Navee presents its new scooter at 699 euros (well, 799 euros, but there's a 100 euro discount at launch). And the first thing that caught our attention was the style, similar to a certain Xiaomi Scooter 4 Ultra. A model that hasn't seen any offspring this year from the smartphone manufacturer. Could Navee have reserved this model for itself? Possible, given that it now produces Xiaomi scooters, including the famous Scooter 4 Ultra.
Besides this anecdotal point, Navee wasn't yet up to par with the competition: average finish, questionable durability, power that collapses when climbing, and, for the S60 that's the target here, non-existent cushioning. All these points offered a colossal margin for improvement. Especially since, at the same time, Ninebot released the ZT3 Pro at the same price and, for 200 euros more, a Max G3 that directly competes. There's also Kukirin and his G3 that we'll try to test. So is this ST3 good or not? Almost.
Technical specifications
Motor placed in the rear wheel
Nominal power of 600 W for 1350 W peak
Turn signals housed at the ends of the handles
Battery with a capacity of 596.7 Wh at 48V
Charging time of 10 hours
Certification IPX5
Drum brake at the front and mechanical disc brake at the rear
Stated weight 25.3 kg
Measured weight: 25.6 kg
Colored LED lights on the sides of the deck
Adjustable brake at the front
Apple Find My compatibility natively
Deck height: 21 cm
Deck length with footrest: 60 cm
Dimensions of the scooter folded: 120 cm x 60 cm x 59.6 cm
Dimensions of the scooter unfolded: 120 cm x 60 cm x 1.30 cm
Suspension fork at the front and rear with elastomer shock absorbers
Design: faux carbon and real shiny plastic
Let's start with a fun aspect: on its website, Navee highlights the torsion resistance of the The ST3 Pro's steel frame. Steel is heavy. So, to visually lighten the scooter, the manufacturer has given it a carbon-effect wrap, which suggests that it "must be light." It's clever.
That said, this effect is discreet and adds a touch of sportiness that goes well with the front and rear suspensions adorned in a very pale rose gold. The two-piece rear fender taken from the S60 is attractive and has been redesigned to be more durable? Like almost all the elements of the model.
Indeed, everything is new. The handlebar is more aesthetic. The headlight is removable and still lacks power in unlit areas.
The folding system has been revised so that the stem is perfectly aligned with the deck (and no longer offset as was the case before). In addition to this point, the grip folds to disappear into the column. And it's a good thing, because once the hook is... hooked, the gallows won't fall. But you'll have to support almost 25 kg at arm's length. Fortunately, the balance is good by placing your hand just under the hook.
The new feature that's been acclaimed is the presence of colored LEDs on the side of the deck. Different animations are available, and the running water offers something very relaxing. Four colors are available: red, green, blue, or purple. Besides the fun factor, these LEDs add welcome visibility at night.
Finally, the hook has been redesigned and now supports 5kg, enough to comfortably do the evening's shopping and even more.
Driving: comfort above all
In the 90s, the saying went: "Plastic is fantastic." 35 years later, it can be replaced by "elastomer does the job well." This elastic and resistant material replaces springs (heavier and more expensive) to protect your joints. A choice Ninebot also made for its F3 range presented last week. On the plus side: it's as tender as a fresh roast beef. Shocks are absorbed, and jumping two steps didn't cause any breakage. Better still, on small cobblestone roads, the tubeless tires do part of the work, and the suspension does the other. This is what we expected from the S60 without having it. Navee has corrected this, and that's a very good thing.
On the other hand, since a ride that was a bit wet with fresh, damp rain, it's been whining to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody.
The engine is powerful. The promised 600W are there. But it's especially on the crest that the ST3 Pro does the job. 22 km/h were maintained on the test route, knowing that the Navee N65i, in the same conditions, didn't exceed 12 km/h. But the arrival of the nice weather changed the situation. Under intense stress on a steep climb, the ST3 Pro finally capitulated, stagnating at 14 km/h. However, be careful, it was a steep and long climb. But this is proof that Navee is still struggling to manage heat dissipation. Something to consider if your journey takes place in hilly areas.
Braking is handled by a drum at the front and a mechanical disc at the rear. Our reception involved adjusting the latter, by the way. Nothing serious. Once everything is adjusted, it works. The levers are a little firm and require vigorous pressure to slow the machine down. The stem's tilt, shock absorber, and drum's progressiveness limit the risk of sun exposure. The 10-inch tubeless tires, while capable of navigating sidewalks and small potholes, still have a limit.
Braking also relies on the motor and magnetic energy recovery. Three intensities are available, and the "strong" mode lives up to its name. Don't get your hopes up, though: the energy recovered remains insignificant compared to consumption. But in terms of safety, it allows for shorter braking.
Moreover, launched at 25 km/h with 100 kg on the deck, on dry ground, the Navee ST3 Pro stops in 3.3 meters.
The rear wheel can lock if there is too much pressure on the right handle. But you have to insist heavily.
The position is comfortable and the height is suitable for people measuring at least 1.65m. Below that, you will be uncomfortable. Indeed, the handlebars sit 1.07m from the deck. The wide handlebars offer good comfort when cornering. Despite its almost 26kg, the ST3 Pro is agile and that's a nice surprise.
The turn signals, as usual, are invisible during the day and visible at night. But they are there.
Navee has integrated traction control. Useful? No. The problem isn't the power delivery, but the lack of progressiveness of the throttle trigger. There's a jerky effect generating a pendulum effect. A problem that can be fixed thanks to an experimental function called "S-Gear throttle adjustment" (in other words, throttle trigger sensitivity). It offers Eco mode and Turbo mode. Eco mode is more pleasant and progressive.
Moreover, the ST3 Pro only offers 3 travel modes: walking (to help you push the scooter uphill for example), D (as in Drive) whose gentler acceleration gently propels you to 20 km/h and Sport which hits 25 km/h.
Turning, on the other hand, is very comfortable. The scooter takes curves well and the tires grip the asphalt. All in quality suspended comfort.
Autonomy and recharging: it's endless
Navee hasn't improved its recharging speed. The advertised 10 hours are no joke, and the worst part is that the charging curve is flat: 10% per hour, from 0% to 100%. An eternity. A fast charger wouldn't hurt.
The positive point is the battery life. With a temperature around 5 degrees, a 100 kg rider on the machine, the ST3 Pro covered 26 km with our famous test elevation.
The other outings allowed us to push, on flat ground, to 28 km. An honorable score. The charging port cover is still a piece of rubber with questionable resistance. The changes are rather sparse here.
A minimalist and minimal application
Navee's application has always been problematic. The good news is that the connection bug has been fixed and it has been improved. It is now possible to update your vehicle, configure it to activate Apple's Find My, choose the intensity of regenerative braking, activate traction control, the sensitivity of the throttle trigger, and lock the scooter via Bluetooth. Everything is readable.
A trip tracking table is also available. Briefly, it provides information on travel time, distance, and average speed. But it doesn't provide information on the date of each trip.
On the other hand, the virtual counter has disappeared. On the other hand, no one was using it. I just regret not being able to display the time and battery percentage (or better, the remaining mileage) on the screen.
Price and availability
The Navee ST3 Pro is sold for 699 euros, or 100 euros more than the ST3, which is the same, but less powerful (100 W less nominal all the same) and has a battery the lower capacity of 100 Wh. In short, the ST3 is clearly a product to make you sign up for the Pro. And the gain of 500 g is anecdotal. Note however that the official price is 799 euros, a price that no longer makes it at all competitive with the Ninebot Max G3.
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