The Honda Activa is a motor scooter manufactured by Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India. Introduced in 2001 as Honda’s first two-wheeler for the country, it is a step-through scooter with an automatic CVT drivetrain, sold mainly in the 110 cc class and also as a 125 cc derivative.
Honda Activa at a glance
| Maker | Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 2001 |
| Type | step-through automatic scooter |
| First engine | 100 cc |
| Engine from 2009 | 110 cc class |
| Transmission | CVT |
| Generations | six, from the 2001 model to the 6G |
| 125 cc line | Activa 125 |
| Best-seller | India’s best-selling two-wheeler, reported 2014 |
| Sixth generation | 2020, BS-VI with PGM-FI |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Activa.
History of the Honda Activa
Honda’s first Indian two-wheeler
Honda introduced the Activa in India in 2001 as a 100 cc scooter for the mass market. In April 2009 the model received a major update with a new 110 cc-class engine and extra equipment, including combined braking on selected variants.
Six generations
The first generation ran from 2001 to 2008 with a 100 cc engine and CVT. The 2009 car introduced the 110 cc engine; the Activa 3G followed in 2015, the 4G in 2017 with a BS-IV engine, the 5G in 2018 with an LED headlamp, and the 6G in 2020 with fuel injection, PGM-FI, and telescopic front suspension depending on the variant. The Activa-i of 2013 was a lighter, cheaper line sold alongside the Activa rather than a numbered generation.
Sales milestones
In April 2014 The Economic Times reported the Activa as the best-selling two-wheeler in India, outselling the Hero Splendor. By November 2018 HMSI had passed 2.5 crore scooters sold, with the Activa the largest contributor. The first crore took thirteen years, the second only three, and the next 50 lakh one year; Honda said it held 57 percent of the Indian scooter market.
Special editions
HMSI marked twenty years with the Activa 6G 20th Anniversary Edition in November 2020, and added Premium and Limited editions in 2019, 2022 and 2023. All were cosmetic packages without mechanical changes.
Design and features
- Step-through body with CVT: the layout that made the Activa easy to ride in Indian traffic.
- Combined braking: offered from the 2009 update onward on selected variants.
- Fuel injection: PGM-FI arrived with the BS-VI Activa 6G in 2020.
- Activa 125 line: a larger-engined derivative alongside the 110.
Honda Activa versions
- Activa (2001–2008): 100 cc first generation.
- Activa 110 (2009 onward): the second generation and its 3G, 4G and 5G updates.
- Activa 6G (2020): BS-VI engine with fuel injection.
- Activa 125: the 125 cc derivative.
- Anniversary, Premium and Limited editions: cosmetic specials.
The Activa shares Honda’s Indian scooter range with the Aviator and the Dio. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda Activa, English Wikipedia: history, generations, sales, editions
