KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Ather Rizta electric scooter is the first family e-scooter by Ather Energy
- Available in 3 variants and 2 battery pack options with a range of 123 km to 159 km
- Pricing starts at Rs 1.10 lakh and goes up to Rs 1.45 lakh (ex-showroom)
Ather Energy, known for offering performance-oriented electric scooters in India, has now ventured into the family electric scooter segment to cater to a wider customer base. The brand has recently launched its first family-oriented electric scooter the Rizta in the market at a starting price of Rs 1.10 lakh (ex-showroom). We recently rode the Ather Rizta electric scooter and here's the first ride review of Ather's first family electric scooter. Moreover, you can also join our 91Wheels WhatsApp Group for the latest updates from the automotive world.
Before moving ahead, check out the first ride review of the Ather Rizta electric scooter.
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Design
The Rizta looks more like a conventional scooter with a boxy design and some quirky design elements. Ather has given the Rizta a more family-oriented look. It gets a curvaceous front apron with a sleek LED headlamp, the side profile gets a plain design without any curves and sharp lines, a long seat to accommodate two adults with ease, and at the rear, you get a pillion backrest as standard, and a sleek LED tail lamp setup.
The Rizta stands out with its quirky design and bright colour options which makes it look good. The brand has given a dual-tone color treatment to the scooter as well to make it look more interesting on the road.
Convenience & Safety Features
The Rizta is filled with a plethora of features that are quite useful in day-to-day runs. It comes with a TFT console which is not a touch unit like the 450 series. The screen functions are controlled with a joystick given on the right-hand side switch panel. The main highlight of the Rizta is its safety features, such as Skid Control, which prevents the rear wheel from skidding by detecting and matching its speed to that of the front wheel. Also, it comes with an AutoHold function which works well on hilly areas. It also offers a live location-sharing option directly from the cluster, however, we were not able to try this feature as this will roll out soon.
The Rizta gets a new UI for the instrument cluster which is simple but the unit we got was showing some lags. These lags disrupt the seamless navigation through the various menus available in the cluster. Noteworthy features include WhatsApp message notifications on the screen, call notifications with reject and answer options, and Google Maps navigation support, among others.
Powertrain & Performance
The Rizta is available with 2 battery pack options 2.9 kWh and 3.7 kWh. We rode the 2.9 kWh battery pack version which comes with a claimed range of 123 km. It comes with two riding modes SmartEco & Zip. There is no Warp mode which might turn off some enthusiasts as it is not as sporty as other Ather electric scooters.
The SmartEco mode delivers a relaxed response and a slow power delivery which keeps the scooter a bit more relaxed and will try to reduce speed even when you pull the throttle. In SmartEco mode you will not be able to accelerate at a good pace so I kept the scooter in Zip mode for the majority of the distance. The Zip mode provides enough power for quick maneuvers and performs well. While riding on the inclines of the Nandi Hills, the Zip mode maintained strong performance without any noticeable power lag. However, in SmartEco mode, tackling inclines felt like a struggle.
If you are riding in a city with a low battery the SmarEco mode will keep you satisfied but the Zip mode is something that will keep you happy for your rides. We rode the 2.9 kWh battery variant which offers a claimed range of 123 km but in the real world if you are riding on Zip Mode it will give you a range of 80-85 km and if you want more range then you can switch to the SmarEco. However, the range drop is not much in between both variants.
The scooter features MagicTwist, which allows you to reduce speed without using the brakes. This function employs regenerative braking, providing extra support while riding in the city or in traffic. To activate MagicTwist, simply twist the throttle in the opposite direction.
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Ride, Handling & Comfort
The major USP of the Ather Rizta is the comfort and space it offers. The long seat is well cushioned to offer you a comfortable ride. The Rizta provides a spacious footwell area for the rider, ensuring a comfortable riding position without feeling cramped. If we talk about storage spaces, it offers a 34-litre under-seat storage and you can easily keep a full-size helmet in it with some space left for other stuff. The footwell area gets enough space along with two luggage hooks to carry a small bag or other stuff.
The Rizta comes with a telescopic front suspension and a mono-shock absorber at the back. The ride quality is a bit on the softer side at the front but the rear is sorted. It does not feel very bumpy on bad roads and can easily take small potholes. Overall it offers a comfortable ride quality and will keep the rider as well as the pillion happy.
Handling wise the scooter performs well, it does not feel heavy while doing lane shifts and quick maneuvers. Even at slow speeds, it feels quiet. nimble. The high-speed manners of the scooter are good and the 12-inch tires offer it good traction and confidence at high speed and sharp curves.
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Battery & Range
Ather Rizta is available with two battery pack options a 2.9 kWh and a 3.7 kWh. The 2.9 kWh battery pack gives it a claimed range of 123 km and the 3.7 kWh variant gives it a claimed range of 159 km. The smaller battery pack variant comes with a 350-watt charger while the bigger battery pack will come with a 750-watt duo-charger.
The range in the 2.9 kWh battery pack variant will be around 80-85 km in real-world conditions if you ride it on Zip mode. However, you can get a bit more range in the SmartEco mode. The SmartEco mode and some features like Magic Twist and Skid Control are available with the Pro Pack only which costs Rs 20,000 extra.
Verdict
Ather Rizta is a well put out electric scooter with some good features, pretty good space for rider and pillion. The under seat storgae is good and it offers a decent range as well. If you are someone who's looking to buy an electric scooter for your family the Rizta should be in your consideration. However, it has some downsides which can be improved later on such as the laggy instrument console. Additionally, the SmartEco mode should come as a standard feature. The scooter's price ranges from Rs 1.10 lakh to Rs 1.45 lakh (ex-showroom) which is a high price point for a family electric scooter.
