Test Peugeot Pulsion EVO 125, less power, more sense
It is clear that the Peugeot Pulsion EVO 125, and any other scooter, is not born to cross the country but for something much more important and much more realistic: to make your life easier every day. As someone born (and raised) in Barcelona, I am well aware that in an environment where traffic is tight, time is scarce and moving quickly is almost a necessity, this scooter can play a key role in urban mobility. Furthermore, due to its size and design it fits a wide range of users, so let’s see what this Peugeot Pulsion EVO 125 offers.
The new Pulsion EVO 125 continues to be a compact GT, a category that is increasingly making sense in our cities and is very popular for its practicality. It maintains that presence and comfort of large scooters, but without giving up the agility that you need between cars and that larger displacements complicate due to their width and seat height.
Peugeot Motorcycles is betting on a 125 cc single-cylinder engine, liquid-cooled and with four valves, but now adapted to the Euro5+ regulations. This evolution in favor of the environment brings with it a slight loss of power compared to the previous Pulsion, remaining at 13.2 HP (compared to 15) and 12 Nm of torque. These are figures that are still sufficient for a scooter designed mainly for moving around the city, but with the capacity to tackle intercity journeys at speeds above 100 km/h.
Logically, we are not looking at the most performing 125 in the segment, but rather a balanced scooter, easy to move and efficient. Its response is progressive, smooth and very logical for everyday use, with acceleration designed more to quickly exit traffic lights and thus face the typical changes of pace in a city. Even so, it declares a maximum speed of 115 km/h, an interesting figure for an urban 125 with a compact GT approach and one that I have been able to achieve in favorable situations (downhill, fast lane and without a headwind).
But without a doubt, one of the most striking data is its autonomy. Thanks to an 11.1 liter tank and very low consumption, the Peugeot Pulsion EVO can reach up to 440 km. In practice, this figure allows you to forget about refueling for many days if we take into account the 40 km, on average, that Spaniards travel daily. Come on, it’s not a scooter to cross Spain, but it is to complete work, errands, the city, rounds and a short getaway without dramas.
And is the Peugeot Pulsion EVO 125 going well?
But a scooter does not live only on its engine and here the cycle part comes into play, where the real differences between models are often perceived. In this sense, the Pulsion Evo opts for a simple but effective combination, with a 37 mm front fork, double rear shock absorbers (preload adjustable), 14-inch wheels at the front and 13 at the rear, and a dual-channel ABS system.
The result? Very balanced behavior, with good stability at high speeds, agility in urban traffic and braking that conveys confidence thanks to the 260 mm front disc. It is a noble scooter, easy to understand from the first moment, and that is precisely what the public needs from a 125 scooter.
In addition, comfort also plays an important role. The GT driving position is relaxed, but also versatile: you can change your position if the journey becomes longer. And if there is something that defines a good 125 scooter, especially for those of us who have grown up moving in cities like Barcelona, it is its practicality. In this sense, the Pulsion EVO complies with note thanks to its 45 liters of capacity under the seat, where a full-face helmet fits together with a jet-type helmet. I assure you that this is a function that marks a before and after in your urban mobility.
As for the range, it is completed with two versions, a base called EVO and an EVO Urban variant that adds the higher windshield, key for ring road trips, and backrest for the passenger, details that reinforce its comfortable and functional approach without skyrocketing the price. And the Pulsion EVO starts at 3,399 euros, while the Urban version starts at 3,799 euros, a competitive figure if we take into account its general balance between consumption, comfort and ease of use.
And your rivals?
Scooters are the motorcycle par excellence in Spain, so the 125s are an increasingly tight segment. Even more so with the arrival of Chinese options at knockdown prices. The Peugeot Pulsion EVO does not have it easy, because in front of it it has heavyweights like the Honda Forza 125, one of the absolute benchmarks for quality, technology and behavior. Of course, he plays in another league with a price of around €5,000. The same thing happens with the Yamaha XMAX 125, another best-seller, but which also moves in figures above €5,500.
If we go down a step in price, options appear such as the Zontes 125M, which stands out for offering a lot of equipment for less money, standing at around €4,500, or the QJ Motor MTX 125, which follows that same philosophy of a competitive product in price, at around €4,000. The MITT MAX-T 125 also comes into play, a cheaper alternative that seeks to attract those who prioritize price. All of them, Asian but with different tread qualities.
