Voyager Ion Review – The Cheapest Electric Scooter For Adults Ever

Note: it looks like the Voyager Ion has been discontinued for quite some time now. If you are looking for a great equivalent to this scooter, I recommend checking out my detailed GoTrax XR Ultra review (it is similarly priced to the Voyager Ion, but is a much better scooter overall in my opinion).

The Voyager Ion electric scooter is many things, and it may be a great choice for a lot of rider categories.

This is the complete review of the Voyager Ion electric scooter. Let’s see when it might make sense to get the Voyager Ion.

Voyager Ion Summary

Many people may look at the Voyager Ion and dismiss it a children’s scooter.

It’s true that the primary demographic that this scooter targets might be teenagers and older children.

However, a lot of adults may be missing out on an unbelievable deal by overlooking the Voyager Ion.

The weight limit, which is the deciding factor between whether a scooter is for kids or for adults, is 220 lbs / 100 kg, and that makes this scooter perfectly viable for most adults.

The IP rating of IP55 is pretty rare and actually places the Voyager Ion in the top 10% of the most waterproof electric scooters in existence.

With a super-light build and design, and small dimensions, this is also one of the most portable electric scooters in the world right now.

Finally, and for many of us maybe even most important, the scooter is the cheapest electric scooter that adults can ride in the world right now.

Those are quite a lot of wins for the Voyager Ion, and every single one of them, or a combination between any of them, can make the scooter the perfect choice for quite a lot of people.

So the Voyager Ion really deserves a shot, and many people, adults included, will find it to be an amazing deal.

The Voyager brand

Voyager is a well-known name in the world of rideables. Besides their big selection of electric scooters, they also have a large choice of electric bikes, electric boards, and hoverboards, and they combine all of their rideable know-how and experience to make great-value electric scooters. They are a company from the USA that has been in operation for several years now, headquartered in Edison, New Jersey.

Ordering, shipping, discounts

In the US, there is no better place to order the Voyager Ion from than the official Voyager store. The scooter will arrive within 3 to 7 business days, and by using the promo code “ESCOOTERNERDS” at checkout, you will get an additional 15% discount, which will bring the scooter’s price down to just $160. Check out the Voyager Ion at the Voyager store here.

The scooter is also available in Canada, though your best bet to get it there will be Amazon Canada.

Customer support, warranty and return policies

Voyager stands behind their scooters, and they provide a full year of warranty on any part that may break down because of a manufacturing defect.

There is also a generous 30-day return policy for a full refund. The customer support they provide is great as well.

Pretty much anything you would expect from a fair brand.

Unboxing, assembly, user manual

The scooter arrives in a nice-looking box, which contains:

• the scooter
• two handlebars
• charger
• toolkit
• user manual
• warranty card

The only assembly you need to do is twist the handles inside the handlebar, and the scooter is ready in less than a minute.

Just to make sure, do a quick visual check before riding to see that all the parts are in order and undamaged.

The Voyager Ion includes a clear and detailed manual. We all know that reading the manual is boring, but at least skim through it – your version may be different.

Basics, how to ride, folding

The scooter is turned on by pressing and holding the red circle button on the right handlebar. The red triangle button on the left handlebar switches the speed modes, which limit the maximum speed of the scooter. There are four speed modes:

• P0
• P1
• P2
• P3

Pressing the power button while the scooter is on toggles the headlight, while pressing both buttons at the same time activates the settings context.

The scooter accelerates through a thumb throttle on the right handlebar, which is the best kind of throttle mechanism in my opinion. The red throttle on the left handlebar is used for activating the electronic brake.

Starting the ride is much easier for the scooter when you use a slight kick to get going, and it helps save the battery.

The scooter’s LED display shows a lot of details:

• current speed
• battery level (5 bars)
• motor status and error
• accelerator or brake error
• start mode
• cruise control
• front light status

To fold the scooter you simply press the red button on the front of the stem, pull the lever down, and fold the stem down until you lock the hook into the small frame.

To unfold, you unlock the hook by pushing the rear fender down, bring the stem back into the upright position, and finally, just lock the latch on the front.

The scooter features a very practical plastic hook on the stem that can be used for hanging bags on it.

Build quality and lifespan

One of the best things about this scooter is the incredible balance between price and overall build quality. Using the discount code, you will only pay around $160 for this scooter, and yet you will get a pretty well-built, tough scooter. You can expect to get a good lifespan out of this scooter, although you will have to replace the battery when it wears out (which is normal for every scooter battery).

Materials and design

The Voyager Ion is made out of aluminum for the frame, and plastic and rubber for the auxiliary parts. The deck has an anti-slip surface and a kickstand.

The scooter has a modern, sleek, slightly futuristic look and feel, usually coming in matte-black base color with red details.

Motor, power, top speed, climbing

The hub BLDC motor is integrated into the front wheel, and has power of 250 Watts.

