Honda DIO

While the Honda Dio is not an all-new product on the international platform, it looks smashing and trendy in its latest avatar. Honda has made commendable changes to the overall look of the Dio which now makes it much relevant and modern for today’s times.

The Honda Dio instills an impression of a sharp-looking scooter right from its front profile. The very busy-looking front apron of the Dio accommodates a large arrowhead-shaped LED headlamp, with wedge-shaped clear lens turn indicators attached to it on its upper edges. While the side edges of the front apron get two-part Z-shaped side panels that flow down towards the floorboard, the upper part of the apron has a slightly protruding out Y-shaped panel. The handlebar cowl of the Honda Dio comes with a sleek-looking LED positioning light.

The side profile of the Honda Dio continues the sharp appearance of the scooter generated from the front. The floorboard is large enough to accommodate even taller riders with ease, while the side body panels also have a look as busy as that of the front apron with lots of creases and lines. The back portion of the apron accommodates a small bottle holder and multi-functional ignition keyhole, from which you can start the scooter and open the seat and external fuel filler. The scooter comes with a long and broad seat and split pillion grab rails at the back. The Dio gets golden coloured steel wheels which might look a bit loud for some. At the rear, the Honda Dio has a large tail lamp cluster that integrates clear lens turn indicators within it and has the external fuel filler cap above it.

The small fully digital instrument console of the Honda Dio sits within a very busily styled panel of the handlebar cowl. The small full LCD panel shows small fonts for all the data, which are hard to read but offer enough info while on the go. It packs in speedometer, odometer, fuel gauge, odometer, trip meters, service indicator, and clock. The switchgear of the Honda Dio also includes an engine kill switch and pass flasher.

The Honda Dio rides on a 12-inch wheel at the front and a 10-inch wheel at the back, with 90/100-12 tubeless front tyre and a 90/100-10 tubeless rear tyre on offer. Compared to the previous generations of the Honda Dio sold overseas, this new Honda Dio gets hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and a single-sided three-step adjustable hydraulic coil spring at the back. A combination of 130mm drum brakes at both front and rear serve the braking purposes.

The Honda Dio has been given a tried and tested four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled, 109.5cc engine, which is one of the most refined and fuel-efficient 110cc engines out there. The engine pumps out a maximum power output of 7.8 PS and a peak torque output of 9 Nm. For a scooter that weighs only 105 kg, the engine offers a decent performance with acceleration figures perky enough to make it a breeze to ride at slow urban speeds.

For an entry-level scooter, the Honda Dio misses out on ABS but does get a combined braking system, lockable ignition keyhole, and rear parking brake.

The snazzy looks and trendy features of the Honda Dio are bound to attract younger generation buyers like college goers more than the group of more mature buyers. This youthful visual appeal of the Honda Dio has well complemented with a smooth and reliable engine and a decent chassis under its skin.