Niu NQi GTS (2022) test: our full review – Electric Scooter

The Chinese manufacturer Niu is one of the best-known references in the world of electric scooters, in particular thanks to its flagship model, the NQi Sport, which convinced us during our test. However, the brand is still little recognized in the field of 125 cc equivalents.

However, it is working to offer more products from this range, including the recent MQi GT Evo with very good performance. The brand also released the NQi GTS Sport, based on the NQi Sport, which convinced us little.

The manufacturer has reworked and updated it with the NQi GTS version 2022, which is still based on the 50 cc model, but offers more features and improved performance, including a top speed raised to 80 km/ h. Let’s see what it’s worth on the road and in everyday life.

Niu NQi GTS (2022)Technical sheet

This test was carried out using a model lent by the brand.

Niu NQi GTS (2022)Design

True to the codes of the brand, the NQi GTS (2022) takes up the design of the NQi Sport, with in particular the circular headlight at the front, the rounded mirrors, the space between the handlebars, the saddle and the passenger grab bars visible light grey. The scooter is offered in gray, black, or white and red, offering quite interesting customization possibilities. The full LED optics accentuate the modern side of the two-wheeler, while providing good visibility on the road.

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Despite a contained price and a compact format of 1,890 x 740 x 1,220 mm, the finishes are good and the plastics seem durable and solid, as usual with Niu. The weight, on the other hand, is quite significant, with 113 kg on the scale, although it does not negatively impact driving.

The Niu NQi GTS (2022) offers an unusual driving position, due to its too high floor. Indeed, one of the batteries being located under it, Niu has not adapted the scooter to large sizes, which will lead them to drive with their knees close to their chest.

The legroom is correct and the absence of a central tunnel is commendable: it allows you to carry a bag between your legs thanks to the central hook. The passenger is much less comfortably installed, due to the reduced space of the two-wheeler. It benefits, however, from stable and sufficiently large grab bars, as well as retractable footrests of good size.

These are well placed, although it is possible that the passenger’s feet rub against the driver’s calves while driving, again depending on the size of the driver.

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

The ergonomics of the handlebars are well thought out, with the control of the headlights, indicators, horn and speed limiter on the left, as well as the mode selector, the warnings and the starter on the right. There is unfortunately no reverse gear, even if it is not necessarily necessary given the small size of the scooter.

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Let’s finish with the storage and the space under the saddle, which are far too compact. Indeed, one of the two batteries being housed under the saddle, the available space is almost reduced to nothing. It is not possible to store a helmet or a bag there, unless you only move with a battery and use only the one under the floor.

The NQi GTS (2022) also has an open pocket to store glasses, wallet or phone, which can be recharged using the USB-A port.

Niu NQi GTS (2022)Embedded technologies

In the center of the handlebars sits the large on-board screen, the display of which is complete and customizable. It can thus communicate the speed, the power, the time, the remaining autonomy in percentage and in km, but also more details such as for example the distance, the duration and the average speed of the current journey. It can even display a graph showing the energy consumption on the trip.

The Niu NQi GTS (2022) also offers in-car connectivity. Matched to the application, this allows in particular to locate the scooter, consult the remaining battery level and the statistics of the last trips. In the same way, it can send a notification when the scooter’s alarm goes off. However, it does not allow the scooter to be started remotely, although it is possible to do so with the remote control supplied as standard with the scooter.

Niu NQi GTS (2022)Conduct

The Niu NQi GTS (2022) offers 3 driving modes: E-Save, Dynamic and Sport. The first is especially useful in town, while the second slightly restricts acceleration and speed up to 65 km/h, offering a good compromise between speed and sobriety. Finally, the Sport mode allows you to reach up to 83 km / h on the meter, which is sufficient for the Parisian ring road. Of course, the 4600 W Bosch motor placed on the hub of the rear wheel does not deliver extraordinary performance, but it is very satisfactory for suburban travel.

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid

The compact size and small size of the NQi GTS (2022) make it easy to handle and facilitate inter-file travel, in particular thanks to its slender shape and its mirrors which protrude very little. However, these offer very limited visibility, especially on fast lanes, and you should turn your head before changing lanes.

The suspensions are good, matched by a well-padded saddle, giving it a significant edge over cobbles and potholes. On the fast track, the scooter offers good handling and no unwanted vibrations are felt. However, the absence of a bubble means that you will take the wind in your face: it will therefore be necessary to have one installed if you plan to frequent them often.

Once the ride is over, the two-wheeler is very easy to park and maneuver easily. The lack of reverse is however regrettable, because despite its small size, the scooter still exceeds 110 kg.

Niu NQi GTS (2022)Autonomy and charging

The Niu NQi GTS (2022) is offered in two versions, the first having two 60V and 26 Ah batteries, offering a theoretical autonomy of 100 km, and another with 60V and 20 Ah batteries, going up to 130 km, for an additional cost of 1,100 euros, which does not seem absolutely justified. Regardless of the model chosen, one battery is housed under the floor and the other under the saddle.

For our part, we tried the version with the 26 Ah batteries and measured the real autonomy at around 70 km in mixed mode. Although this figure remains correct, the autonomy is somewhat overestimated by the brand and it may be necessary to recharge it more frequently than expected.

As for the recharging of the accumulators, Niu does not seem to have learned the lesson of the MQi GT Evo, and it will therefore always be necessary to take out the batteries individually and connect them to a coupler to recharge them simultaneously, which takes up a lot of floor space and remains relatively noisy, since the charger is not silent. The accumulators weigh 11 kg each and are equipped with a handle, which makes them easy to transport.

Recharging the two batteries takes about five to six hours, which is fairly standard for recharging at a household outlet. Fortunately, it is possible to connect the scooter directly to a 220V socket, which avoids taking out the batteries and connecting it to a terminal if necessary.

Finally, despite the fact that an application is available, it does not offer to act on the hours or the charging power, but does however allow you to consult the state of the filling of the accumulators.

Niu NQi GTS (2022)Price and availability

The Niu NQi GTS version 2022 is displayed at 4,899 euros, which places it among the most affordable 125 cc equivalents on the market with the Yadea C1S Pro. It also benefits from a national ecological bonus of 390 euros, lowering its final price to 4,509 euros, which remains accessible for a 125 cc equivalent.

For this price, the two-wheeler is well equipped and has a standard color screen and 4G connectivity associated with an application, which is rare at this price level. However, we regret the absence of a standard bubble and possibly a top box, which would have been appreciable, but we cannot ask too much at this price level.