Suzuki e-Access first ride impressions: 'Spot On' for city life?

Time of India

2 days ago

Suzuki e-Access first ride impressions.
Suzuki Motorcycle India
has finally stepped into the country's fast-growing
electric two-wheeler
segment; and it's done so with a name that's already well-known among scooter buyers. The e-Access made its global debut at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo earlier this year. Now with the price announcement inching closer, we recently got the opportunity to swing a leg over the e-Access at a closed go-kart circuit in Bengaluru. While it wasn't a full-fledged real-world road test, the controlled setting gave us a clear sense of what Suzuki's EV debut brings to the table. Here are our first impressions.
Suzuki e-Access electric scooter: Design
When it comes to design, the folks at Suzuki played it smart rather than flashy. The e-Access doesn't really chase futuristic styling cues like many new-age EVs, nor does it cling to its past - or rather its lineage (It's drastically different from the ICE Access). Up front, a vertically stacked LED DRL runs up the centre of the raked front apron, while the neatly integrated rectangular LED headlamp keeps things clean and contemporary.
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Moving to the sides, the flowing bodywork is minimal and nicely done. Also, the turbine-like alloy wheels deserve a special mention as they look great and give the scooter a visual lift. Everything feels well put together, and that includes the subtle two-tone treatment and raised Suzuki badges. The switchgear and panels too feel solid and well-built.
At the rear, the scooter features smoothly contoured panels that integrate cleverly designed turn indicators. All in all, the design feels well thought out: it's easy on the eyes, built for daily rides, and still has just enough style to make people take a second look in traffic. The Suzuki e-Access comes in three dual-tone colour options: Metallic Mat Black No.2/Mat Bordeaux Red, Pearl Jade Green/Mat Fibroin Gray, and Pearl Grace White/Mat Fibroin Gray. Of the lot, the black and red combo looks more premium.
Suzuki e-Access: Performance & ride
What surprised us most on the track was just how easy the e-Access feels. At 122 kg kerb, it's not feather-light, but the scooter feels nimble from the get-go. We could weave it around cones, cut through tight corners and it always feels under control. Low-speed agility is excellent around the corners, and straight-line stability is solid too.
Another thing to mention, when we pushed it hard, the centre stand was scraping the tarmac - a lot! We experienced this while attempting sharper lean angles on the track. But let's be honest, unless your daily commute involves impersonating 2020 Joan Mir on a Suzuki, this isn't going to be an issue on the road.
Now moving to acceleration, it is fairly linear and refined. We were actually impressed by how the throttle calibration has been done. Power outputs stand at 5.4 hp and a peak torque of 15 Nm, and the engineers at Suzuki have done a good job tuning it to avoid any jerky surges. Ride Modes A and B allow a top speed of 71 kmph, while Eco mode limits it to 55 kmph to squeeze out more range - which, by the way, is claimed at 95 km. Suzuki also claims that power delivery remains consistent even when the State of Charge drops to 10 percent.
Notably, the manufacturer has gone with LFP battery instead of the usual NMC type. Why? Because LFP batteries are built to last - nearly twice as long - which means less worry about battery health over time.
Suzuki e-Access: Ergonomics
The seating triangle is near spot-on. You sit upright, and the handlebar falls naturally into place. The 765 mm seat height is accessible for most riders, and there's decent ground clearance at 160 mm - we had no issues over track bumps. That said, a proper road run should explain things better.
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As for hardware, the e-Access uses telescopic forks up front and a monoshock at the rear, paired with a front disc and rear drum brake setup. The suspension feels a bit firm over back-to-back bumps at higher speeds but should handle regular road conditions just fine. As for the brakes, they offer enough bite to inspire confidence.
Suzuki e-Access: Features & Tech
The e-Access is loaded with features that matter. A 4.2-inch full-colour TFT display gives you all the essentials: speed, battery level, energy consumption, and more. You also get smartphone connectivity via
Suzuki Ride Connect
with turn-by-turn navigation, and a lot more. However, there's room for improvement. While the display is well laid out and the graphics are neat, its visibility under bright sunlight isn't the best.
Suzuki e-Access: Verdict
Suzuki
may have taken its time entering the EV game, but the e-Access doesn't feel like a newcomer. It comes across as mature, well-built, and neatly put together. During the briefing, the company shared that a majority of potential buyers (about 85%) prioritise long battery life over high range, and most of them don't ride more than 40 km a day. With that in mind, the e-Access seems to tick the right boxes for city use. We'll save our final verdict for when we test it in real-world conditions, but as first impressions go, Suzuki seems to have done its homework - and done it well.
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