Honda Activa 125 : The Indian two-wheeler segment has been cut-throat competitive from the word go as manufacturers keep introducing their varying weapons aimed at snatching a big bite out of the market pie.
The newest field in this drawn-out feud is the premium 125cc scooter category and now Honda’s new-and-improved 2025 Activa 125 has raised the stakes.
That’s probably the move which TVS has tried to threaten with the advent of the TVS Jupiter and regain the strength which Honda exercised in a territory which it lorded not so long ago.
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New Contender: 2025 Honda Activa 125
What is it?Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) introduced the 2025 Activa 125 in December 2024, with several new features in their premium scooter portfolio.
While maintaining its distinctive styling, the updated model has been fleshed out with a gamut of elements to pull in those “millennials” who have a preference for gadgets and who are otherwise likely to be lured by the likes of the TVS Jupiter 125.
The new 2025 Activa 125 gets the biggest update in the form of a new 4.2-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity, which also has support for Honda’s RoadSync app.
This sort of tech floating into a bike was missing in Honda’s line-up but competitors like TVS had its connected scooter range with features like turn-by-turn navigation, call and message alerts, and music controls.
On the mechanical front, the Activa 125 is powered by a 123.92cc, single-cylinder air-cooled OBD2B-compliant unit which puts out 8.4PS and 10.5Nm.
These figures are narrowly higher compared to the previous-gen model (by 0.1PS and 0.1Nm), and they do offer it a slight edge over the Jupiter 125 on paper.
Additionally, an idle start-stop system should add to the fuel efficiency and close one chink in the TVS Jupiter’s traditional armour.
The outside of the bike has had some slight changes too, with a more boxy headlight, now with chrome touches, and a new front apron which makes the scooter look a bit friendlier.
The updated styling in six color options including Pearl Igneous Black, Matt Axis Gray Metallic and Pearl Precious Whiteisvto attract potential buyers who fancy the Jupiter’s design cues.
Honda Activa 125 Market Positioning and Prices Set up Your Business With a Bang!
Honda’s pricing of the 2025 Activa 125 is also a statement of intent that it doesn’t plan to sell this product only at a discount.
At a starting price of ₹94,422 for the base DLX variant and ₹97,146 for the top-spec H-Smart variant (ex-showroom, Delhi), the new Activa 125essentially carries a premium of almost ₹14,000 over the older model.
This massive increase in price also takes the scooter to a higher price band than its rival, the TVS Jupiter 125 priced from ₹79,540 to ₹90,721 (ex-showroom).
This is where the Honda price gap is both a challenge and a bet. Although the higher price may discourage some of the penny pinchers, it makes a statement that it’s a premium product and the better equipment might just make it worth that extra penny for someone who values technology in their daily commutes.
Jupiter’s Response; Market Dynamics
The TVS Jupiter 125 was introduced in 2021 taking on the Honda Activa 125, and has been grabbing market share with its practical design, underseat storage and value for money proposition.
And so it has been with the Jupiter 125, which has sought itself as more of a family scooter, with the biggest under-seat storage and longest seat on a scooter in the 125cc segment, targeted at your average Indian family.
On the features side, the top-spec TVS Jupiter 125 SmartXonnect model makes for a connected scooter that does more than just directions and notifications, with voice assistance, live cricket scores and weather updates.
Along with these extras, the price point is a lot more enticing which has helped the Jupiter find its own in a segment that the Honda ruled for a long time.
Latest sales data suggests that the Activa (including both the 110cc and 125cc versions) has maintained its leadership, however, the Jupiter has been closing in at an impressive rate.
Honda sold 189,735 units of Activa in March 2025, which is a 21.67% year-on-year and 9.03% month-on-month increase by the company.
The TVS Jupiter family (comprising the 110cc and 125cc scooters) occupied the second place, registering a robust 105,835 units in cumulative sales to command a 48.24 per cent year-on-year growth.
