Varla Scooter Review: The Electric Scooter Worth Investing In?
Electric scooters have exploded in popularity over the last few years as eco-friendly alternatives to cars for short trips and commuting. With a sleek, compact design and powered by a rechargeable battery, e-scooters are fun and convenient for zipping around neighborhoods, college campuses and urban areas.
While brands like Segway and GoTrax are well known, Varla Scooters is a relative newcomer making waves with its high-performance electric scooters built for all terrains.
In this extensive Varla scooter review, we’ll take an in-depth look at Varla as a company, its three core scooter models, how Varlas compare to competitors and whether these futuristic-looking e-scooters are worth the significant investment.
Overview of Varla Scooters
Founder Ben launched Varla in 2018 in El Monte, California with the goal of manufacturing electric scooters that can handle a wide range of terrain. The name Varla is derived from the words “velocity” and “balance.”
The company currently offers three electric scooter models:
- Eagle One – Varla’s high-performance all-terrain flagship scooter
- Eagle One Pro – A upgraded version of the Eagle One
- Pegasus – Varla’s mid-range commuter e-scooter
While not the cheapest electric scooters on the market, Varlas stand out for their:
- Powerful motors – Up to 2 x 1000W allowing them to hit speeds up to 45 mph
- Long range – Up to 45 miles on the Eagle One Pro from a single charge
- Durable, robust construction – Built to handle off-road conditions
- Safety features – Hydraulic brakes, LED lights and shock absorption
The company currently ships to the contiguous US and Canada. It offers free shipping in the US and $15 – $200 shipping fees for Canadian buyers.
Let‘s take a closer look at each of Varla‘s scooter models.
Varla Eagle One Electric Scooters
Varla founder Ben describes the Eagle One line as “leveling up the electric scooter game to be off-road beasts while keeping city commuters in mind.”
There are currently two versions of the Eagle One available.
Varla Eagle One Dual Motor
The Varla Eagle One Dual Motor is the company‘s original flagship electric scooter, first released in 2021.
Motor & Performance
This rugged scooter packs a punch with dual 1000W hub motors that deliver a combined peak output of 2000W and 36Nm of torque – allowing a max speed of 40 mph. Each motor powers a separate wheel, giving phenomenal traction and stability even on loose or uneven terrain.
The lithium-ion battery has a 946 watt-hour capacity, enabling a max travel distance per charge of 40 miles if riding conservatively in the Eco mode. That blows most competitors out of the water and rivals some high-end e-bikes.
For acceleration and hill climbing, the dual motors shine. You can tear from 0 to 28 mph in just 6.5 seconds. A 30% gradient hill poses no issue. Off-road trails, grass, loose gravel? No problem thanks to the all-terrain tread tires and advanced torque.
Design & Construction
Weighing in at 75 pounds with a durable aluminum alloy frame, the Eagle One Dual Motor feels solid yet maneuverable. The wider 20 inch pneumatic tires absorb bumps exceptionally well thanks to front and rear suspension.
Tektro hydraulic disc brakes provide strong, reliable braking power with great heat dissipation. This adds an extra safety margin for high speed riding.
An easy to read LCD dashboard shows your speed, battery level, riding mode and other vitals. Integrated front and rear LED lights make night visibility straightforward.
Other thoughtful features include an extra wide foot deck, dual lock clamp for security and a handy carrying handle to lift the scooter.
Cost & Value For Money
With a hefty price tag of $1699, the Varla Eagle One Dual Motor is certainly not cheap. But you‘re getting incredible power, speed and premium construction that can genuinely handle off-road use – a rare feature for an electric scooter.
For the performance and range, we feel the price is justified. Competitors like the WideWheel Pro and Dualtron Thunder cost even more for similar specifications.
And compared to a dirt bike that requires gas and maintenance, it‘s reasonable for the exhilarating riding experience.
Considering you may use it instead of a car for quick trips, the long term fuel and time savings help offset the upfront cost.
