Both the Suzuki Avenis and the TVS NTORQ have been in the local market for a while now, but it seems somebody has yet to point out the “elephant in the room” regarding these two sporty scooters.

Has anyone noticed that the Suzuki Avenis and the TVS NTORQ are almost identical?

Save for the decals and rear wheel size, they are practically the same in dimensions and styling lines, from the headlight to the external fuel filler at the rear. They even have similar triangular details on the tail end. However, do they have identical performance on the road as well?

Less is more

Suzuki kept things simple with the Avenis. It has a 124cc air-cooled, 2-valve, single-cylinder engine, which produces 6.4 kW and 10 Nm. It may not seem much on paper, but given the Avenis’ 106-kilogram weight and 10-inch rear wheel, you get brisk acceleration that would definitely leave you smiling from ear to ear. The 90/90-12 (front) and 90/100-10 (rear) tires set up contributes to a more flickable ride around the congested city streets.

Despite having small wheels, Suzuki managed an impressive 160 mm ground clearance for the Avenis so you can confidently roll over road imperfections.

Another selling point of the Suzuki Avenis is its fuel efficiency, having a claimed mileage of 54 kilometers per liter. During one of Suzuki’s economy runs, a rider even achieved 56.1 kilometers per liter.

High-tech track scooter

TVS just launched the Race Edition of the NTORQ a couple of months ago, and it is packed with technological features that you wouldn’t expect on a scooter at its price point. It has Street and Sport riding modes, and there’s even a mode where you get ride stats read out, presumably for riding on the track.

The NTORQ Race Edition is powered by a 124.8cc, air-cooled, 3-valve engine with slightly higher figures, 6.8 kW and 10.5 Nm. Though, the meaty 100/80-12 (front) and 110/80-12 (rear) tires and 118-kilogram weight could cancel out the slight edge in performance. In any case, you’ll have fun leaning into corners with its fat tires and 155 mm ground clearance.

You also get phone connectivity feature on the NTORQ, which offers useful features like Navigation Assist, Last Parked Location Assist, Caller ID, and such. The large digital console has 60 different features for the rider to play with.

Verdict

I have ridden both the Suzuki Avenis and the TVS NTORQ Race Edition on quick city tours and long touring rides, and I must say that while they may look the same, they are two different scooters with each’s distinct characteristics.

The Avenis feels peppier than the NTORQ, but the latter offers better riding comfort. Fuel efficiency is about the same, with the Avenis’ 54 KPL and the NTORQ’s 51 KPL. The Avenis is the more practical option with a price tag of ₱ 79,400, but if you are willing to add ₱ 1,500 more, you’ll get phone connectivity and riding modes on the NTORQ.

Simply put, if you are the “point A to point B” type of rider, go for the Avenis. If you want a more engaging ride experience, then the NTORQ Race Edition is for you.

Would you prefer a simple scooter because too many features overwhelm you, or would you like some cool tech on your ride?