Honda QC1 Review - What Was It Made For?

Updated: Monday, March 24, 2025, 14:25 [IST]

Last November, Honda took the wraps off the new Activa e. While that electric scooter has a lot to live up to thanks to its nameplate, it wasn't the only thing on the stage that perplexed us. The other head scratch inducing EV on the stage that day was a smaller version of the new electric Activa dubbed the QC1.

Unlike the Activa e, the new QC1 had a fixed battery that you could charge, a hub motor along with a design almost identical to its larger sibling and as we learned at Auto Expo two months later, a price tag of Rs 90,000. So when Honda asked to give the new QC1 a go in Bangalore, we took the bait. Our goal, answer the question - What the Honda QC1 was made for?

Honda QC1 Review: Design & Features - Copycat

For the QC1, it would seem that Honda''s design team took the Activa e's front design and stuck it into a copier and shrunk the output to 75%. Once they had that in hand they went about removing the fancy bits from other sections of the Activa and swapping them with more cost effective replacements from their parts bin while deleting the ones that couldn't be replaced.

The headlight looks nearly identical to the one on the Activa e but the QC1 has ditched the DRL on the handlebars. On the other side of the apron, the colour TFT screen has made way for a negative LCD. There is also only one storage pocket, though it looks to be twice the size of the ones found on the Activa e (yes, even we found that to be weird.

Thankfully, the luggage hook and the USB-C charging point have been retained and there is another charging point under the rider's seat, which charges up the QC1's battery pack, though the Activa e's smart key has made way for a regular analogue unit. Under the seat the Honda QC1 offers 26-litres of storage space, good enough for a half helmet and all the groceries or your regular everyday carry items like your bag.

From then on, the QC1's design reminds us of the Cliq - from the curved section that exposes the rear suspension to the positioning of the tail light and rear indicators (picked from the CB 300R parts bin) and the single piece grab handle for the pillion rider. The final bit of weirdness comes from the black alloy wheel at the front (with a drum brake) and the rear alloy wheel that houses the motor unit and looks like it has been consumed by it.

Honda QC1 Review: Motor & Mechanicals - You're Power?

The Honda QC1 is powered by a rather small 1.5kWh battery pack that offers a claimed range of 80km on a single charge. Charging that battery pack is as slow as it gets. With the 330W off-board charger plugged in, the QC1 can charge from 0-80% in 4 hours and 30 minutes while a full charge takes a mind numbing 6 hours and 50 minutes.

The battery pack powers a hub-mounted brushless DC motor that pushes out 1.8kW (2.4bhp) and 77Nm of peak torque. Honda claims this is good enough to push the QC1 from 0-40km/h in 9.1 seconds and a top speed of 50km/h.

The Honda QC1 features a telescopic front fork and 5-step adjustable, hydraulic twin shocks at the rear. The 12-inch front wheel is draped in 90/100 tyre while the 10-inch rear unit sports a 90/100 tyre. Braking duties are handled by 130mm (front) and 110mm (rear) drum brakes.

The Honda QC1 measures 1,826mm long, 701mm wide and 1,129mm tall and features a 1,275mm long wheelbase. The QC1 tips the scales at just 89.5 kilos and offers 169mm of ground clearance as well as a 704mm long seat.

Honda QC1 Review: Riding Impressions - My Future Is Slow?

On the road, the Honda QC1 is painfully slow, a feeling that becomes heightened by the fact the scooter is near silent when it operates. The lack of initial power is really annoying as pulling off an overtake becomes a game of chicken, not something you would like to do on our crazy roads. And trying to get to that claimed top speed of 50km/h was an impossible task.

The suspension setup is slightly on the stiffer side but the wide and well cushioned seat makes journeys bearable. The floorboard also seems to be a bit higher than normal as the handlebar does end up hitting your knees whenever you have to turn, even if you're an average sized desi. The large underseat storage is a good point as it can easily gobble up a week's groceries with ease.

Honda QC1 Review: Verdict & Final Thoughts - What Was It Made For?

The Honda QC1 is an electric scooter that seems to have one job in mind , get you to the shops and back and not much else. With its limited range and speed, the Honda QC1 looks like it was made for those who just need to hit the shops or visit a nearby friend and don't mind riding around in a calm yet slow manner, an electric scooter made to go from point A to point B and back, and not much else.