What Customers Are Saying
With 198 reviews and a near perfect 4.9 / 5 stars on Varla’s website, the Eagle One Dual Motor scores very highly for features, speed, range and overall quality direct from buyers.
Negative reviews mostly cite minor quality nitpicks rather than core performance or reliability complaints. Issues encountered seem occasional rather than systemic.
"Truly an off-road beast, eats the streets of New York City for lunch. The build quality is extremely awesome and it’s so near a dirt bike in capability that if light off road work is needed, it can do it."
Independent product review sites like ElectricScooterInsider.com also praise the Eagle One Dual Motor with detailed testing. Their only complaints were small quibbles about lighting placement.
Overall consensus is overwhelmingly positive from both Varla‘s own customer ratings and external reviews.
The Verdict
From both specs and actual customer experiences, the Varla Eagle One Dual Motor delivers outstanding power and build construction that matches its premium pricing.
While the $1699 cost is steep, you get superb performance and long range perfect for off-road adventures – exceeding most of the competition. We rate it as Varla‘s best high performance electric scooter.
Varla Eagle One Pro
If the standard Eagle One doesn‘t offer quite enough speed or range for your wilder ambitions, the souped up Varla Eagle One Pro released in 2022 may be perfect.
Building on everything that made the original Eagle One great, Varla enhanced a few key areas:
- More powerful 2 x 1000W motors
- Higher voltage 52V electrical system
- Bigger battery with 27Ah capacity
- Top speed boosted to 45 mph
So in practical terms you get significantly more speed thanks to the upgraded electrical setup. This pushes acceleration and torque even beyond what the standard Eagle One can produce.
Plus the expanded battery capacity means up to 45 miles range per full charge – that‘s over six miles further than the original.
Cost & Value
Priced at $2099, the Eagle One Pro costs a hefty $400 more than the standard dual motor model.
You‘re paying a premium for essentially more battery capacity and power rather than better construction or componentry.
So while we love the improved performance and range, the price hike is quite steep. You‘ll need to carefully weigh up whether those upgrades are truly worth over 20% extra cost for your needs.
For comparison, you can buy a decent used motorcycle or 150cc scooter for a similar price.
That said, running costs and maintenance will be far cheaper than any gas vehicle. And you get to glide in near silence while helping the environment.
The Verdict
The Varla Eagle One Pro takes everything we love about the original and amplifies it to the extreme. Blistering acceleration up to 45 mph, even longer battery range and monstrous torque make short work of almost any terrain or incline.
This high-powered electric beast excels at covering long distances off-road at breakneck speeds. But you‘ll pay over $400 extra for the improved performance versus the standard Eagle One. Determine if your adventures demand that degree of enhancement before buying.
For most riders seeking a balanced combination of price, specs and quality, we still recommend the original Eagle One Dual Motor as Varla’s best all-around option.
But for those who prioritize maximum speed and battery capacity above all else, the Eagle One Pro is unmatched.
Varla Pegasus Electric Scooter
If shredding mountain trails at 40+ mph sounds like overkill for your needs, Varla offers a more affordable mid-range model focused on reliable city commuting dubbed the Varla Pegasus.
Varla Pegasus City Commuter
Originally launched in 2021 as Varla‘s first electric scooter, the Pegasus City Commuter balances performance and sensible urban usability.
Motor & Performance
With dual 500W hub motors totaling 1000W combined, the Pegasus produces slightly over half the peak output of the beefier Eagle One models. But a top speed of 28 mph still zips you around at an enjoyable click.
Acceleration and hill climbing power predictably can‘t match the Eagle One, but respectable torque gets the Pegasus up most urban gradients or grassy parks easily.
The 15.6 amp hour battery enables a max range per charge of 28 miles. Not exceptional but enough juice for most commuting or leisure needs. Recharging from empty takes around 7 hours.
Design & Construction
Weighing 51 pounds, the Pegasus City scooter adopts a similar aluminum alloy frame and overall design DNA as the Eagle One.
With a single suspension it can‘t soak up serious off-road bumps like its higher priced siblings. But it handles city streets and sidewalks comfortably.