This growth path highlights that despite Honda’s technological offense coming with the new Activa 125, TVS Jupiter has been further solidifying its market presence – especially in the value-conscious segments where the lower price compared to rival models acts as an advantage.
Honda Activa 125 Consumer Choice and Brand Loyalty
The Activa 125 and Jupiter wouldn’t really be battling it out (mostly) due to consumer preferences.
Honda relies on its brand for dependability and now also on high-end technology to appeal to tech-savvy urban riders.
The Activa brand has a well of goodwill that has been built over two decades, and a large set of replacement buyers continue to flock because for them, it’s the gold standard in scooters.
In comparison to TVS’ RTR200, the Jupiter 125 has been carved as the more pragmatic, family-friendly choice with an increased emphasis on storage, mileage, and VFM proposition.
According to user reported data, the Jupiter 125 gives a mileage of around 49 kmpl whereas the Activa 125’s figure is 47 kmpl.
But also, having a 108 kg kerb weight, the Jupiter 125 is little more lighter than the Activa 125 (110 kg), resulting in better handling for some riders, even by a small margin.
Surveys depict user preference very interestingly, as not less than 100% of users on one automobile-sharing platform preferred TVS Jupiter over Honda Activa 125.
Yet when evaluating against specific criteria such as performance, comfort, maintenance or features, the Activa 125 found itself higher up on the ratings, indicating that brand perception and overall overall package acceptance may differ from the technical judgment.
Honda Activa 125 Long-term Market Implications
Honda’s gameplan with the 2025 Activa 125 seems to be two-pronged; on one hand to justify its premium in the 125cc category and on the other to play a dingo to the Jupiter’s kangaroo, bringing in technically superior features that might somehow explain the higher price tag.
Early market signals were mixed. Though the Activa for the TVS Jupiter’s surge of growth is much higher than that of the Activa, suggesting TVS’s proposition continues to appeal large to that segment of buyers.
This dynamic is great for the general scooter ecosystem – it means that theres a lot of incentive for companies to keep innovating and improving their products, which is great news for consumers.
With Honda now offering the TFT display and connectivity options, expect TVS to follow suit and hence, the technology game is likely to see a faster pace of adoption in the segment.
Honda Activa 125 The Road Ahead
Now, as they prepare their tactics for the latter half of 2025, several things will shape the ongoing game of chess for market leadership:
Economic factors: For many buyers, with fuel prices climbing and inflation eroding disposable income, fuel economy and price could trump premium features.
Electric switch: With India preparing to brace for an electric future, both will have to straddle the challenge of investing in ICE platforms and getting ready for the electric future in a simultaneous manner.
Rural market: The premium 125cc scooter category has always been urban centric and growth in the rural market could open up opportunities especially for the relatively lower priced offering - the Jupiter.
Feature pack: Features of connected-cars are common across the segment, vehicle differentiation will start to depend on ride quality, after sales experience, branding, perception rather than technical specs.”
Honda Activa 125 Conclusion
The 2025 Honda Activa 125 is launched partly as an offence against the TVS Jupiter 125, which has gained tremendous popularity.
By updating the features further with the TFT display and the smartphone connectivity, Honda is looking to maintain (and possibly consolidate) premium positioning while saying that the Jupiter isn’t to all sweep before it.
But TVS’ value game with the Jupiter 125 is working; dishing up good features for a lower price has found enough takers in the market.
The Jupiteres yoy number just proves that inspite of Honda upping their game, TVS has effectively placed themselves as a serious player in the 125cc space.
For consumers, this competitive landscape ensures that the product features and innovation will keep shifting quite a bit in the coming years—so, it is indeed a great time to be in the market for a premium scooter.
Will it be Honda’s technology or TVS’s VFM proposition that emerges on top, only time will tell, but what’s for sure is that the 125cc scooter war is just beginning.
Toward the latter half of 2025 (the “encore” stage, if you will), as both manufacturers hone their products and marketing further, we are likely to see further refinements and perhaps more aggressive pricing strategies, all adding to the end consumer, who would now continue enjoy better and better options in the premium scooter space.
