Indian families and scooters have always had a deep-rooted connection—be it going to the office, dropping kids to school, getting groceries or simply loitering around on a pleasant Saturday evening, there is one common thread — a scooter! It is almost like having another family member. It has been almost 17 years since the first iteration of the Suzuki Access 125 was launched and since then it has been one of the top three bestselling scooters in the country. The Access now gets a generational update while still carrying the familiar silhouette. The question, however, is, will it still be able to retain its spot as one of the most popular scooters in India?
The new Access has received subtle changes in terms of styling while retaining its resemblance to its predecessors and in a good way, but the changes are so minute that prima facie it doesn’t appear to be a generational change. The bodywork now has more flowing lines from front to back. There is a new rectangular LED headlamp with a chrome upper lip that looks like a visor cap and a U-shaped position lamp sitting just below the Suzuki logo.
The turn indicators have become smaller and gel well with the overall design, but these are still no LED units. The body panels are now slimmer and carry more contours, making for a sleeker shape. The seat is still wide and roomy, making it comfortable for two. It gets a new LED tail lamp and an external fuel-filler cap, which can be opened from the central lock system. The rubber footrests have been replaced with new aluminium ones. The underseat storage space has been increased too and is now 24.4 litres — thus able to hold a small full-sized helmet.
In terms of features, the new Suzuki Access 125 gets a USB Type-A charging port and two new utility spaces, which can accommodate small bottles. A hazard switch has been added too, along with a parking brake clasp on the rear brake lever. What I liked is the inclusion of an engine-kill sensor on the side stand. The top-of-the-line Ride Connect variant gets an LED instrument cluster which looks pretty similar to the older unit but with a different layout. It gets Bluetooth connectivity and in turn can display alerts for calls, WhatsApp and SMS, turn-byturn navigation, speed alerts and even the phone battery level. Interestingly, the display also has an engine temperature gauge, which doesn’t seem to be of much use in the case of an air-cooled engine. Could Suzuki have planned a liquid-cooled scooter for the Indian market? Only time will tell…
The air-cooled, 124cc engine on the Access has been revised as well—the intake camshaft has a higher lift and the exhaust cam timing has been tweaked as well. It still misses out on a starter-generator present on some of the Suzuki Burgman models, but a new roller-type one-way starter clutch now replaces the older overrunning unit for a quieter ignition. Other changes include new fuel injectors, revised ECU maps and a redesigned exhaust with a different catalytic-converter setup. Despite these changes, power and torque figures remain unchanged at 8.6PS and 10.2Nm. However, the company claims an improvement in fuel efficiency. The engine retains the smoothness Suzuki engines are known for, though it feels weaker compared to the earlier models, likely due to stricter emission norms.
The new Access also gets a redesigned frame in order to accommodate the new exhaust muffler. Complementing the redesigned chassis is the inclusion of a 12-inch front tyre, while the rear still remains a 10-inch unit. At 1,260mm, the wheelbase of the Access is now shorter by 5mm but despite that, it remains a stable scooter and is fun to ride.
The Access has always been one of the more comfortable scooters around, but the 2025 model has much stiffer suspension, which results in a harsher ride quality, especially on the broken roads. You can feel the jerks from almost every bump and patch transitioning to your back. In terms of braking, the Access gets a disc upfront and a drum setup at the rear, which is paired to a combi brake system and offers a progressive feel.
The new Suzuki Access 125 impresses with its build quality, it handles well and is more efficient too. However, the stiff ride quality and lack of features like a starter-generator and a 12-inch rear wheel is a tad difficult to overlook. It is still one of the most favoured 125cc scooters though and the starting price of ₹82,900 ex-showroom makes it a tough proposition to beat.
