Hero Destini 125 review: Stylish, smarter but destined for glory?

Hero MotoCorp launched the Destini 125 scooter in 2018 as a premium family option. Over six years, it saw a few special editions and a mid-life update but lacked a major upgrade. Now, in September 2024, the scooter has debuted with significant improvements in design, features, and performance. We recently took the 2024 Destini 125 for a ride and here's our review.

Hero Destini 125: Design

Scooters now make up 30 percent of the two-wheeler market. Within this space, the 125cc+ segment is seeing the fastest growth. Amid this surge, the consumer preferences have also shifted and a typical family scooter owner of the past now wants more than just a basic ride from point A to point B.

As a result, Hero has given the new Destini a stylish makeover that goes beyond just utility. The front gets a fresh, sophisticated look with H-shaped LED DRLs, a projector headlamp, and copper-toned accents on the apron. The rear also sports H-shaped LED DRLs and gives it a dynamic look. In fact, what we personally liked was the sharp, extended panel that integrates the chrome inserts and the blinkers as well very neatly. Furthermore, the front fender and side panels are now made of metal.

On the side, diamond-cut alloy wheels and smooth, flowing lines complete the package, giving it a neo-retro vibe without being too flashy. Add all of it and you get a stylish-looking family scooter that does look premium, particularly in colours like Regal Black and Mystique Magenta.

Hero Destini 125: Features

The 2024 Hero Destini comes with a host of feature upgrades with the biggest highlight being its auto-cancelling blinkers. Once activated, the indicators automatically turn off after the rider covers 80 metres and 15 seconds have passed. Both conditions must be met. It also gets a bank angle sensor which automatically cuts off the engine when extreme leans or falls are detected.

Besides that, it also gets an inverted LCD display with Bluetooth connectivity featuring turn-by-turn navigation, real-time mileage, distance to empty, call and SMS alerts and more. The cluster is well-illuminated and gets five levels of brightness adjustments. However, one thing that could be improved is how the details have been laid out. It appears to be a clutter of info on a tiny screen and could be difficult to have a look at while riding. The materials used overall are firm and the build-quality is decent too.



There are no odd panel gaps and the controls on the handlebar are easy to operate too. You also get a USB charger, a boot light, 19-litre underseat storage and a 2-litre glove box in the front - which is deep and wide and will easily fit in your smartphone.

Hero Destini 125: Ergonomics, ride quality and performance

The new Destini is a fairly comfortable scooter. Hero has now equipped it with a longer seat and the legroom in the front is quite spacious too. You get a relaxed riding position and the seat is well-padded as well so you don’t really feel any discomfort during longer commutes. We had a 40-odd km journey and seat comfort wasn’t an issue even once - despite going through some rough patches as well. That said, the suspension system, comprising a telescopic fork in front and a hydraulic single coil spring in rear does a good job in ironing out any road undulations without breaking a sweat. However, during some stretched bad patches - bumps were felt slightly on the handlebar. Besides that, the scooter gets a front disc and rear drum setup with combi-braking tech - which works well too and results in a confident ride.

Now, before speaking about the engine, let’s lay out what it has to offer on paper. The 124.6 cc, air-cooled, 4-stroke engine makes 9 hp and 10.4 Nm of torque. It’s more or less the same engine as the outgoing model with the exact same power output. What has changed here is the refinement level and the CVT calibration. How is it? Boy, oh, boy - it is the most exciting bit about the updated Destini 125. The engine is super smooth and refined and gives you a linear acceleration until you reach the 76 kmph mark. What specifically impressed us the most is that there were negligible vibrations even at top speeds.

Hero Destini 125: Verdict

The pricing for the 2024 Hero Destini 125 is expected to be announced soon. It is well-rounded package that offers a sophisticated look with modern touches, comfort and practicality. Moreover, it also gets a list of useful features that will come handy when living with this scooter. That said, if you’re on a hunt for a stylish-looking, comfortable, and safe family scooter, this model is poised to be a strong contender. As a bonus, Hero has also claimed a best-in-class mileage of 59 kmpl. We won’t be able to comment on that until we do a mileage test with the scooter here in Delhi-NCR.