Scooter duel: Hero Xoom 110 vs. Honda Dio

Hero MotorcorpHero has officially entered the Philippine market with three new models. One of the aforementioned is the Xoom 110, the brand’s smallest and most accessible model. 

While it features a stylish look packaged in a compact form factor, the Xoom faces a multitude of similarly-sized rivals in the market. One of its toughest competitors is the Honda Dio, which was initially introduced to the Philippines back in 2021. 

So, how does the rookie Hero Xoom 110 fare against the veteran Honda Dio? Let’s find out by comparing the two model’s on-paper specifications. 

Tale of the Tape

Size-wise, the Hero Xoom 110 is 1,811-millimeters (mm) long, 731-mm wide, and 1,118-mm tall at its highest point. The model also has a wheelbase length spanning 1,300-mm, a seat height of 770-mm, and a ground clearance of 155-mm. 

The Honda Dio, meanwhile, is 1,781-mm long, 710-mm wide, and 1,133-mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 1,238-mm, a ground clearance of 158-mm, and a seat height of 765-mm. 

Based on the figures above, the Xoom is slightly larger compared to the Dio. It also has a slightly taller seat height, but it has marginally less ground clearance. 

Body, Chassis

Appearance-wise, the Xoom received sharp-looking details all around. For its front end, it wears an H-shaped position lamp paired with advanced projector LED headlamps. The said front lighting fixtures are surrounded by sharp cowlings positioned above a telescopic hydraulic shock absorber suspension system. Its rear, meanwhile, continues the modern theme with its honed rear cowling and a substantial exhaust pipe guard. 

Other bits found on the body of the Xoom 110 are 90/90-12 54-J front tires, 100/80-12 56L rear tires, and a swing arm with a spring-loaded hydraulic damper. 

The Dio, on the other hand, was provided with a more conventional scooter design. Its front section gets a more rounded cowling and larger upswept LED position lamps flanking an LED headlamp. 

 Its rear section does have some angular bits, but it appears to have a far chunkier profile compared to the squarish-shaped rear cowling of the Xoom. 

Other features present on the body of the Dio include 90/100-10 53J front and rear tires, a bottom link front suspension, and a mono-shock rear suspension system.

Common riding features between the two scooters are thoroughly padded seats, sufficiently sized but relatively flat step floors, cargo hooks, and a roomy under-seat storage box. 

Both also have kick and electric starting systems, but only the Xoom has a fully digital instrument cluster and Bluetooth connectivity. The Honda motorcycle, meanwhile, has to live with a simpler analog meter panel. 

Furthermore, both low-displacement scooters come with front cargo hooks. The Xoom, however, gets additional front cubby holes, while the Dio does not. 

For stopping power, the Xoom 110 uses a 190-mm front disc brake and a 130-mm rear drum brake. The Dio, on the other hand, uses front and rear mechanical drum brakes. 

In terms of color options, the Hero model has a total of five to choose from. It is available in orange, blue, red, black, and white. The Honda motorcycle, on the one hand, is only available in Matte Axis Gray Metallic or Sports Red 2. 

Engine, Performance

Propelling the Hero Xoom is a 110.9-cc four-stroke, air-cooled, fuel-injected engine capable of producing up to 8.05 horsepower (hp) at 7,250 revolutions per minute (RPM) and 8.7 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque at 5,750 RPM. 

For its transmission system, the Hero-made ride gets a dry, centrifugal-type clutch paired with a Variomatic belt-converter drive gearbox. 

Comparatively, the Honda Dio uses a 109-cc four-stroke, air-cooled engine, which uses a carburetor fuel system. At the most, the Honda’s powertrain can churn out 7.8 hp at 7,500 RPM, and 8.91 Nm at 5,000 RPM. For its transmission, the Dio also uses a Variomatic gearbox.

In a nutshell, the Xoom is the more powerful bike, at least on paper. Plus, its peak horsepower output comes earlier in the RPM band as well. The Dio, however, produces a bit more torque, though it gets a simpler (more analog) fuel system. 

Additionally, the Xoom uses a 5.2-liter fuel tank, while the Dio gets a 5.3-liter tank. The Honda model gets a slightly larger fuel capacity, but the difference is minimal. 

Last but not least, the Hero motorcycle has a curb weight of 109 kilograms (kg), while the Honda tips the scales at 104 kg. Obviously, the Hero Xoom is slightly heftier, but the 5 kg difference will hardly be felt by any rider as well.

Pricing

In the Philippine market, the Hero Xoom 110 has a standard retail price of P69,900. The Honda Dio, meanwhile, is retailed at P62,400. 

Verdict

Specs-wise, the Hero Xoom 110 has a slight edge over the Honda Dio. Specifically, it produces a bit more power, and it has a better instrument panel as well. The stopping power of the Hero model may also prove to be better due to its front disc brakes. 

On the flip side, the Honda model is slightly more affordable compared to the Hero motorcycle. The relatively new brand’s scooter model, though, does carry a more modern look than the veteran model, which might prove to be more appealing to prospective buyers. 

For folks serious about getting a low displacement scooter, however, do take note that specs comparisons like this can only do so much. Instead, it is highly advised to see each model in the metal, or better yet, take each of them out on a thorough test drive. Performing the said measures, after all, can result in a more informed purchase in the end. 

Also read:

Budget off-roader face-off: Hero XPulse 200 4V vs. Suzuki VStrom 250 SX

Hero Xoom 110: hits and misses

Middleweight motorcycle melee: Hero Hunk 160R 4V vs. Honda CB150X