Hero MotoCorp is the highest selling two-wheeler manufacturer in India, but there’s no denying the fact that their scooters haven’t been able to replicate the success of their motorcycles. Following their divorce with Honda, Hero showcased a couple of new scooters at the 2014 Auto Expo the first of which was showcased recently at a press conference along with another new product. The Hero Maestro Edge is essentially the Dash scooter that was showcased during the Auto Expo. The Maestro has been on sale in the market for some time and has established a brand name of for itself. Perhaps the reason why Hero decided to use the Maestro moniker for this brand new scooter instead of an all new name. While the company has already unveiled the scooter and announced prices as well, the Maestro Edge will only be available October onwards. We got a chance to take the new scooter for a spin and you can check out our impressions in the Hero Maestro Edge Test Drive Review below.
Also See – Hero Maestro Edge | Hero Xtreme 200S
Video Review
Design & Features
At first glance, the Maestro Edge appears to be a sportier, more aggressive version of the Maestro. The sharper lines have helped reduce some of the bulk of the Maestro’s exterior and added a healthy dose of masculinity to the overall appearance of the scooter. The front features a high set headlamp unit with a glossy black wind deflector placed above it. The front cowl features indicators and faux plastic air vents. Prominent badging takes up most of the space on the sculpted side panel.
Move over to the back and you will notice a striking looking tail lamp cluster which houses LED stop lamps and turn indicators. Among the highlights of the Hero Maestro Edge’s styling are the sculpted exhaust pipe, body coloured grab handles, silver accents on the rear view mirrors, blacked out 5-spoke alloys wheels and an attractive range of colours to choose from.
Hero has provided an analogue-digital instrument cluster which gets large, centrally located speedo with the tip and odo meter placed to its right. Turning the key anticlockwise opens the underseat storage which is big enough to fit a full face helmet. This generous storage space also gets a USB 3.0 charging port for phones and under seat illumination. Other nifty features include side stand indicator, pass light, etc. The external fuel filler has been neatly placed under a flap above the stop lamp which opens on pushing and twisting the key clockwise.
Overall, we are very impressed with the Hero Maestro Edge’s sporty styling, useful set of features and an interesting colour palette.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – Hero Duet Scooter Unveiled[/box]
Engine & Transmission
Powering the Maestro Edge is a 110.9cc motor producing a maximum power of 8.43 PS at 8,000 rpm and a peak torque of 8.3 Nm at 6,500 rpm mated to a CVT. The engine performs well under normal riding conditions. It is quick off the line, however, it struggles to go beyond the 80 km/h and best suited to cruising around at speeds of 50-60 km/h. Refinement levels are high and NVH is well contained, but we do wish the engine had a bit more high end punch which would have made the Maestro Edge a lot more fun. The scooter is good for city speeds and quick getaways from traffic lights. Hero is claiming a combined mileage of 65.8 kpl which only adds to the Maestro Edge’s practicality.
Ride, Handling and Braking
A comfortable riding position is a must for any commuter scooter and the Hero Maestro Edge doesn’t fail to impress. This is complimented very well by the ample cushioning on the seat ensuring that long journeys astride this scooter will not take too much of a toll on the rider. New for the Maestro Edge is a telescopic front suspension which has improved ride quality and rider comfort. The scooter is pretty sure footed and feels confident around corners, but it still doesn’t enjoy being pushed too hard around bends. Hero has provided the Maestro Edge with integrated braking which ensures the scooter stops without too much drama. Based on the limited number of high speed runs we could carry out we found the Hero Maestro Edge to be pretty stable as the scooter maintained its composure under heavy acceleration and hard braking. It offers a comfortable ride, handles well and does not get nervous under braking.
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Final Word
Priced at INR 49,500, the Hero Maestro Edge costs almost the same as its main rival, the Honda Activa. Realistically speaking, it will be very difficult to overhaul the Activa and knock it off its perch, but Hero’s latest is more than capable of drawing a sizeable chunk of buyers away from Honda. With the Maestro Edge, Hero is clearly targeting a much younger audience than the Maestro and they seem to have gotten almost everything right. It looks fantastic and there are some pretty interesting colour options to choose from, there’s a whole bunch of well thought out features on offer including nifty bits like the USB charging port, side stand indicator, pass light, etc. The Maestro Edge will be sold alongside the Maestro and will take the total tally of scooters offered by the Indian giant to three. Also, the addition of this new scooter will surely help Hero cater to a wider demographic, especially to those looking for something a bit more sporty, a bit more young. The new Hero Maestro Edge is much more than just an ‘edgier’ (pun intended) looking Maestro. Sure it could have done with a bit more in terms of performance, but the fact is that scooters aren’t really meant for that. This scooter does what it was intended to do very well. It is a comfortable city runabout with a healthy list of features all rolled into one smart looking package enough to keep you happy.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – New Hero Splendor Pro Launch Soon[/box]
So, what do you have to say about our Hero Maestro Edge test drive review? Do share your views by penning them down in the comments section below.
