Honda launches the 2018 Dio at Rs 51,292

2018 Honda Dio

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has launched the 2018 Dio at Rs 51,292 (ex-showroom, Delhi). The scooter now gets LED headlamp and position lamp, 4-in-1 lock with seat opener switch, front hook and retractable rear hook, metal muffler protector, fully digital instrumental console (with 3 Step Eco Speed Indicator & service due indicator) and gold rims. Mechanically it remains the same. Powering the 2018 Honda Dio is the single cylinder 109.19cc engine that makes 8bhp and 8.91Nm of peak torque and comes mated to a CVT. It gets CBS braking system for safety. The scooter is built around an Under Bone frame.

Rivals

The Honda Dio has formidable rivals in the form of the Hero Yamaha Ray Z, TVS Jupiter and the Maestro Edge. The Hero Maestro Edge is priced at Rs 49,900 for the single colour option and Rs 51300 for the dual tone colour. The 2018 Yamaha Ray Z is priced at Rs 50,817 while the TVS Jupiter retails at Rs 50,366 for the base version, going all the way to Rs 55,366 for the ZX disc brake variant. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.

Vice President’s quote on the new Honda Dio

Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Taking ahead the 15-year legacy of Dio, the 2018 avatar is available in 2 variants. More youthful than ever – with stylish new looks, new digital meter, 3 Step Eco Speed Indicator and Service Due Indicator, new Dio raises the bar even further. Dio is also the largest exported scooter from India and has crossed 5 lakh exports milestone. The new world is all yours, when you’re Dioíng it the new way.”

Launched originally more than a decade ago, the Honda Dio created ripples in the market thanks to its design, agility and handling and introduced the youth to motoscooters. Fun was something everyone associated when they thought of the Dio. Over the years, with more competent rivals coming up, the Dio somehow got sidelined, and even the 110cc mill with new design could not bring in the numbers for Honda. While the motoscooter market has been revived thanks to Aprilia SR 150, the TVS NTorq 125 has taken it to the next level, adding a dose of practicality to the mix. While the Grazia is doing fairly well, the smaller capacity Dio has lost ground. Honda has clearly upped the ante with the 2018 Dio, but is it enough? We’ll have to wait and watch.