Pros and cons
Bajaj Auto Chetak pros and cons — the honest buyer's verdict (2021)
3 min read·Last updated: 2021-01-01·By ev.care editorial team
TL;DR
4 pros, 4 cons. The Bajaj Auto Chetak is best for style-conscious buyers who love the chetak heritage — within that envelope it is one of the strongest picks in its segment.
Buying decisions narrow down faster when you can see strengths and weaknesses side by side. For the Bajaj Auto Chetak, Bajaj Auto has built a real platform with real wins, but also real compromises. Here are 4 on the plus side and 4 on the minus, with enough context on each to know which matter to you.
Bajaj Auto Chetak — the pros
Across reviews, owner interviews, and ev.care's service history, these are the Bajaj Auto Chetak's consistent strengths. Strength 1 — Iconic Chetak design — head-turner. On the Bajaj Auto Chetak specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 2 — All-metal body — premium build quality. On the Bajaj Auto Chetak specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 3 — Bajaj service network. On the Bajaj Auto Chetak specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 4 — Smooth silent ride. On the Bajaj Auto Chetak specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Anchoring all of this: a 3.5 kWh battery, 153 km range, and a ₹0.91 - 1.56 Lakh starting price that defines the Bajaj Auto Chetak's value envelope.
Bajaj Auto Chetak — the cons
Where the Bajaj Auto Chetak loses ground to rivals — and why that matters or doesn't, depending on your use case. Weakness 1 — Overpriced for specs vs Ather/Ola. On the Bajaj Auto Chetak specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 2 — No touchscreen. On the Bajaj Auto Chetak specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 3 — Lowest top speed in segment (73 km/h). On the Bajaj Auto Chetak specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 4 — Limited features for the price. On the Bajaj Auto Chetak specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. For a electric scooter weighing 0 kg with 73 km/h top speed, these trade-offs are within segment norms but worth pricing in.
Who the Bajaj Auto Chetak is for
Bajaj Auto pitches the Bajaj Auto Chetak at "Style-conscious buyers who love the Chetak heritage", and that framing holds up. If your driving fits that shape, the pros above land hardest and the cons fade fastest. 153 km of range is enough for most weekly profiles, and Not supported (AC only) of fast charging keep occasional long trips practical.
Practical next steps
Ask a current Bajaj Auto Chetak owner what they'd buy again. Owner regret is the cleanest signal — far better than reviews from people who drove the car for an afternoon.
Related Bajaj Auto EVs
If the cons above are dealbreakers, look at ather 450x, tvs iqube — each makes a different set of trade-offs. The Bajaj Auto Chetak wins more often than not in its tier, but cross-shopping protects you from buying the wrong shape.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the most common Bajaj Auto Chetak complaint?
- Look at the first item in the cons list above. That's the one owners mention first when ev.care surveys them at the 12-month mark. If you can live with it, the rest tends to fade.
- Should I wait for the next Bajaj Auto Chetak refresh?
- Only if a specific con is a dealbreaker and you have reason to believe the next version fixes it. Otherwise the cost of waiting (lost EV running-cost savings, opportunity cost of an extra year on petrol) usually outweighs the upgrade.
- How does the Bajaj Auto Chetak compare to its segment rivals?
- The Bajaj Auto Chetak sits in the middle of its segment on most axes — not the cheapest, not the fastest, not the longest-range. Its win is balance. Rivals that beat it on one axis usually lose on another, so the comparison comes down to which axis you care about most.
- Will the Bajaj Auto Chetak hold its value?
- The Bajaj Auto Chetak depreciates in line with the segment. The pros above are the ones that resale-buyers will also notice, so a well-maintained Bajaj Auto Chetak with documented service history holds value about as well as any EV in this band.
Read this side-by-side, the Bajaj Auto Chetak is a strong choice for style-conscious buyers who love the chetak heritage. The cons are real but mostly knowable; the pros compound the longer you own the car.