The Vmax VX4 is the best e-scooter I’ve ever reviewed – but it’s also the priciest

Lorenz Keller

20/2/2024

Translation: Katherine Martin

The Vmax VX4 GT is big, heavy and expensive. Even so, the e-scooter comes up trumps in my review, reaching a distance of 100 kilometres and offering excellent comfort on the road.

The VX4 is Swiss manufacturer Vmax’s top-of-the-range model – and it’s a knockout. This electric scooter is especially suited to frequent, long-distance riders. But a long range, large batteries and lots of riding comfort mean compromises have to be made elsewhere – something I demonstrate when I put the scooter through its paces.

Under 1,000 francs? Not a chance!

The VX4 is available in three battery sizes: 13,000 mAh, 18,200 mAh and 23,200 mAh. That equates to ranges of 55, 75 and 100 kilometres. All three have a 500-watt motor and are approved for use on roads in Switzerland and Germany.

Prices start high, at 1,200 francs. After that, they reach almost 1,800 francs. This hefty price tag doesn’t just come down to range. After all, you’ll find e-scooters with ranges of 70-100 kilometres on Galaxus for less than 1,000 francs.

Quality handling: stable and safe on the road

Time to take the scooter for a spin. It’s much higher than usual, so it takes a little getting used to at first. The VX4’s footboard is about 25 centimetres off the ground, whereas those of other scooters are typically 15-18 centimetres high. It’s so high that you can’t push it along with your foot. Though, if the battery’s charged, I don’t have to do that anyway.

All this means I’m positioned ten centimetres higher off the ground than usual. It’s perfectly comfortable. In fact, I feel like I’m more visible to other road users. Although the 10-inch tyres are no bigger than those of most other e-scooters, it still feels more pleasant to ride.

For one thing, the handlebars are nice and wide, so you can ride steady and keep the scooter under full control. The rest of the components, be it the off-road tyres or wide footboard, are also robust and solid.

No other scooter has felt as safe or as good to ride. What’s more, both axles have suspension, which is especially pleasant on longer journeys. Incidentally, the suspension and frame are designed for weights up to 150 kilogrammes.

The weight is its greatest downside

The VX4 isn’t just higher than most e-scooters, it’s also heavier. Depending on the size of the battery, it weighs between 27.4 and 29 kilogrammes. Looking at these figures, however, it’s clear the battery doesn’t account for the hefty weight. The VX4 LT with a 13,000 mAh battery weighs just 1.6 kilogrammes less than the GT with a 23,200 mAh battery.

What’s more, compact scooters with a similar range can weigh 20-25 kilogrammes. Instead, it’s the suspension, full range of features and robust construction that piles on the kilos. The lightest e-scooters on the market don’t have components like shock absorbers for long distances – one example being the Ocean Drive X9.

The main consequence of this in day-to-day life is that I can’t just throw the Vmax in the car and take it wherever I want. Although I’ve got a large estate car, the scooter takes up all the space in the boot. Getting it in also requires a fair bit of huffing and puffing. I decided not to take it on public transport either. It would have been like taking a bike on the train – not impossible, but not convenient either.

Features: clever down to the last detail

Vmax has equipped the VX4 with a number of features that proved useful on a day-to-day basis. While other scooters also have indicators, for example, they’re often only positioned on the very outside of the handlebars. As a result, they’re not always easy to see from behind. The VX4, on the other hand, has two orange LED indicators at the rear.

Another nifty feature is cruise control, which comes on automatically once I’ve been riding at a constant speed for a few seconds. The screen’s almost four inches in size and very easy to read, even in bright sunlight. And when that’s in short supply, the VX4 has strikingly bright lights.

The manufacturer has even built in a USB socket so you can charge your smartphone via the scooter if you’re in a pinch. Last but not least, the strong, sturdy stand means I can park the VX4 easily. On a lot of rival models, the measurements of the stand aren’t calculated generously enough, putting the scooter at much greater risk of tipping over.

One criticism is that the VX4 feels like it takes slightly too long to start up. I counted five seconds, which is two or three seconds too long for such an expensive e-scooter. And if you ask me, the brakes could be a little more powerful.

I could also use the scooter without the app. Technically, you don’t even need the app during set-up. Nor do you need it to lock the electric motor, which can be done on the display using a numerical code. Nevertheless, installing the Vmax app turned out to be worth my while because I can use it for navigation. To get the sat nav working, you either select a destination using the integrated Google search or click on a point on the app map. You’re then immediately given directions.

With the key navigation commands right there on the screen of the e-scooter, my mobile phone can go back in my pocket. The arrows and distance information did a stellar job of guiding me around during my review. It’s just important you give the Vmax app all permissions so that your phone doesn’t disconnect the seemingly «inactive» app.

On-road quality is its biggest asset compared to other scooters

Within the last six months, I’ve tested two other scooters that performed similarly on the road. Both models were significantly cheaper. The SoFlow So One Pro and the Xiaomi 4 Ultra are available for less than 1,000 francs.

The range outlined in the scooters’ specs is 65-70 kilometres, with each vehicle offering an output of 480 and 612 watt hours respectively. They’re most comparable to the cheapest of the three VX4 models. According to Vmax, the VX4 LT has a range of 55 kilometres and an output of 624 watt hours. This model will set you back around 300 francs more – a considerable difference.

So, how did they all fare? The SoFlow has the most powerful engine, but no suspension. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi offers excellent value for money. Even so, the VX4 is a more than worthy competitor. At its maximum speed of 20 km/h, it’s almost as fast as the SoFlow and offers the most comfortable ride overall. And once you’re on a gravel road, the VX4, with its suspension, off-road tyres and increased ride height is unbeatable.

There are also differences in the details. The VX4 is iPX6-certified against water, so it’s even protected against brief submersion. Its rivals, on the other hand, only have iPX5 protection against jets of water.

Lorenz Keller

Senior Editor

Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.ch

Gadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.

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