Honda Activa 7G : Two mechanics were discussing something that piqued my interest over chai at my local chai stall last week.
“Things are surely going to change with the new Activa,” insisted Raju, the older of the duo. His padawan learner didn’t seem convinced, but back from the preview event in Pune, I think Raju may be onto something.
For over 20 years, the Honda Activa has been synonymous with India’s most trusted twowheeler. In many households, such as my aunt’s in Indore, “Activa” has replaced “scooter” entirely.
But against an increasing crop of feature-laden rivals, Honda’s bestseller was starting to age.
The coming 7G model tackles this head on, and, having spent time with a pre-production model I can confirm it’s not just a pretty new dress up job.
Honda Activa 7G What’s Actually New?
The most striking change is the sharper styling. Honda has managed to break free from the conservative theme that had kept Activas of old looking almost same.
The front apron similarly gets angular lines more in tune with what’s getting used to on the larger scooters of today, while all the trims get standard LED lighting.
“We wanted to maintain the Activa DNA but wanted to make it much more modern,” said Rajesh Goel, Senior VP, Honda, in an honest conversation post the preview.
That about sums up what Honda seems to have done – modernising without losing sight of continuity.
Redesigned instrument cluster – In addition to digitized speedometer, 7G comes with the digital display on its instrument panel.
It’s not as fancy-looking as some competitors, but it displays important information clearly, such as real-time mileage — something my neighbor, who runs a small delivery service with four Activas, has been asking about for years.
Honda Activa 7G Beneath the Panels: Where the True Changes Lurk
Pick up the seat, and look: a USB charging port — at last! On my test ride through Pune’s terrible traffic jaws, this came in very handy as the phone’s battery was dying from non-stop navigation.
The underseat storage has also been revamped, with a standard half-face style helmet now able to fit in the space, along with any extras.
There are meaningful updates to the engine, which was the main criticism of the older models – refinement.
The engine hasn’t undergone much change – the 109.7cc motor continues to make the same amount of power (7.79PS) and torque (8.79Nm), but its delivery is a lot better.
During my 40-minute romp down the Western Express Highway of Mumbai, the engine was yet vibration-free even at 70 km/h – an attribute the earlier Activas always had the issue with.
What comes as a surprise, however, is the new claimed fuel-efficiency figure of the new Activa 6G which Honda says is 10 per cent better than the 6G.
In my real-world usage across multiple traffic scenarios in Mumbai, I consistently clocked 58-60 kmpl, which is pretty good for city stop-and-go traffic.
Honda Activa 7G Ride Experience: Little Things, Big Differences
What impressed me most after spending a week with the Activa 7G is just how much those small updates have transformed the riding experience in everyday use.
Handlebar position has changed ever so slightly for a more relaxed riding position.
On my daily 12km commute from Andheri to Lower Parel, I found my shoulders felt far less fatigued than I did last month, riding my cousin’s 6G.
Special mention is owed to the suspension setup. as the front telescopic fork (yes funny telescopic! sponged up potholes that would have rattled my wrists on older versions of this model.
The rear still has a single shock absorber, but it’s been retuned to deliver more compliance over broken roads.
One of the more welcome changes is in the braking department. The linked hydraulic braking system sports a marginally larger front disc on the deluxe in order to safely haul up even more wet weight.
In a sudden downpour near Dadar, this better braking definitely increased confidence that the old drums just couldn’t inspire.
Honda Activa 7G Follow The Value Proposition: The Risk: Reward of Waiting.
Pricing Starting at around ₹75,000 (ex-showroom), the Activa 7G sits square in the centre of the family scooter segment.
It’s not the cheapest, nor is it the most feature laden, but the compiled average is what has always led to Activa’s success.
At Honda’s Bandra showroom, prospective buyers couldn’t get over reliability.
“Features may come and go, but my first Activa survived for eight years without any major hiccup,” Priya said, a working single mother who’s in the market for an upgrade over her aging 4G.
That reputation for sturdiness and durability continues to be the Activa’s biggest draw.
For the average Joe commuting daily 30-40Km inside cities, the operational cost savings is very substantial.
In doing my own calculations, I found the monthly savings, in fuel alone, stood between ₹ 600-800 over the outgoing generation – not earth shattering, but certainly helpful in a time when petrol prices are volatile.
Honda Activa 7G Is It Perfect? Not Quite
No car is perfect and the Activa 7G is no exception. The seat is well-cushioned, but could be better shaped for longer hauls.
The quality of some of the plastics is a little hit-and-miss – the glove box, in particular, had an oddly flimsy feel on the test car.
And even with the overhauls, some competitors still seem to offer more features at similar price levels.
That there’s no Bluetooth function for younger riders could be a disappointment but you know what, I prefer Honda make the actual changes that need making and not add “cool” things instead.
Honda Activa 7G The Verdict: Evolution, No Revolution
The Activa 7G doesn’t redefine the scooter space, and it doesn’t have to. What it does is further refine a reliable platform without taking away the simplicity that made it the nation’s favourite scooter, to begin with.
For those dirty, unattended to commuters who want to be able to rely on their wheels to get to point B and back without any bling attached, the 7G is set to be the best all-round Activa yet.
In an age where market is becoming full of feature-laden rivals, Honda decided to keep it simple and concentrate on what is more important – being comfortable, efficient and durable for long time.
And sometimes, that’s just what daily commuters need most.
FAQ
Q: What is the launching date of Honda Activa 7G in India?
A: Honda is poised to introduce the Activa 7G in late September 2023, deliveries will start in early October.
Q: What is the anticipated price range?
A: The Honda Activa 7G is likely to be priced in the range of ₹75,000 to ₹85,000 (ex-showroom) for the base model.
Q: Is the mileage actually better than the last generation?
A: Yes, field tests have indicated around 10-15% improvement in fuel economy. In city you can expect 55-60 kmpl and 65 kmpl on highways.
Q: Is there an alternative with front disc brake?
A: The deluxe version indeed get a front disc brake, the standard ones have drum at both ends.
Q: How much underseat storage is there?
A: Updated to be able to store a half face helmet between it and the grab rail on the back of the bike plus small item. The total capacity is approximately 18 liter.
Q: Will the 6G going to be a sales base model for Honda and hot Honda will be 7G?
A: Early word has it that Honda will leave the 6G in the lineup at a lesser price for a couple of months before it makes the 6X the exclusive choice.
Q: Can it start silently?
A: Yes, the 7G of all variants gets silent start feature via ACG starter motor.
Q: What colors will it available in?
A: The Activa 7G will be available in six paint schemes – Pearl White, Matte Black, Imperial Red, Pearl Siren Blue, Matte Axis Grey, and a new Metallic Sage Green.