Yamaha Mio i 125 or Mio Soul i 125: Which one to buy?

Yamaha certainly has hit a home run with its Mio series of scooters. There is something for everyone within the 4 scoter range. The Mio Sporty makes up the budget end of the spectrum while the top end is dominated by the futuristic Mio Aerox 155. Between the two are the Mio i 125 and the Mio Soul 125. While the two scoters may only seem to differ in their name, in truth they are indeed very different. Here is a short review of the Yamaha Mio i 125 and the Mio Soul 125 to help you know which is the best suited for you.

We begin with similarities. Both the scooters are powered by the same engine. It is an air-cooled and fuel injected 125 cc engine with 2 valves per cylinder. It produces 7 kW at 8000 rpm and 9.6 Nm of torque at 5500 rpm. The engine is made to be decently powerful as well as fuel efficient. This is thanks to Yamaha Blu Core tech that ensures optimum combustion, increased cooling efficiency and reduced power loss. Both the scooters are also equipped with Stop & Start system that automatically shuts off the engine after 5 seconds of idling. Yamaha’s system ensure the longevity of the battery by storing the fuel mixture in the engine. This allows the engine to start at just a twist of the throttle. The system can also be turned off if the rider finds it too annoying. But with the system on, both these scooters can easily deliver 50-60 km/L fuel economy. Both also come with the same 4.2 L fuel tank. Both are also equipped with a smart side stand switch that if enabled turns off the engine when the side stand is deployed. They also come with keyhole shutters and keys with call back systems.

But from here onwards both the Mio i 125 and the Mio Soul i 125 come into their own element. The Yamaha Mio i 125’s price in Malaysia is Php 70900 for the standard variant. The variant with the Stop & Start system equipped is priced at Php 74900. Both these variants can be distinguished by their colors. The Mio I 125’s color choices are blue, yellow, magenta and vibrant orange for the standard variant. The more expensive variant can also be bought in white and black colors. The racy graphics on the scooter also add to its racy appeal. The styling is aimed at the youth and gives it a breezy dynamic stance. Angular panels and M themed design elements give it a distinct identity. That M theme shows up on everywhere from the front end to the rear grab handles. The instrumentation gets a high quality analog display along with an eco-indicator. Under the seat is a 10.1 L storage space that can be used to store rain gear and other essentials.

Continuing with the Yamaha Mio I 125’s specs, its wet weight comes to a lightweight 92 kg. It rides on 14” cast alloy wheels with 70/90 front and 80/90 rear tires. Braking is well catered for with a disc brake on the front and a drum brake on the rear. The seat is 750 mm above the ground and the seating posture is upright and relaxed. The scooter is meant for the youth and its novice friendly handling makes it well suited for youngsters.

The Yamaha Mio Soul I 125 also comes in two different variants. There is the standard variant available at a price of Php 79900 and the S variant that is available at Php 83900. The two variants can similarly told apart from their colors. The standard is available in vibrant orange, matte black and violet. The S variant is available in matte grey and matte green. The Mio Soul 125 takes a more mature approach to styling with minimal graphics. However the front end is very aggressive and looks like the face of a robot from the transformer franchise with its three pointed LED headlight and large angular indicators. The rear end is equally aggressive with a split grab rail. The instrument panel is very similar to the one on the Mio I 125 and also comes with an eco-indicator. Similarly under the seat is a 14L storage compartment that can store a jet type helmet.

The seat on the Mio Soul I 125 is higher at 773 mm but with high handlebars the seating position is much the same. The seat soft, wide and comfortable. With a wet weight of 94 kg and wider tires (80/80 front and 100/70 rear) on the 14” alloy wheels, the scooter feels more stable. Braking gets the same setup with a disc brake on the front and a drum brake on the rear.

Both these scooters are very modern and stylish urban commuters. While the Mio i 125 is the youth-focused affordable option, the Mio Soul 125 is the more mature and premium offering. So, which is the one you like?