2023 Honda Dio – Is it still relevant as a modern moto-scooter?

The 2023 Honda Dio is still soldiering strong with few tweaks to its design, new-age features, new tyres and a smoother and more economical powertrain.

• There are two variants of the Honda Dio – Standard and Deluxe
• Both the variants of the Honda Dio are powered by the same air-cooled, single-cylinder, 109.51cc engine
• The more premium Deluxe variant of Honda Dio gets modern features like all-LED headlamp and fully-digital instrument console.

If you think that Activa has continued to be the only backbone for Honda in the scooter segment, you are ignoring the immense contribution of the more-affordable Dio. The Honda Dio, in its latest iteration, continues to carry its original essence of an edgy-looking scooter targeted at youngsters. 

However, in its current form, it looks more stylish and now gets a few updates to its features list and mechanicals, making it more relevant in current times. 

2023 Honda Dio: Design & Features

The Honda Dio is one of those scooters that has managed to stay afresh with new color schemes and graphics all over it. In this latest iteration, a few subtle tweaks were introduced to its design, making the front apron and side body panels look sharper. Even the headlamp and tail lamp now look edgier than before.

The Honda Dio is available in two variants – Standard and Deluxe. In the Standard variant, the scooter has black-coloured steel wheels, a halogen headlamp and an all-analogue instrument console. The color options offered in the Standard variant of the Honda Dio are Matt Axis Grey, Sports Red, Matt Sangria Red, Vibrant Orange and Matt Marvel Blue.

The more-premium Deluxe variant of the Honda Dio is offered with additional features and design tweaks, such as an all-LED headlamp, a fully-digital instrument console with a real-time mileage indicator and distance-to-empty indicator, and golden-coloured wheels. This variant is available in color options like Matt Sangria Red, Matt Axis Grey, Dazzle Yellow and Matt Marvel Blue.

Both the variants of the Honda Dio are equipped with an external fuel filler, a halogen tail lamp, clear lens turn indicators, a daytime running lamp on the handlebar cowl, an engine kill switch, a multi-functional ignition keyhole and a 12V charging outlet. 

2023 Honda Dio: Engine & Specs

The Honda Dio shares its four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected, 109.51cc engine with the more popular Activa. Here in the Dio too, this engine produces 7.66 bhp of maximum power and 9 Nm of maximum torque.

2023 Honda Dio: Chassis

In this updated version, the Honda Dio traded the old-generation trailing link setup for the front suspension unit for a more modern setup of telescopic forks. However, a 3-step adjustable single-sided coil spring continues to be there for the rear suspension setup. 

The Dio now rides on a larger 90/90-12 front tyre, while the rear tyre continues to be a 90/100-10 unit. The Dio is one of those scooters in India which is still available with only drum brakes as standard, with 130mm drum brakes equipped for both wheels. 

2023 Honda Dio: Dimensions

The low seat height and long wheelbase of the Honda Dio make it one of the easiest scooters to ride in India, a boon for people new to riding scooters. 

2023 Honda Dio: Price

While the Standard variant of the Honda Dio is priced at Rs 68,625, the more-premium Deluxe variant retails for Rs 72,626 (both prices ex-showroom, Delhi).

Conclusion

While there are many other new 110cc scooters available in the market now, the Honda Dio still is one strong proposition, courtesy of its edgier design complemented with vibrant color options. In addition, the new features like an LED headlamp and full-LCD instrument console make it a more appealing scooter than ever before. 

Lastly, the tried-and-tested 110cc engine shared with the Activa makes it one jazzy yet reliable scooter, which can last for years.