‘Hey, that looks like a mini Chetak!’ exclaimed a bunch of Bajaj employees when they saw the new e-scooter. They weren’t wrong, actually. Because at first glance, the Chetak 2501 really does look like someone put the bigger Chetak in a hot wash. Same silhouette, same classy lines… all just tightened up. But spend more than a few seconds around it and the illusion breaks. This isn’t a chopped-down 35-series. It’s a ground-up scooter that just happens to share good genes. And that distinction matters — because it explains why this thing feels far better than its spec sheet suggests it has any right to.

Let’s address the elephant quietly judging us from the brochure. A hub motor. Just 1.8 kW of continuous power. And 107 kg. On paper, that reads less like ‘urban mobility solution’ and more like ‘will this survive Indian traffic?’ Except it does. Comfortably. And even sprinkle some fun.

Within the first few kilometres, the 2501 disarmed me. It felt light, eager and completely at ease weaving through crawling traffic. U-turns were easy, tight gaps felt inviting, and the scooter never once made me second-guess my inputs. Even when speeds went to the 55-kph limit, it didn’t suddenly turn nervous or floaty. It maintained composure.

Ride quality was mostly well judged, too. Smaller bumps, undulations and general urban chaos are dealt with neatly. Big potholes and broken patches, however, did remind me that the suspension was on the firmer side, sending a jolt straight to my lower back. It wasn’t painful, but not something I’d want on my daily rider.

What really sealed the deal was the motor tuning. Even in Eco mode, with a pillion onboard, the Chetak 2501 felt sprightly enough to boss city traffic. You’re not just keeping up — you’re occasionally darting ahead with a quiet smugness. Sport mode turned up the enthusiasm, though with a 55 kmph top speed, it’s more cheeky grin than manic laughter. Regen braking was present but polite; I could feel it helping, but it never pretended to be a brake pedal substitute.

The tyres, though, are where expectations truly got bullied. Skinny 12-inch Eurogrips didn’t exactly scream grip, yet the harder I pushed, the more the scooter encouraged me to keep going. I was scraping the side stand before I even realised I’d started riding like a hooligan. Even on poor roads, the tyres held on gamely, and the brakes — backed by a very well-calibrated CBS — kept everything composed no matter how clumsy the inputs I gave.

Ergonomically, it was another pleasant surprise. Despite its compact size, knee room was generous, the handlebar never fouled during tight manoeuvres, and two-up riding felt perfectly natural. The LCD display stayed readable under harsh sunlight, and thank the EV gods, Bajaj stuck with a proper indicator toggle this time. The right-side switchgear was intuitive too — small details, but ones that will make daily life better.

The one moment where the illusion cracks slightly was a mild hesitation when getting back on the throttle after braking. It felt like the scooter briefly asking itself, ‘Are we sure?’ before responding — very AMT car energy.

Now let’s talk money, because this is where the 2501 quietly lands a punch. At ₹91,399 ex-showroom, it undercuts expectations and rivals alike. That gets you Drive mode and reverse as standard, which is fine. Spend ₹3,000 more on the TecPac, though, and you unlock Eco and Sport modes, hill-hold, music control and guide-me-home lights. That’s a small upgrade cost for features you’ll actually use. Add to that 25 litres of under-seat storage, enough for groceries or daily errands, and the Chetak 2501 starts making a very strong case for itself.

The Bajaj Chetak 2501 isn’t trying to be disruptive, revolutionary or headline-grabbing. Instead, it does something far cleverer — it exceeds expectations at every turn. It’s light, confidence-inspiring, genuinely fun at city speeds and easy to live with, whether you’re a first-time rider or someone who’s been riding long enough to be bored of boring scooters.

No, it won’t thrill you on an empty highway. And no, it won’t rewrite EV history. But for daily commutes, chores, and the occasional grin-inducing corner, the Chetak 2501 feels like a scooter that’s been properly thought through. Because by the end of the ride, ‘Mini Chetak’ felt less like a nickname, and more like a compliment.

The post Bajaj Chetak 2501 First Ride Review: Small Wonder appeared first on Motoring World.

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