Niu NQi Sport review: an urban electric scooter with excellent value for money

Electric scooters are all the rage, but with so many choices, which one should you choose? The NIU NQi GTS is one of the best sellers, offering excellent value for money. But what is it really worth on the road?

Source: Robin Wycke – Frandroid

The Chinese brand NIU is a benchmark in the world of electric mobility, especially in terms of electric scooters. The NQi Sport is one of the best-selling models in the world, thanks to its modern design, its many features, but above all its aggressive price. Let’s see what this 50cc equivalent electric scooter is really worth.

Niu NQi Sport 50Technical sheet

This test was carried out using a model lent by Go2roues.

Niu NQi Sport 50Design

As its name suggests, the NIU NQi Sport displays racy curves, with a futuristic look, without overdoing it. The large circular headlight at the front affirms the identity of the brand, combining sobriety and modernity. It also allows everyone to assert their own style, thanks to the wide choice of colors offered, ranging from classic black and white, through gray and even red.

One of the main advantages of this scooter is also its relatively compact size: 180 x 74 x 113 cm. This allows you to park and sneak around easily, but will be much less practical when it comes to transporting a passenger, unless you like to travel stuck-tight.

Note, however, the presence of retractable footrests and a bar dedicated to the passenger. Comfort remains good for the driver, even if we regret the low space for the legs, which will be problematic for older people, even unpleasant during long journeys.

Source: Robin Wycke – Frandroid

Source: Robin Wycke – Frandroid

The ergonomics are however very good: the levers and buttons are easily accessible and these are well distributed. On the left side are the horn, cruise control, turn signals and light switch. These are well thought out, thanks to the automatic extinction of the indicators when steering, as well as a mode pass allowing the headlights to be flashed, which is quite rare on a city scooter.

On the right, in addition to the classic on/off switch and driving mode selector, NIU has added a dedicated button for the hazard warning lights, a feature traditionally useful on the Paris ring road… although the NIU NQi Sport is not there authorized. Finally, let’s finish with the screen, which is not only readable, but also easy to understand and very well backlit at night.

It thus displays, from right to left, the speed, the driving mode and the range. A “status bar” also allows you to find the time, the status of the GPS connection and 3G, without however displaying the outside temperature.

Source: Robin Wycke – Frandroid

Source: Robin Wycke – Frandroid

In terms of storage, NIU has thought of everything: unlike many competitors, the battery is housed under the floor, which frees up space under the saddle. This can even accommodate a small jet helmet, unlike the majority of two-wheelers in this category. The counterpart is that the space for the driver’s legs is lessened, as mentioned above.

But the NQi Sport remains a city scooter and is not intended for long trips where you sit with your legs stretched out. In addition to this large storage space, we also appreciate the presence of an open pocket, a hook and even a USB-A socket. Despite its small size, the NQi Sport will therefore be a perfect ally for shopping, without having to worry about traffic.

Niu NQi Sport 50Application

Unusually for such an affordable electric scooter, the NIU NQi Sport comes standard with on-board 3G connectivity as well as a GPS receiver. Unfortunately, these chips are not useful when driving, since they do not provide real-time navigation on the screen. They are simply used to locate the scooter and transmit this information to your smartphone, using the NIU application.

This allows you to locate the scooter, consult the battery status and the statistics of the last routes. It will be particularly useful if you forget where you are parked or even in the event of theft, but also to give you an idea of ​​the remaining autonomy to be able to charge the scooter before your next outing.

Niu NQi Sport 50Conduct

To start the scooter, nothing better than doing it the old fashioned way, that is to say with a good old key. Indeed, although it is supplied with a remote control, it is not possible to use it to start the machine, thus forcing you to switch on the ignition as in the good old days. It will be the same to open the saddle, which can however prevent you from dropping the key.

Despite its “Sport” name, the NQi Sport remains an urban two-wheeler. As such, it is limited to 45 km / h (even if you can easily reach 50 km / h on a slope), speed reserved for the eponymous driving mode. The other two, called E-Save and Dynamic, are quite well thought out. Even if the first will limit your speed to that of a scooter (25 km / h) and is only of interest in the event of a low battery, the second allows a good compromise in urban centers, often limited to 30 km /h.

Source: Robin Wycke – Frandroid

The Sport mode delivers the maximum power of the machine, with a good start-up thrust, but which then requires a few seconds to reach 45 km/h. Nothing dramatic, but the feeling of overtaking everyone at a red light and then being overtaken a few seconds later is somewhat disconcerting. Once your cruising speed has been reached, you can maintain it automatically thanks to the standard on-board cruise control. Even though the feature looks handy, it’s not really usable in a big city like Paris.

Fortunately, the NIU NQi Sport is very stable and handles easily, even in heavy traffic, allowing you to sneak around without a hitch. Another advantage: the hydraulic disc brakes are precise and reassuring. Likewise, the all-LED lighting makes it possible to see well but above all to be seen, without blinding other drivers, while offering a light signature specific to NIU.

Source: Robin Wycke – Frandroid

If we had to look for lice in this two-wheeler, we could blame it for the lack of reverse gear, which is basically not very useful given its reduced weight and size, as well as its great maneuverability. Finally, the circular design of the mirrors does not offer as good visibility as other more traditional formats. Fortunately, their positioning is not a problem for overtaking, which is already very commendable.

Niu NQi Sport 50Autonomy and charging

The NIU NQi Sport is available in two versions: a standard and an extended range, offering 55 and 80 km of range respectively. On our test model, in “sporty” driving, we measured the autonomy at around 70 km, which is good in view of the figures announced by the manufacturer. On the other hand, due to its connected functionalities, the scooter seemed to draw a lot of energy when stationary, since it had lost almost 5% in one night, without having been used. It therefore seems difficult to reach more than 60 km in a single charge.

Source: Robin Wycke – Frandroid

Fortunately, the battery is simple to recharge, since it weighs only 11 kg and is easily transported thanks to the integrated handle. It can also be recharged directly by connecting the scooter to a public terminal, which avoids having to open the hatch soiled by your shoes.

Niu NQi Sport 50Price and availability

As mentioned above, the NIU NQi Sport is offered in two versions, one with an advertised range of 55 km and the other of 80 km, sold respectively for 2,599 and 3,299 euros, offering one of the best ratios price-quality for its category. The ecological bonus is however meager, since it only reaches 100 euros for individuals.

In terms of equipment, the scooter offers a central stand and an auxiliary stand as standard, as well as a very small bubble that will barely protect you from the wind. The list of accessories offered by NIU is very long, and the low cost of the scooter will surely make you want to invest in a nice top case or a backrest for your passenger.