TVS has replaced the iQube’s base 2.2kWh variant with a new 2.3kWh version, adding 20km to the claimed IDC range for buyers who found the older base model’s range too limiting for daily commutes. The new base variant is priced at Rs 1.16 lakh (ex-showroom). But the range bump doesn’t come free of trade-offs — TVS has also dialled back the top speed and switched to simpler hardware on this variant, changes that matter just as much as the headline range figure for anyone actually shopping at this price point.
What’s Changed: Battery, Range and Price
The battery capacity increase is modest on paper — just 0.1kWh, from 2.2kWh to 2.3kWh — but TVS claims it’s enough to push the IDC-certified range up by 20km over the outgoing base variant. The motor stays the same 4.93 hp unit used on the previous 2.2kWh version, so this isn’t a performance upgrade in the traditional sense; it’s purely for stretching how far the scooter goes on a single charge, which matters more to daily commuters than outright acceleration or top speed.
Lower Top Speed, Drum Brakes and a Simpler Console
Buyers should know what’s been dropped to make this variant work at its price. Top speed has come down to 68 kmph, compared to 75kmph on the older 2.2kWh base model. This is a real difference if highway stretches are part of the daily commute. TVS has also fitted drum brakes at both ends instead of the earlier setup, a cost-cutting move that’s fairly typical for entry-level variants but still worth noting before comparing this against pricier iQube trims with disc brakes.
The instrument cluster has also been simplified, swapping the previous TFT screen for a basic LCD unit. It still supports turn-by-turn navigation, call and SMS alerts, and over-the-air updates, so the core connected features survive — it’s just a smaller, less premium-looking display doing the job.
For someone specifically prioritising range on a budget, the extra 20km makes this variant a reasonable pick. But buyers who valued the TFT display, higher top speed, or disc brakes on the old base variant should check current stock before assuming the new 2.3kWh model is a straightforward upgrade — on some fronts, it’s actually a step down in exchange for that extra range.