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use case: best electric scooter under $300 -
use case: best value -
use case: best with solid tires
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use case: lightest, most portable
Electric scooters under $300 can provide a surprising amount of value, features, and fun, despite being some of the cheapest electric scooters around. Basically, $300 is the lowest price point at which you still have a shot of finding a decent electric scooter.
Luckily, in the case of many of the cheapest scooters, cheap does not equal bad. Today we will be looking at exactly those scooters.
Let’s see some of the best electric scooters under $300 in 2021.
Each one of them has one or several use cases where they absolutely shine. If a scooter’s strong suit aligns with what you’re looking for, it will be a great choice for you.
Also, many of them will have one or more weak points, and if that exact point happens to be something you need, you will see what is a better alternative for you.
Best electric scooter under $300 – GoTrax XR Ultra
Several important facts and features make the GoTrax XR Ultra the best electric scooter under $300.
For starters, it comes from GoTrax, which is arguably the best brand when it comes to budget scooters. They have several inexpensive options, most of which are well-received, which proves that GoTrax clearly has a focus on the budget demographic.
But the GoTrax XR Ultra does not simply hitch a ride on brand recognition. In fact, it is probably the brand’s best scooter, and the scooter that helps make the brand popular the most.
A little caveat here – the price of this scooter may not always be under $300. Its price varies, and while it’s sometimes around the $300 mark, sometimes it can go up to $360, and maybe even more. The good news is, you can often find refurbished or used but good as new units, that will be priced around $300, and thus satisfy the criteria of a $300 budget.
The GoTrax XR Ultra is one of the better performers in the budget category. Its 300 Watt motor, with a peak power of 430 Watts, is what gives it its power, and it is the determining factor that gives this scooter an edge over the rest of the scooters here. With a top speed of 15 mph, range of 17 miles on a single charge, and a climbing angle of 15 degrees, this scooter is everything the regular owners/commuter/enthusiast needs.
Even more importantly, this scooter really has built a reputation for itself. It sells very well, maybe in the tens of thousands, and the number of complaints about serious defects is very low, especially for this price category. The aluminum-alloy frame, the simple and foolproof folding mechanism, and the long lifespan it provides its users with, all place this scooter on a level of quality above most of the other similarly priced models.
While there are other very good $300 scooters, the GoTrax XR Ultra is the best overall. If you just want the best $300 scooter and don’t have any specific need in mind, the GoTrax XR Ultra can be your choice.
If you want to find out more about this excellent budget scooter, check out the full review of the GoTrax XR Ultra.
If your budget is $300 and not a penny more, and you also wouldn’t like to get a refurbished scooter for some reason, then check out the other scooters on this list, especially the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter, it might be a great option for you.
GoTrax XR Ultra Specifications
- Top speed: 25 kmh 15.5 mph
- Range: 25.7 km 16 mi
- Motors: single hub front-drive
- Power: 300 W real, 430 W peak
- Climb angle: 15 °
- Battery: 252 Wh, 36 V
- Battery type: LG Smart battery management system
- Charging time: 4 h
- Ingress protection (IP): IP54
- Weight: 12 kg 26.5 lbs
- Weight limit: 100 kg 220 lbs
- Tire size: 8.5 in
- Tire type: pneumatic
- Tire pressure: 50 psi
- Foldable: yes
- Foldable handlebars: no
- Seat: no
- Trunk or basket: no (customization possible)
- Build material: aluminum alloy
- Terrains: urban
- Brakes: dual, rear disc + electric regenerative front
- ABS: EABS
- Shock absorbers: no
- Lights: 1.1W ultra-bright headlights, 6m range + LED taillights
- Control: screen display
- Speed modes: 2
- Cruise control: yes
- Keys: no
- App: no
- Warranty: 12 months
- Return period: 14 days
- Rider age: 13+
- Folded dimensions (L * W * H): 110 * 43.4 * 37 cm 43.31 * 17.09 * 14.57 in
- Unfolded dimensions (L * W * H): 110 * 43.4 * 115 cm 43.31 * 17.09 * 45.28 in
- Deck dimensions (L * W): 47 * 15 cm 18.50 * 5.91 in
- Ground clearance: 9 cm 3.54 in
- Deck to handlebar height: 105 cm (est) 41.34 in (est)
- Adjustable handlebar: no
Tests and measurements
- Speed tests (EScooterNerds): 32 kmh 20 mph
- Speed tests (third party): 25 kmh 15.5 mph
- Range tests (EScooterNerds): 23 km 14 mi
- Range tests (third party): 26 km 16 mi
- Braking distance tests (EScooterNerds): 6 m
- Braking distance tests (third party): 5 m
- Charge time tests (EScooterNerds): 5 h
- Charge time tests (third party): 4.5 h
- Waterproofing tests (EScooterNerds): no issues in light rain
- Waterproofing tests (third party): no issues in rain
Ratings and scores
Pros
- impressive range
- compact and foldable design
- decent speed
- affordable
Cons
- mediocre suspension
Best value – GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter
There may be several ways to calculate “value” for an electric scooter, but the simplest one is to take a look at the reliability and overall quality along with a strong consideration for the performance, and then simply divide it by the price of the scooter.
