2024 Bajaj Chetak Review - Better But Still Predominantly For The Nostalgia Seekers

Published: Tuesday, January 16, 2024, 9:59 [IST]

In October 2019, Bajaj revived the iconic Chetak name with a brand new electric scooter that retained those classic curvy retro looks but offered up a zero-emissions powertrain.

However, over the years, this electric Bajaj Chetak fell behind rivals from Ather, Ola and newer players like Vida by Hero. So, just over four years after it first arrived, the Chetak lineup has undergone big changes.

So when Bajaj told us that there was a new Chetak Premium (the one with the big changes) to ride in Bangalore for us to test for the day, we made our way to the Chetak dealership to do just that. Here's what we found out...

2024 Bajaj Chetak Review - What's Changed?

The new Bajaj Chetak Premium is the higher priced of the two versions of the electric scooter and brings with it the much-taken-about changes which include a more powerful powertrain and more tech.

Let's talk about the big tech change - the new 5-inch TFT display which is surrounded by the usual array of lights for all the regular features of the Chetak Premium like the reverse mode, indicators and lights.

The 5-inch multi-colour display is quite bright and gives you all the details you want. The 4G connected screen gives you turn-by-turn navigation while displaying your route across its face. It also tells you which mode you're in, your remaining range, speed, date, time and also allows you to control your music and phone calls.

Other features introduced in the Chetak Premium include self-cancelling blinkers, left and right control switches, an electronic handle lock, and a seat opening switch. The seat opens up to reveal a larger luggage space, capable of holding 18.5 litres of luggage with the glove box increasing storage capacity by another 5 litres.

The other changes come under the bodywork. The new 2024 Bajaj Chetak Premium draws power from a larger 3.2kWh battery pack that the firm claims delivers 126 kilometres of range on a single charge (IDC, Eco Mode). The Chetak Premium comes with a 650w onboard charger that can charge up the curvy electric scooter's battery pack in around four and half hours.

The battery powers an electric motor which pushes 5.63bhp out 22.7Nm of peak torque to the rear wheel. This has resulted in an increase in the top speed by 10km/h to 73km/h compared to the base Chetak Urbane without the Tecpac optioned in.

The Chetak continues to come packed with features like sports mode, hill-hold, sequential blinkers, reverse mode, geofencing and more. However, we find Bajaj's decision to lock quite a few of these features to the optional (extra Rs 9,000) Tec-Pac to be quite odd as it does hamstring the app as well.

2024 Bajaj Chetak Review - Riding Impressions - Improved But Gremlins Still Exist

The Bajaj Chetak was quite happy to tootle about in the city when it first came out and the new 2024 iteration of the electric scooter is no different.

The changes to the powertrain mean that the new Chetak feels slightly quicker on the move and when the roads open up and empty out, you aren't left behind by the commuters on their everyday ICE scooters. However, the new Chetak does seem to start running out of steam at around 55km/h, even with sports mode engaged.

The other mode on offer, Eco, isn't much to talk about and we would still recommend only using it if the battery levels are on the lower end of the scale. The reverse gear option works rather well and means you can get out of parking spots with ease.

The suspension setup, like in quite a few other scooters of the electric variety felt a bit harsh, especially on slightly rougher surfaces (basically most of Bangalore's roads). However, you will get used to it after a while thanks to that comfortable seat.

The Chetak was easy to manoeuvre on the city streets. Despite topping the scales at 134 kilos, the Chetak proved quite nimble, allowing us to squeeze through traffic with ease and when we did find a corner to chuck it into, it held up quite well.

Where the 2024 Chetak felt a bit off were its brakes. The new Bajaj Chetak Premium sports a disc brake at the front and a rear drum that are aided by a combi-braking system. We aren't sure if it was an issue with the unit we were riding or if the CBS system was a bit too hyperactive, but our test Chetak loved to dive, especially when we pulled on the disc at the front.

2024 Bajaj Chetak Review: Verdict & Final Thoughts - For The Nostalgia Seekers, Others Should Look Elsewhere

The 2024 Bajaj Chetak Premium improves on its predecessor in several ways (range and display) while retaining the retro looks, metal body and the oh-so-comfortable seat.

Unfortunately, with a price tag of Rs 1.53 lakh (ex-showroom) for the fully ledged, techpac-enabled version, the new Chetak Premium really lives up to its secondary name. There are better options out there for those looking for a sharper and quicker ride with around the same range, but if you're overwhelmed by the nostalgic vibes, take a ride for yourself and see if it suits your riding style before pulling the trigger on the purchase.