Xiaomi Scooter 5 Max Review: Ultimate Comfort, But with a Major Flaw?
Read our Xiaomi Scooter 5 Max Review and then decide whether to buy it or not.
In the five years since I first tested a Xiaomi electric scooter, the urban landscape has transformed. City traffic has intensified, and with it, the e-scooter has ascended from a novelty to a mainstream commuting solution. Enter the Xiaomi Scooter 5 Max, a new contender armed with a 1000W peak power motor, a swift three-hour charging time, and a sophisticated hydraulic suspension system. On paper, it’s a commuter’s dream. But as manufacturers’ claims don’t always survive contact with reality, we put it to the test to uncover the full story.
Xiaomi Scooter 5 Max: The Quintessential Urban Commuter?
Xiaomi Scooter 5 Max fits neatly into the “commuter” class. These are the workhorses of the scooter world, designed for reliable, low-maintenance daily trips from A to B on asphalt. Its classic, understated design won’t attract the unwanted attention that more aggressive, sport-style models often do. Paired with a helmet, you’re likely to blend in seamlessly with city traffic.
The experience starts at the handlebars, which are surprisingly wide at nearly 60cm, providing a stable, confident feel. The linear throttle sits comfortably under the right thumb, offering intuitive speed modulation. On the left, you’ll find a mechanical bell and the front brake lever. Below this, also in the thumb’s natural resting zone, are two buttons for the turn signals. These indicators, located at the ends of the handlebars, are impressively bright. However, for riders with broad shoulders, they may be obscured from the view of drivers behind. A supplementary hand signal remains a wise choice in traffic. While the integration is commendable, a second pair of turn signals at the rear would have been a significant improvement.
The scooter’s tall handlebars are a welcome feature, accommodating a wide range of rider heights. At 183cm (6’0″), I found it comfortable, as did a friend approaching two meters (6’5″), confirming its excellent ergonomics. The front-mounted headlight is powerful enough for visibility in traffic and illuminates the path ahead adequately for its legally capped 25 km/h speed.
A significant usability flaw, however, lies with the display. The vertically-mounted screen is bright and clear in daylight. But when you switch on the headlight—a good safety practice even during the day—the display automatically enters a much dimmer “night mode,” making it difficult to read. This is a perplexing design choice, as the scooter has a light sensor for automatic nighttime activation, but it fails to recognize when the lights are manually turned on during the day and keep the screen bright.
Xiaomi Scooter 5 Max Review: Build Quality, Flaws, and Practicality
The Scooter 5 Max includes thoughtful touches, like a hook for a bag, though its 3kg weight rating limits its utility. Durability, however, is a concern. Our test model, which had seen previous use, arrived with permanent scratches on the display and the single multi-function button, suggesting the materials are prone to wear.
At the base of the steering column, a safety latch releases the folding mechanism—a classic, proven design. Folded, the scooter weighs 22.3 kg (49 lbs). While not light, this is expected for its class, especially considering its robust features. More alarming was a noticeable “play” or looseness in the handlebars that couldn’t be resolved by tightening the visible bolts. For a scooter in this price range, this is a surprising and disappointing quality control issue.
The deck is spacious, but the design of the rear mudguard isn’t optimized for riders who place a foot on it for stability, leading to visible scuffs and damage on our unit. These are minor details, but they detract from the overall premium feel.
The Star of the Show: Ride Comfort
Where the Scooter 5 Max truly excels is in its ride quality. The hydraulic suspension is, without a doubt, the best I’ve experienced on a commuter-class scooter. It glides over the cracked and uneven bike lanes of Zagreb, absorbing imperfections that would be jarring on cheaper models. It’s a transformative feature that delivers a level of comfort far beyond typical sub-€500 scooters. Paired with wide, 10-inch tubeless tires, the ride is exceptionally stable and secure.
Performance, Power, and a Critical Weakness
Unfortunately, the superb comfort is undermined by a critical flaw: the brakes. The combination of a single front drum brake and a rear electronic brake proved insufficient, particularly for my weight of nearly 100 kg (220 lbs). The system is tuned to prevent wheel lock at all costs, but this safety feature results in weak overall stopping power. From a speed of 25 km/h, the scooter took nearly 10 meters to come to a complete stop—a potentially hazardous distance in an emergency. It seems the brake is simply not powerful enough for riders significantly heavier than the 75kg standard used for factory testing. While increasing the regenerative braking (a feature we couldn’t test due to a locked app account) would likely help, it doesn’t excuse the underpowered primary brake.
In terms of power, the motor’s 400W continuous output (peaking at 1000W) handles most urban inclines well, provided the battery is charged. It tackles hills far better than less powerful scooters. However, performance drops noticeably below 40% battery. Other quirks include a mandatory kick-start to engage the motor and an automatic “parking” brake that can be cumbersome at traffic lights. The lack of a cruise control feature is also a missed opportunity for comfort on longer stretches.
Range, Charging, and The Final Word
Xiaomi claims a 60 km range, a figure achieved under ideal, low-speed conditions. A more realistic real-world range, riding in Sport mode at 25 km/h, is around 30 km, which is still very respectable for this class. The battery can be charged in about 9 hours with the standard charger, or just over 3 hours with an optional fast charger.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi Scooter 5 Max is a tale of two scooters. On one hand, it offers a supremely comfortable, stable, and powerful ride that is perfect for navigating the urban jungle. For the average, less demanding user seeking a reliable point-to-point vehicle with the backing of a solid warranty, it is an excellent choice. It provides a premium, discreet, and legally compliant package that feels like a revelation compared to entry-level models.
On the other hand, it is let down by questionable build quality in some areas and, most critically, an underpowered braking system. For riders over the 75kg (165 lbs) mark, the weak brakes are a serious safety compromise that cannot be ignored.
If you are a lighter rider and you prioritize comfort and the peace of mind that comes with a reputable brand, the Xiaomi Scooter 5 Max is arguably the best you can find for just over €600. However, if you are a heavier individual, you must weigh its exceptional comfort against its troubling lack of stopping power.
