Mobility Scooter Showdown: Whill Model A vs. Golden Tech Buzzaround EX vs. Pride Mobility Victory 10 LX

From the July 2017 issue

Mobility scooters are ubiquitous. At hot-rod shows, they fly in squadron formation with each pilot trailing a gray ponytail. Take your dog out for a constitutional and one will whiz by, forcing Fido off the sidewalk and into the gutter. Occasionally someone will get drunk, steal one, and drive it into a canal. Trader Joe’s should add banking to the sweeper through the produce department; Walgreens and CVS sell them on their websites; and the scoots are now a go-to reference for jokes about growing old, alongside walk-in bathtubs and reverse mortgages. The future may soon bring autonomous flying cars with onboard Chipotle service. But the present belongs to crossover SUVs and mobility scooters. So, here’s this comparison test. There’s a crossover instrumented test here.

You may think that mobility scooters are a fad with the half-life of selfie sticks, but demographics argue otherwise. There are about 75 million baby boomers in the United States, and the youngest of them turn 53 this year. The oldest are 71. They’re aging into that part of life when bodies become fragile and, while modern medicine means they’ll live long lives, many will need help getting around. Right behind are 66 million Gen-Xers, followed by millennials, whose numbers now match the boomers. You may not be in the market now, but we are all potential scooter owners.

The Whill's front wheels have rubber rollers around the circumference, allowing them to move laterally when the power chair needs to spin around.

The Model A’s best features include how easily it handles off-path terrain; it can even climb low curbs. And the lack of apparatus in front of the rider also means the chair practically disappears from his or her view. It’s easier to interact with people when there isn’t a tiller acting as a barrier.

What holds the Whill back are its limited 220-pound capacity, the lack of onboard storage, a big-ticket price, and the fact that its design means that a van is almost mandatory to move it long distances. And who knows how well this tech-intensive machine will hold up over time?

Even so, we have seen the future, and it looks like a giant pair of Beats headphones for your ass.

Golden Tech Buzzaround EXPride Mobility Victory 10 LXWhill Model AVehiclePrice$2199$2765$12,999DimensionsLength45.0 in47.0 in39.5 inWidth22.0 in22.2 in23.7 inHeight35.0 in39.0 in36.0 inWheelbase34.7 in35.0 in20.3 inCapabilityCapacity330 lb400 lb220 lbTurning Radius42.0 in65.0 in28.0 inGround Clearance2.2 in2.2 in3.5 inMax Incline6.0 deg6.0 deg10.0 degPowertrainMotor Typepermanent-magnet DC, 0.4 hppermanent-magnet DC, 0.5 hp2 permanent-magnet AC, combined output 2.4 hpBatteryair-cooled lead-acid, 0.8 kWhair-cooled lead-acid, 1.0 kWhair-cooled lead-acid, 1.2 kWhLb per HP377.5458.0102.9DrivelineTransmission1-speed direct drive1-speed direct drive1-speed direct driveDriven WheelsrearrearallChassisTiresUnbranded
9.1 x 3.0-6Primo
F: 10.4 x 3.6-6.5
R: 10.8 x 3.6-6.5F: Omni wheel 9.8 x 2.3-5.5
R: Cheng shin 12.5 x 2.3-8.0C/D Test ResultsAcceleration0–5 MPH3.8 sec3.4 sec1.5 sec¼-Mile @ MPH170.8 sec @ 5.4171.2 sec @ 5.5160.9 sec @ 5.8Top Speed5.4 mph (gov ltd)5.5 mph (gov ltd)5.8 mph (gov ltd)ChassisBraking 5–0 MPH7 ft4 ft4 ftWeightCurb151 lb229 lb247 lb%Front/%Rear30.5/69.530.6/69.438.5/61.5FuelC/D Observed22 mi25 mi15 mi

Final ResultsMax Pts. AvailableWhill Model APride Mobility Victory 10 LXGolden Tech Buzzaround EXRank123VehicleDriver Comfort10897Ergonomics10987Weight Capacity*106108Cargo Space*5054Features/Amenities*108107Fit and Finish10976Portability10578Styling5543Rebates/Extras*5011As-tested Price*2051720Subtotal95557871Powertrain0–5 Acceleration*2020119Motor Braking*1010107Speed Control10887Subtotal40382923ChassisOff-Road Ability101065Steering Effort10878Maneuverability10957Ride10997Subtotal40362727ExperienceFun to Drive25241716Grand Total200153151137

* These objective scores are calculated from the scooters's dimensions, capacities, rebates and extras, and/or test results.