Since the motor is in the front instead of in the rear, the scooter will have more torque, which is great news for climbing – this scooter can officially climb hills of up to 15°.

The top speed of the Voyager Ion is 12.5 mph / 20 kmh. People closer to the weight limit may get slightly less, around 11 – 11.5 mph / 18 – 19 kmh.

Battery, charging, range

The Voyager Ion has a Lithium-Ion battery with 24 V and 5 Ah, for a total capacity of 120 Wh.

It takes 4 hours for the battery to charge completely. The charger port is on the rear of the deck, and it’s on the top instead of on the side, which is great for protecting the charging port against water damage and dirt. The charging port is also protected by a charger cap. As usual, a green light on the charger means the scooter’s battery is full, while read means the scooter is still charging.

The official range of the Voyager Ion is 7 miles / 11 km. Riders closer to the weight limit may get a range closer to 6 miles / 10 km. With that kind of range, the scooter will only be useful for very short commutes, although still great for some last-mile scenarios, as carrying the scooter in and out of buses and trains is a breeze.

Charging the scooter fully costs less than 1 cent in the US during off-peak hour, and somewhere around 1-2 cents during peak hours.

Brakes and safety

The Voyager Ion features two brake systems that provide great redundancy.

The front brake is electronic, and it’s unexpectedly strong and sensitive. I’ve seen much worse brakes in scooters costing 5 times or more.

That means the rear brake can be used infrequently, since it is less convenient, but it also works well and will provide even more safety. The best use case for the rear brake is when riding downhill, as braking with the front brake does increase the chance of tipping over.

The scooter is tested and certified, and is compliant with FCC regulations.

Water resistance and IP rating

The Voyager Ion has a water and ingress protection standard of IP55, which is among the best in the electric scooter world (most scooters have either IP54 or no water protection at all). Not bad for a $160 scooter.

As usual, while the scooter should not be ridden in the rain or wet weather, and damage is possible, users have used it in this manner without any issues. Simply put, if you’re stuck somewhere with your scooter and there is some light rain going on, you have a good chance of riding through the rain and your scooter staying intact. Just to be safe, avoid doing this as much as possible, but know that if you decide to do it, odds are your scooter will be just fine.

Terrains, ride experience, and where to ride

With small wheels, made out of rubber, and not a lot of suspension, the Voyager Ion is clearly an urban road scooter. Offroad riding will be pretty much out of the question, although the ride quality will be surprisingly good in many other circumstances.

One cool thing that helps with the ride experience is the cruise control feature, which is activated after holding the throttle after several seconds.

Weight, dimensions, portability

When folded, the Voyager Ion has dimensions of 38.1 x 7.9 x 18.9 inches / 97 x 20 x 48 cm (L x W x H). That makes it very small and easy to fit pretty much everywhere, probably even the smallest car trunks can fit it easily.

The Voyager Ion weighs 18 lbs / 8 kg, which makes it one of the lightest electric scooters for adults ever made.

The width of the scooter, while not big and bulky to begin with, can be cut down even further by unscrewing the handlebars if you need the scooter to fit somewhere super-tight.

Weight limit

The weight limit of the Voyager Ion is 220 lbs / 100 kg. This is one of the biggest wins for this scooter, as its primarily meant for older teens, but with that kind of weight capacity, most adults will be able to ride it no problem.

Tires and wheels

The 6-inch solid rubber wheels will never go flat, and that’s a great thing for cities with terrible roads. It’s worth noting that the wheels are kinda small and that has an impact on the ride quality.

Between the stem and the front wheel, there is a little spring suspension to help mitigate the shocks from hitting bumps and cracks in the road.

Lights, night rides

The Voyager Ion has a surprisingly strong LED headlight and a blinking red taillight for night rides, certainly not what you would expect from a scooter this small and inexpensive.

Pretty much any scooter company will recommend not riding at night, and fair enough, you should avoid doing that as much as possible. Make sure to get a fluorescent vest and a turn widget if you do.

Accessories and gear

There are no known accessories made specifically for the Voyager Ion. You will have to get by with the generic ones, and I recommend checking out my complete guide on electric scooter accessories for all of the options.

As this is a fairly small scooter, I don’t think adding a seat would make a lot of sense. You can get a lot of value from a small trunk on the handlebars, and something like a phone mount or a a carry strap would also be good additions.

Since the Voyager Ion is very cheap, you don’t have to overspend on a lock, and you can probably get away even with a cheap bike lock. See my guide on the best scooter locks to find the right pick for your needs and budget.

And, of course, even though this is a small scooter, you should never make the mistake of riding it without a helmet. I usually recommend getting at least a half-helmet even for the smaller scooters like this one, but a bike helmet should also do the trick. Check out my guide on the best scooter helmets to find out the right pick for you.

FAQ

These are some of the most common questions about the Voyager Ion.