Safety tech like hydraulic brakes and front + rear lights match the Eagle One. The LCD display provides clear dash information including a voltage meter to track battery level.
Cost & Value For Money
Priced at $1199, the Pegasus costs a whole $500 less than the entry level Eagle One Dual Motor.
You still get Varla‘s quality construction and styling with good mid-range power and speed. This makes it much better value if you don‘t need extreme off road capabilities or 40+ mile range.
For easy urban commuting with enough zip for fun plus practical 28 mile battery capacity, the Pegasus strikes a great balance of affordability and usability.
The Verdict
The Varla Pegasus City Commuter delivers solid quality and everyday usability at a comparatively reasonable price point.
While performance and range can’t match Varla‘s top tier models, value seekers get well constructed, zippy short range transportation without breaking the bank.
If your adventures don‘t demand outrageous speed or off-road mud slinging, the Pegasus could be a smarter choice for enjoying Varla‘s uniqueness at a more affordable budget.
How Do Varla Scooters Compare To Competitors?
The electric scooter market has literally hundreds of models from dozens of brands to choose from spanning a huge range in pricing and capabilities.
While a full electric scooter buying guide comparison is outside the scope here, we wanted to give a high level sense of how Varla Scooters stack up to some key competitors.
Speed + Power
Thanks to dual high output brushless hub motors up to 1000W each plus robust construction, Varla Eagle One models out accelerate most competitor e-scooters – even those with similar peak motor ratings.
The Eagle One Pro‘s 45 mph top speed in particular dominates all but a tiny handful of ultra performance brands like Rion, Dualtron and GT Force.
Range
With up to 45 miles distance per charge on the Eagle One Pro, Varla again beats almost all except the most expensive e-scooters from the likes of Dualtron, Voro and Kaboo.
Even Varla‘s "worst" range of 28 miles on the Pegasus competes well at its sub $1200 price point.
Ride Comfort
Quality hydraulic brakes plus coil and pneumatic suspension on all Varla models soak up bumps and provide strong, progressive braking that enhances safety and comfort.
Build Quality & Reliability
Robust aluminum alloy frames set Varla Scooters apart from most sub $1000 competitors that often cheap out on materials prone to failure.
While unknown long term, the 2 year warranty provides some assurance. User reviews indicate above average durability and reliability so far.
Off Road Handling
Aside from DIY enthusiast e-scooters, few reputable brands offer genuine dirt, gravel and grass riding capabilities like Varla‘s Eagle One line.
So for rugged adventurers, these terrain gobbling beasts open opportunities lesser scooters can‘t.
Value For Money
Electric scooters under $600 inevitably cut corners that risks quality and performance. While expensive, Varlas justify costs with high caliber components not found on cheap models relying on discounts to move units.
Of course other established players like Kaabo, Apollo and Voro also produce high value premium e-scooters. But unique off road specialization gives Varla an edge in their niche.
Are Varla Electric Scooters Worth Buying?
For anybody seeking a fun, versatile electric scooter capable of both thrilling trails and daily commuting with quality construction, Varla delivers compelling options not widely replicated.
For maximum power – The Varla Eagle One Pro dominates nearly any terrain and hits outrageous speeds rivaling small motorcycles to create an epic thrill ride.
To balance performance and value – The Varla Eagle One Dual Motor only slightly trails the Pro for almost $400 less cost. Still enormously quick off-road with comfy stability.
Seeking reasonable affordability – The Varla Pegasus gives you the essence of Varla‘s brilliant design and solid reliability for over $500 below their premium models if extreme use cases aren‘t mandatory.
In an electric scooter market flooded with ultra cheap models that often disappoint and very expensive high performance rigs beyond most buyers budgets, Varla nicely fills the gap in between.
You get genuine speed, durability and all terrain competence more economical transportation can’t match. Yet avoid the 5 figure price tags of the most elite brands.
For around $1000 to $2500 depending on needs, these exciting futuristic rides deliver awesome functionality through innovative engineering. All while helping save the planet and your wallet in the long run.
