TVS Zest 110 mileage and running cost

Zest 110's claimed mileage is 45 kmpl, and unusually, owners and our own riding land right on it: expect 42–47 kmpl in everyday use. Few bikes get this close to their brochure figure.

Among the 25 scooters we have reviewed it ranks 21th for mileage, 4 kmpl below the group average of 49 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a real-world 44.5 kmpl, the Zest 110 costs about ₹2.13 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹1,662 a month, or ₹19,940 a year, before servicing.

The 5-litre tank gives a realistic range of about 223 km, so a 30 km commute means a fill-up every 1 week.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the Zest 110 works out to about ₹4.3 per km all-in, of which 49% is fuel and 40% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; a nameplate this established holds value well.

The quickest wins for the Zest 110: keep tyres at the recommended pressure (under-inflation by 5 psi can cost 2–3 kmpl), shift up early and avoid idling at long signals.

Short trips hurt most. A cold engine on a 2 km run can return half its normal mileage; if that is your use, expect the low end of the real-world band.

Service on time. A clogged air filter or old spark plug shows up in mileage before it shows up anywhere else.