TVS Ntorq 150: First Ride Review

The Visuals

The moment TVS took the wraps off the Ntorq 150, I had a big smile on my face looking at its edgy and aggressive stance. While it retains the design ethos of its 125cc sibling, there are elements which set it apart, such as an exposed handlebar, four horizontally-stacked projector LED headlights, tiny winglets flanking the sleek DRLs, and a pair of Z-shaped LEDs at the rear. Further differentiating the Ntorq 150 are the four new colour options, with the Nitro Green seen in these pictures shouting for attention the most. That said, in terms of proportions, the Ntorq 150 isn’t a noticeably bigger scooter than its 125cc iteration, which might put off some people.

It is also a very well put-together scooter. The quality of plastic panels and switchgear looks premium and there aren’t any uneven panel gaps to be found. Even the paint finish is rich and seems long-lasting.

The Package

Starting with the heart of the matter, the 149.7cc, air-cooled, three-valve engine of the scooter is based on the same unit that does duty on the Ntorq 125. However, for the 150, TVS has increased the bore size, elongated the stroke length, used a bigger airbox, and executed some other internal changes to increase displacement and improve performance and refinement. It makes 13bhp and 14.2Nm.

While the main frame and suspension are the same as its smaller sibling, the former is made slightly stiffer for the Ntorq 150, and the latter gets increased damping and spring rate. The braking setup and wheels have been retained as is, but the 150 gets the added safety net of ABS. Interestingly, while tipping the scales at 115kg (kerb), it is still 1kg lighter than the 125cc version.

Features are where the bigger Ntorq is a major step up. The package includes a traction control system, two riding modes, adjustable levers, USB charger, multi-function lock, and an auto start-stop system. For storage, there’s a 22-litre underseat boot along with a 2-litre front glove box. The higher-spec variant gets a colour TFT screen with Bluetooth connectivity for accessing navigation and receiving calls and SMS alerts. In fact, the screen comes with over 50 smart features, including Alexa and smartwatch integration, live tracking, navigation, and OTA updates. The base variant, meanwhile, incorporates a hybrid LCD-TFT screen and misses out on some features like switchability for traction control, panic braking alert, OTA updates, and a few other niceties.

The Ride

Sit on the Ntorq 150 and it instantly feels like a roomy scooter with a good amount of space on the seat and floorboard. Even the exposed handlebar feels wide, which helps with offering more leverage and reducing effort while changing directions. Crank up the motor and you’re greeted by the familiar soundtrack, which is almost identical to the Ntorq 125, but slightly bassier. As I rolled out on the track, the first thing that impressed me was the engine’s refinement. The motor feels smooth, even beyond 90kmph, and there are no vibrations to speak of. And while the acceleration is strong, the scooter didn’t feel significantly quicker than its 125cc sibling. However, I will reserve my judgement on that for the road test review since most scooters feel slow on a track.

That said, the roll-on acceleration feels brisk, be it from 30kmph or 60kmph. The engine maxes out at slightly over 100kmph. I tried switching between both riding modes repeatedly, but the difference in performance wasn’t clearly noticeable.

And when you need to slow down, the front brake delivers a strong and assuring bite with good lever feel. Even the rear brake has a good balance of bite and progression. Overall, the braking is quite confidence-inspiring.

The handling, meanwhile, feels just like the Ntorq 125 – agile yet predictable. It leans into corners with minimal effort but doesn’t scare you by tipping unnervingly quickly. Holding your desired line through the corner is easy, and the grip and feel from the tyres are reasonably good. While judging the ride quality wasn’t possible on the smooth tarmac of the test track, the suspension setup did handle a bumpy left-hander quite well, without moving or bouncing too violently. That suggests that the scooter will be capable of dealing with bad roads, which have become quite common this monsoon.

Conclusion

The TVS Ntorq 150 certainly brings all the traits to the table that made its smaller sibling so popular in India. In fact, it truly hits it out of the park in some areas. The overall hardware package, for instance, comes together nicely to deliver a sporty and engaging riding experience. The engine is profoundly smooth, handling dynamics are spot on, brakes are strong, comfort and space are in abundance, and it makes every other scooter look dated in terms of features and technology. The design is a nice evolution of its 125cc version, although the 150 doesn’t look noticeably bigger. I was just left wanting a stronger roll-on acceleration, considering this is a 150cc scooter. However, as I said, that can be judged more accurately in the real world than on the track.

At Rs. 1.19 lakh, the base variant is Rs. 10,000 more affordable than the bigger Aprilia SR 175, which makes it an enticing proposition. While the higher-spec trim does bring in a good bunch of additional features, the Rs. 10,000 premium it demands is a bit steep. To conclude, the TVS Ntorq 150 turned out to be quite impressive in the brief stint we got with it. Now, we can’t wait to put it through a full-blown road test review.

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi