BGauss RUV 350 First Ride Review: Premium, Utilitarian Electric Scooter Aimed at Ola and Ather

From the moment I boarded the flight to Pune for our first ride of the BGauss RUV 350, I couldn’t stop wondering how BGauss would differentiate its product in a market crowded with products from manufacturers like Ola, Ather, TVS, and Bajaj? What does RUV even stand for? Rider’s Utility Vehicle, apparently! Just as car enthusiasts have the SUVs, LUVs, and CUVs, two-wheeler aficionados now have the RUV. It also gets a unique step-through scooter design, reminiscent of Honda and Yamaha offerings in other Southeast Asian markets. What else does it have to offer? Let’s dive deeper.

BGauss RUV 350 First Ride Review: Design and Features

It’s design was the first thing that caught my attention. What’s more, it’s packed with premium elements like all-LED lighting – both the headlight and the taillight are housed in sleek, well-designed units – and 16-inch split-style five-spoke alloy wheels, available in vibrant colour options, depending on the scooter’s colour, with my personal favourite being the light-grey version. Another highlight of the RUV is its all-metal body, which ensures a rugged build.

Despite featuring premium, upscale parts, the BGauss RUV 350’s fit-and-finish leaves you wanting, for instance, there are panel gaps around the front fairing, and the buttons on the handlebar feel a bit cheap. Another highlight of the RUV is that it’s packed with features. The first thing you’ll notice is the 5-inch colour TFT screen. While its graphics are decent, navigating its UI can be somewhat confusing. You have to use the front and back buttons located on the right, in conjunction with the brake lever.

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During the test, this often led me to navigate to the wrong menu, and then I had to scroll back and do it all over again.

Other features include three riding modes – Eco, Ride, and Sport – a reversing mode, cruise control, a USB charging port, and smartphone connectivity.

BGauss RUV 350 First Ride Review: Ergonomics and Practicality

The RUV 350 is a comfortable scooter to ride, with slightly committed ergonomics, but it’s perfect for everyday use. Regardless of how you sit on it, you’ll find it to be comfortable, which is also thanks to its long, broad, cushiony seat. It allows all sizes of riders to find the right position for them. With a seat height of 785mm and a ground clearance of 160mm, even a rider of my height, i.e. 5’ 6”, can easily sit flat-footed at a standstill. However, one issue I noticed was the key jutting out prominently from the keyhole, which tall riders of about 6 feet might find inconvenient.

The RUV 350 is quite impressive in terms of practicality, with its storage options. The largest is the 15-litre under-seat storage, which can easily fit some full-sized and most half-face helmets. Additional storage options include hook storage under the seat, a 2.2-litre compartment near the footboard area, and a bag hook. BGauss has cleverly provided a well-hidden 4.5-litre space under the footboard for the charger.

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Overall, the RUV 350 seems to be a practical electric utility vehicle, which will appeal to users in both tier-1 and tier-2 cities.

BGauss RUV 350 First Ride Review: Performance and Handling

BGauss has used a direct drive motor, which is attached to the wheel – they call it the InWheel HyperDrive motor – to eliminate any kind of powertrain loss. The 4.7bhp motor helps the scooter complete a 0 – 40km/h sprint in 5.8 seconds and make its way to a claimed top speed figure of 75km/h. These numbers may not seem much, but the BGauss RUV 350 is one of those scooters that feel a lot zippier on the road than on paper. In Sport mode, the motor feels tractable in most urban driving conditions, meeting the needs of most users. The RUV is equipped with a 3kWh battery pack with an ARAI-certified range of 135km. However, the company claims a true range of 120km, which is also quite decent.

The BGauss RUV 350 exhibits remarkable agility in terms of handling. Thanks to the 16-inch wheels, shod with TVS Eurogrip 80-section front and 90-section rear tyres, the scooter not only smoothly absorbs undulations but also inspires confidence while riding fast on open or twisty roads. Additionally, the RUV 350’s light weight of just 122kgs further adds to its handling capabilities and makes it an attractive option for new riders.

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I spent a significant part of the day pushing the RUV 350 to its limits and found myself wanting to do it repeatedly.

BGauss RUV 350 First Ride Review: Verdict

The RUV 350 is a unique and good-looking scooter, with modern features, plenty of storage, and the ability to make riding a joyful occasion. However, while riding it, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was focussing too much on its surface appeal and ignoring the underlying issue. It packs a lot of features, but none of them are unique, and it also has fit and finish issues. It does look extremely handsome, but is it ₹1.40 lakh (ex-showroom) handsome? I’m not so sure. In my opinion, the BGauss RUV 350 is meant for those looking to buy a scooter with high-end features, which is suited for off-road and unpaved road conditions.