TVS iQube S vs Bajaj Chetak C3501: Which Family EV Scooter Wins in 2026?

TVS iQube S vs Bajaj Chetak C3501 is the comparison every serious EV scooter buyer in India ends up making, because these are the two most trusted names in the premium electric scooter space right now. The iQube S costs around ₹1.59 lakh ex-showroom in Delhi after its 2026 update, while the Chetak's flagship trim — sold today as the C3501, priced at roughly ₹1.47 lakh ex-showroom — is what most buyers still recognise by its older name, Chetak Premium. Bajaj retired that naming convention when it relaunched the whole Chetak range under the 25 Series and 35 Series badges, but the positioning hasn't changed: this is still the best-equipped Chetak money can buy.

TVS iQube S Price vs Bajaj Chetak C3501 Price in India

On-road, expect to pay close to ₹1.75-1.78 lakh for the iQube S in Delhi once RTO and insurance are added, against roughly ₹1.58-1.62 lakh for the Chetak C3501. That gap of nearly ₹15,000-18,000 isn't trivial for a buyer choosing between two family scooters, and it exists for a reason. The iQube S carries a bigger 4.7kWh battery against the Chetak's 3.5kWh pack, and TVS has priced the extra range and the higher 82kmph top speed accordingly. Bajaj, in turn, has kept its Google Maps navigation, TFT display and 35-litre boot at a price point that still undercuts most rivals in this segment, including the Ather Rizta, which starts near ₹1.20 lakh for its base trim but climbs past ₹1.60 lakh for the bigger battery variant.

Real-World Range: Claimed Numbers vs What You Actually Get

TVS claims 175km IDC range for the iQube S. Ride it the way most Gurugram or Bengaluru commuters actually ride — stop-start traffic, AC-heavy summer months, occasional flyover bursts — and expect closer to 125-140km on a full charge. The Chetak C3501's claimed figure is 153km, and owners on BikeDekho consistently report real-world numbers between 110km and 130km, which tracks with the smaller battery. Neither number should surprise anyone who has owned a two-wheeler before; IDC ratings are a lab measurement, not a promise. What matters is that both scooters comfortably clear a 40-50km daily round trip with charge to spare, which covers the overwhelming majority of Indian office commutes.

Which One Handles Your Daily Commute Better

If your commute involves long straight stretches — an NH-48 style flyover run, or a highway-adjacent office park — the iQube S's higher top speed and stronger mid-range punch make it feel less strained at 60-70kmph. The Chetak, capped closer to 73kmph on most trims, feels most at home below 50kmph, weaving through city traffic where its low center of gravity and tight turning radius genuinely shine. Bajaj built the Chetak's steel body around a floor-mounted battery, and you can feel that stability the moment you lean into a U-turn outside a metro station.

Family Rides and Everyday Practicality

Both scooters are built with a spouse, kids and grocery runs in mind, not solo college commutes. The Chetak edges ahead on storage with 35 litres of underseat space versus the iQube S's 32 litres — enough for the Chetak to occasionally swallow a full-face helmet where the TVS struggles. Pillion comfort tilts slightly toward the iQube S, whose wider, better-cushioned seat holds up better on longer rides with two people aboard. Neither has ABS; both rely on a Combined Braking System, which is adequate for city speeds but worth respecting on wet monsoon roads.

Charging at Home: The Real Deciding Factor

If your charging happens exclusively at a home socket overnight, this decision gets simpler. The iQube S takes about 4 hours for an 80% top-up on its onboard charger, while the Chetak C3501 needs closer to 4.5-5 hours for a full charge. Neither difference will disrupt an overnight routine, but if you're the kind of owner who tops up during a lunch break rather than overnight, the TVS recovers charge marginally faster per hour plugged in.

Running Cost and EMI: The Real Ownership Math

Assume 900km of monthly riding, a fairly typical 30km-a-day commute, and domestic electricity priced around ₹8 per unit. The iQube S costs roughly ₹250 a month to run at that distance; the Chetak C3501 comes in slightly lower, around ₹220, thanks to its smaller battery needing less energy per full charge despite the shorter range. Compare that to a Honda Activa 125 covering the same 900km at around 50kmpl and petrol priced near ₹103/litre — that's close to ₹1,850 a month in fuel alone, roughly seven to eight times what either EV costs to run.

On EMI, assuming a 20% down payment, 11% interest and a 36-month tenure, the iQube S works out to approximately ₹4,600 a month, while the Chetak C3501 comes in near ₹4,190. That ₹400-odd monthly difference is smaller than most buyers expect given the upfront price gap, because the loan principal shrinks proportionally too.

Resale Confidence and Service Reach

TVS moves far more iQube units annually than Bajaj does Chetak units, which typically translates into better resale liquidity and a wider spread of authorised EV service points, particularly in tier-2 towns. Bajaj counters with genuine brand trust built over decades of Chetak nostalgia and a 5-year or 70,000km warranty on the C3501, among the more generous coverage terms in this segment. For a conservative buyer who wants minimal app dependency and straightforward ownership, the Chetak's simpler feature set is arguably less to worry about long-term than TVS's more connected, tech-heavy approach.

If your priority is outright range, top speed and pillion comfort for genuinely long commutes, buy the TVS iQube S. If you want a scooter that feels planted in city traffic, carries more underseat storage, and costs less to buy and run every month, the Bajaj Chetak C3501 is the smarter call. Check the on-road price and EMI for the TVS iQube S and Bajaj Chetak C3501 in your city on Drivio.