And the champion that such a formula will produce will be the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter.
The very respectable rating of around 4.0 stars out of 5 is a huge improvement over its predecessor, the GXL V1, which had just 3.5 stars. GoTrax has clearly learned a lot, and applied it.
With almost 2500 reviews (potentially implying hundreds of thousands of sales), this is one of the most popular electric scooters in the world, and it doesn’t have anything left to prove.
A top speed of 15 mph / 25 kmh, range of 12 mi / 19 km, backed by a 250 Watt motor, takes care of the performance side of things.
And the final touch that makes this scooter amazing value is the price. Usually priced around $248, the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter is without a doubt the best-value $300 scooter currently.
The GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter is a fairly versatile scooter that ticks many boxes. It will be a great value pick for anyone looking for a proven lightweight commuter of solid quality. No other $300 scooter will provide a better bang-for-buck than this one.
If you are interested in learning more about this scooter, see the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter review.
The price of versatility is lack of specialization, so anyone looking for a scooter with an accent on a particular feature may want to look at the other options here.
Also, if you live somewhere with extremely poor roads, you may be more interested in a scooter with solid tires, like the Kugoo S1 or the GoTrax G2.
GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter Specifications
- Top speed: 25 kmh 15.5 mph
- Range: 19 km 12 mi
- Motors: single BLDC
- Power: 250 W
- Climb angle: 14 °
- Battery: 187 Wh, 36 V
- Battery type: Li-ion
- Charging time: 4 h
- Ingress protection (IP): IP54
- Weight: 12 kg 26.5 lbs
- Weight limit: 100 kg 220 lbs
- Tire size: 8.5 in
- Tire type: pneumatic
- Tire pressure: 50-75 psi
- Foldable: yes
- Foldable handlebars: no
- Seat: no
- Trunk or basket: no (customization possible)
- Build material: reinforced aluminum alloy
- Terrains: urban
- Brakes: dual, front electronic regenerative + rear disc
- ABS: EABS
- Shock absorbers: no
- Lights: headlight + brake lights
- Control: Digital display
- Speed modes: 2
- Cruise control: yes
- Keys: no
- Alarm: no
- App: no
- Warranty: 12 months
- Return period: 14 days
- Certificates: UL2271 certification
- Folded dimensions (L * W * H): 112 * 43 * 41 cm 44.09 * 16.93 * 16.14 in
- Unfolded dimensions (L * W * H): 109 * 43 * 107 cm 42.91 * 16.93 * 42.13 in
- Deck dimensions (L * W): 48 * 15 cm 18.90 * 5.91 in
- Ground clearance: 10 cm 3.94 in
- Deck to handlebar height: 97 cm 38.19 in
- Adjustable handlebar: no
Tests and measurements
- Speed tests (EScooterNerds): 26 kmh 16 mph
- Speed tests (third party): 25/26 kmh 15.5/16 mph
- Range tests (EScooterNerds): 14 km 9 mi
- Range tests (third party): 19 km 12 mi
- Braking distance tests (EScooterNerds): 5 m
- Braking distance tests (third party): 6 m
- Climb tests (EScooterNerds): 14 degree
- Climb tests (third party): 14 degree
- Charge time tests (EScooterNerds): 4.5 h
- Charge time tests (third party): 4 h
- Weight limit tests (third party): 100 kg kg 221 lbs
- Waterproofing tests (EScooterNerds): no issues in light rain
- Waterproofing tests (third party): one battery malfunction in rain reported
Ratings and scores
Pros
- beginner friendly
- very portable
- cheap
- very comfortable
- easy and cheap maintenance
Cons
- low speed
- low climb angle
- low range
Best with solid tires – GoTrax G2
The GoTrax G2 is the best budget GoTrax scooter with solid tires. The solid-rubber 6.5-inch tires of this scooter will never, ever go flat, and will require much less maintenance in general.
The G2 sports a 200 Watt motor integrated into the front wheel, giving it a solid top speed of 15.5 mph / 25 kmh, and a somewhat minimal range of 7 mi / 11 km.
The scooter has 2 speed modes, cruise control, and can carry up to 220 lbs / 100 kg of weight on its deck.
