, powerful and practical these five scooters will set the Indian roads on fire in 2013.

India's scooter industry is progressing very impressively these days, its dealerships are putting up new models on display every other month, and its sales charts are recording bigger numbers too. A noteworthy acceleration in demands for scooters has been observed in the country for some time now; an increasing inclination among the buyers, youth and elderly alike, has been observed, since last one year during which a major wave of fresh and fascinating models have hit the country, successfully diverting the focus of two-wheeler buyers from the swanky motorbikes to these smart scooters.

Better technology, advanced features, enhanced comfort, improved mileage and trendier outfits -- the manufacturers have worked, and worked hard, on each and every one of these details, making sure that the customers are provided with nothing but the best. And it is not some glitzy ad campaign that we have picked this line from to make the scooter market look all good and blossoming just because that is the subject of this artic#8804 it is a fact that shows in the boisterous attire of Hero MotoCorp Maestro, shows in the amazing improvements that Honda Activa's mileage figures promise, shows in the dynamism of Yamaha Ray, shows in the lively moves of Honda Dio.

And the fact that these scooters have an uncanny knack of weaving their way in and out of impossibly busy traffic jams of today does not hurt either!

When there is so much that these rides have to offer their owners, why not take a proper spin through the leaders of their segment and find out what makes each of them so special and unique in comparison to their many rivals.

So, here is a list of those select members of the 110cc segment of the scooter industry that make decision-making so difficult for the present-day buyer.

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Honda Activa
Price: Rs 47,188 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Way back in the year 2000 when Honda Activa was launched in India, a revolutionary transformation was witnessed in the way scooters were looked at by the general public, particularly the youth of the country, helping them shed their prolonged lacklustre reputation and emerge as rides that are lively in feel and yet graceful to look at.

As for the present day, Activa is one of the most popular choices in two-wheelers, promising the best-in-class fuel-economy of 60kmpl along with class-leading comfort and convenience, not to mention the Tuff-up tubes and Combi brakes that enhance the safety of riders.

Honda Dio
Price: Rs 44,701 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Honda Dio, a scooter that, on the one hand, complements the excellent performance of its iconic sibling, Activa, and, on the other hand, contrasts its sophisticated persona with its own perky style, made its way into the country with Activa itself more than twelve years ago.

Powered by the same 110cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled engine, featuring Honda Eco Technology for Dream mileage, that drives Activa and Aviator, Honda Dio offers an impressive power output of 8bhp along with a fabulous fuel-efficiency of 60kmpl.

Honda Aviator
Price: Rs 48,212 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

At the launch event held on the 18th of this month by HMSI, which brought forward new versions of Activa and Dio, Honda Aviator was also introduced in a spanking new 2013 incarnation, boasting of a 60kmpl dream mileage just like its kinsmen.

Known for its contemporary styling characterised by traits like 12-inch light-alloy wheels and classy chrome finishing, this Japanese scooter also scores quite high in the field of comfort and convenience, thanks to its proficient telescopic front suspension, maintenance-free battery, viscous air filter and tubeless tyres besides several other useful features.

Hero MotoCorp Maestro
Price: Rs 46,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Targeted towards the urban male, this handsome ride from Hero MotoCorp comes flaunting a spectacular blend of might with style. With bright colour options, sharply carved features and a muscular body-frame, Maestro has everything that a college-boy would want in his ride.

Based on the same chassis as Honda Activa, the scooter houses an identical 109cc 4-stroke engine that powers its Japanese rival, although without the recently-introduced tweaks, keeping the mileage figures in the early 50s as against the exciting 60kmpl offering of Honda.

However, when it comes to style, Maestro definitely puts up a much better front than any of its competitors.  

Yamaha Ray
Price: Rs 46,500

While Hero MotoCorp was busy presenting a ride specially designed for boys last year, the Yamaha camp had been gearing up for the launch of their 110cc scooter engineered exclusively for girls.

Widely publicised, just like the Maestro, as a scooter that would appeal better to one particular section of the society over the other, Yamaha Ray has been seen to succeed as a unisex ride just as excellently as its competitor from the Hero camp.

Driven by 113cc, air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC engine that churns out a peak 7bhp, the Ray comes with a company-claimed mileage of 50kmpl.