Maxi Effect

Just like the Xpulse before it, the Xoom 160 hopes to create a niche that has long been awaited in our country. We finally got a chance to sample Hero's most powerful and expensive scooter in India

- Abhinay Jakhar

Hero MotoCorp has been relentless in 2025.

With eight new launches already under its belt this year, ranging from refreshes of its bread-and-butter commuters to premium motorcycles, the brand is showing no signs of slowing down. The Hero Xoom 160 marks the ninth launch of the year and, arguably, its most ambitious two-wheeler yet. But, it isn't technically a launch since it has been on sale for quite some time for a price of Rs 1.49 lakh (ex-showroom), and this is without accounting for recent GST reforms, which will kick in by 22nd September. At first glance, it might be tempting to dismiss the Xoom 160 as just another scooter, but it's much more than that, and the homegrown brand is serious about it, just like they were with the aforementioned Xpulse. This is Hero's first attempt at building a maxi-scooter for India, similar to how they did with the Xpulse with dual-sport intentions.

In fact, Hero wants to position it as a scooter that blends comfort, practicality, and long-distance usability. I'd go so far as to say that they've sprinkled some off-road magic in there as well, and Hero claimed that the design and chassis have been looked over by its Dakar team. This is good news since this is something Indian buyers have been waiting for, but never quite received in the right package. Much like the Xpulse 200 before it, the Xoom 160 represents a bold step into a relatively uncharted segment. And if Hero gets this right, it could have another cult product on its hands.