Besides the solid tires, this scooter shines in terms of portability as well, with very small folded dimensions and a weight of 21 lbs / 9.5 kg.
Since this is the best solid-tire scooter under $300, it will be a good choice for anyone that doesn’t want to be bothered by flats and tire maintenance.
Also, since this is a scooter that is very easy to carry, both because of its small weight and its small volume when folded, it is a good choice for anyone that needs to carry their scooter a lot. See the complete GoTrax G2 review if you want to find out more.
As always, solid wheels are a double-edged sword, so get a different scooter if you’re looking for a more comfortable ride, or if the roads in your city are not that bad.
Also, this scooter doesn’t have a lot of range, so check out the other GoTrax models if you have long commutes, like the GoTrax XR Ultra or the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter.
Finally, since this is a GoTrax model, chances are it will not be available in Europe. See the Kugoo S1 if you need a solid-tire scooter under $300 in Europe.
GoTrax G2 Specifications
- Top speed: 25 kmh 15.5 mph
- Range: 11 km 7 mi
- Motors: single BLDC hub in front wheel
- Power: 200 W
- Battery: 24 V
- Charging time: 4 h
- Ingress protection (IP): IP54
- Weight: 9.5 kg 21 lbs
- Weight limit: 100 kg 220 lbs
- Tire size: 6.5 in
- Tire type: solid
- Foldable: yes
- Terrains: urban
- App: no
- Warranty: 12 months
- Return period: 30 days
- Folded dimensions (L * W * H): 112 * 43 * 42 cm 44.09 * 16.93 * 16.54 in
- Unfolded dimensions (L * W * H): 112 * 43 * 109 cm 44.09 * 16.93 * 42.91 in
- Deck to handlebar height: 93 cm 36.61 in
- Adjustable handlebar: no
Tests and measurements
- Range tests (EScooterNerds): 10 km 6 mi
- Range tests (third party): 10 km 6 mi
- Waterproofing tests (EScooterNerds): no issues in light rain or snow
Ratings and scores
Pros
- very affordable
- great value
- super-portable
Cons
- budget quality
- low performance
Lightest, most portable – Swagtron Swagger Pro
The Swagtron Swagger Pro is one of the lightest, most portable electric scooters for adults in the world. Weighing just 16 lbs / 7.25 kg, with miniature folded dimensions of 39 x 16 x 9 in / 100 x 41 x 24 cm, this scooter can be taken anywhere, and it can fit anywhere, from the smallest car trunks, to the narrowest hallways, to the tiniest elevator and subway doors.
But at the same time, this is clearly one of those cases where size can fool you. The Swagtron Swagger Pro is a vicious, tough carbon-fiber lightweight, with a top speed of 15 mph / 25 kmh, 17 mi / 29 km range, 220 lbs / 100 kg weight limit, and an IPX4 water protection rating.
The Swagtron brand is one of the most famous budget scooter brands, and they know their market well. If you need a small, ultra-portable scooter under $300 that is not shy on the stats as well, you will want to take a look at the Swagtron Swagger Pro.
With an unusual combination of a long range, decent top speed, and very small weight and dimensions, the Swagtron Swagger Pro is quite a versatile option that can be ideal for a lot of owners.
My primary concern about the Swagtron Swagger Pro is the poor rating it has on Amazon. It can’t be described as a high-quality scooter, obviously it suffers from quality issues more often than the other scooters on this list.
Also, another problem is that the scooter may often be unavailable or out of stock.
Swagtron Swagger Pro 3 Specifications
- Top speed: 25 kmh 15.5 mph
- Range: 22 km 14 mi
- Power: 250 W
- Charging time: 2.5 h
- Ingress protection (IP): IPX4
- Weight: 10 kg 22 lbs
- Weight limit: 100 kg 220 lbs
- Folded dimensions (L * W * H): 113 * 43 * 27 cm 44.49 * 16.93 * 10.63 in
- Unfolded dimensions (L * W * H): 97 * 43 * 113 cm 38.19 * 16.93 * 44.49 in
- Deck to handlebar height: 99 cm (est) 38.98 in (est)
- Adjustable handlebar: no
Tests and measurements
- Speed tests (EScooterNerds): 25 kmh 15.5 mph
- Speed tests (third party): 25 kmh 15.5 mph
- Range tests (EScooterNerds): 22 km 14 mi
- Range tests (third party): 21 km 13 mi
- Climb tests (third party): 14
Ratings and scores
Pros
- very affordable
- very portable
- decent performance
Cons
- lemons are common
- mediocre quality
Summary
Those were all the best electric scooters under $300. For reference, here’s a table summarizing the best models one more time.
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use case: best electric scooter under $300
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use case: best value
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use case: best with solid tires
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use case: lightest, most portable
