Honda has teased us with the new BS6 compliant ‘Dio’ scooter for 2020. The Honda Dio is one of the most popular offerings from the Japanese brand and Honda Motorcycles India has already upgraded the Honda Activa to BS6 standards, which now comes with the Activa 6G moniker. The 2020 Honda Dio gets a sportier than before design with more cuts, crease lines and fresh new graphics and colours. The 2020 Honda Dio also gets full LED headlight and LED daytime running lights. Other features that the 2020 Honda Dio is likely to carry over are fully digital speedometer, 4-in-1 lock with seat opening switch, mobile charging socket, tubeless tyres, retractable underseat hook and front hook and safety features like CBS.
The Honda Dio is based on the Honda Activa scooter and in the engine department, the 2020 Honda Dio will get the same BS6 compliant engine offered on the Activa 6G which is a 109.51cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke air/fan-cooled engine with fuel injection that makes 7.6 BHP of power and 8.79 Nm of torque coupled to an automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The engine also features Honda Eco Technology (HET) and Enhanced Smart Tumble Technology which promises a balance between fuel economy and performance. The performance figures on the BS4 variant was slightly better at 8 BHP of power and 9 Nm of torque, but the new BS6 engine compensates by offering better refinement and fuel efficiency through Honda’s PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injection).
The BS4 Honda Dio retails at INR 54,241 ex-showroom, Delhi and the BS6 compliant 2020 Honda Dio is likely to be priced around INR 5,000 more than the current model.
In terms of competition, the Honda Dio goes head to head with the likes of Hero Maestro Edge, Aprilia SR 125 and Yamaha Ray ZR among others. The Dio has always been a youth favourite scooter, but this charm got lost when newer competition arrived. Honda needs to up their game to now attract younger buyers especially when there are sporty motoscooters like the Aprilia SR 125 on offer here in India.