Is the Voyager Ion waterproof?

The Voyager Ion is water-resistant, but not fully waterproof. With an IP rating of IP55, the Voyager Ion is protected against low-pressure jets from all angles, which means it will likely handle rides in a light rain without any issue.

How fast can the Voyager Ion go?

The top speed of the Voyager Ion is 12.5 mph / 20 kmh. Users close to or above the weight limit of 220 lbs / 100 kg will likely get slower top speeds.

How much range does the Voyager Ion have?

The Voyager Ion can go up to 7 miles / 11 kilometers on a single battery charge. This can vary depending on the environment, the rider weight, the hills and inclines, and the road conditions.

Voyager Ion specifications

Voyager Ion vs other scooters

It doesn’t make much sense to compare the Voyager Ion against other adult scooters – it is so much cheaper than them that it will universally beat them on value. Still, let’s push its limits and compare it anyway, see how it handles challenges from other budget models.

Voyager Ion vs Swagtron Swagger

The iconic Swagtron Swagger will be about $100 more expensive. For that price, it will be slightly faster, and it will have more range and battery charge.

What plagues Swagtron scooters sometimes, and this model in particular, is quality issues. Luckily for the Voyager Ion, while it does have its fair share of problems, it seems to fare better than the Swagger in this regard.

The Voyager Ion will be more waterproof as well.

With similar weights and weight capacities, both scooters will be equally portable and equally useful for adults.

Voyager Ion vs GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter

There is a very good case to be made for the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter here. For an adult commuting scooter, it is likely the better choice, as it has more range, although not a ton more.

The Voyager Ion fights back with its strongest weapons – it has better waterproofing, it’s lighter and more portable (and by a healthy margin), and again, it’s significantly cheaper.

So, the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter may be a better choice in some situations, but not in all. You can check the full review of the GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter if you need a scooter that has a longer range, and don’t mind that it’s a bit more expensive and heavier.

Voyager Ion vs Voyager Proton

Weirdly enough, a big competitor of the Voyager Ion comes from within the Voyager family.

In my opinion however, while the Proton is a decent scooter, I don’t think it does enough to justify the price difference. They both have the same motor power and top speed, and the Ion even has a bit more range!

Not exactly sure what’s the value proposition of the Voyager Proton. It has one unique, admittedly intriguing feature – you can charge your phone while riding, and that’s the biggest difference I can find between these two scooters. If that’s something that may be useful to you, check out the Voyager Proton at the Voyager store (use the “ESCOOTERNERDS” coupon at checkout for a 15% discount). Otherwise, stick with the Voyager Ion.

Known issues and problems

As with any scooter, there will be some issues with this one, and some will be dealbreakers for some riders.

First, and probably most important, is the range of the scooter. With a relatively small range, the Voyager Ion will not be useful for long commutes. Check out some of the longest range electric scooters if range is what you need.

The weight capacity of 220 lbs / 100 will make it good enough for most adults, but not for heavier ones. Check out the best electric scooters for heavy adults if you need a scooter that can carry more.

Price, value, how soon until it pays itself off

The Voyager Ion is the most inexpensive electric scooter that adults can use. Even more importantly, it is a decent scooter on its own, which means its value per dollar will be out of the charts.

With a regular price of $189, and the extra 15% discount you can get by using the coupon code “ESCOOTERNERDS” at checkout, this scooter will cost you around $160. There’s nothing even remotely similar in the electric scooter world in terms of price and affordability. With that kind of price, the Voyager Ion will pay itself off in a matter of months through transport cost savings alone.

Verdict

Is the Voyager Ion the best electric scooter for adults? Probably not.

But is it the most affordable electric scooter for adults, and a great choice for a first entry-level scooter? Definitely yes.

Is the Voyager Ion one of the best scooters for teens, older children, or as a gift to a loved one? Most certainly.

Is the Voyager Ion one of the safest electric scooters ever made, with strong brakes, great lights, and reasonable top speed? You betcha.

Is the Voyager Ion perfect for rainy and wet environments? Yes, it is.

Is the Voyager Ion one of the lightest, most portable scooters in existence? Again, yes, it is.

The Voyager Ion has lots of cool things going for it. If you fit any of those descriptions and those are some of your priorities when looking for a scooter, I recommend the Voyager Ion, especially if you are on a budget as it only costs $160 with our discount code.

Matt Trajkovski

My name is Matt Trajkovski. I love electric scooters, and electric vehicles in general. I like doing a lot of testing, reviewing, and research on various electric scooter models and brands, following our proprietary rigorous editorial and testing process developed here at EScooterNerds, looking for great value and performance, both through data and experience. All of the content published on this blog goes through a rigorous review and editorial process, and our product reviews not only include the hands-on experience of our own team members, but the experience of our audience members as well. My goal is to provide you with the best information about electric scooters possible. You can see all of my posts in my articles archive.