GoTrax GXL V2 vs. Unagi Model One Voyager

This is the ultimate comparison between two of the best budget electric scooters on the market: the Unagi Model One Voyager and the GoTrax GXL V2.

In this article, we pit these two contenders head-to-head, diving deep into their performance metrics (range, speed, acceleration, etc.), ride quality, portability, and features to determine what each electric scooter excels at and who they are best suited for.

Unagi Voyager Vs. GoTrax GXL V2 Comparison

Cost

• Unagi Model One Voyager: $79/month
• GoTrax GXL V2: $350

Both electric scooters offer affordable options, catering to different ownership and usage models. The choice between them ultimately depends on your usage patterns, financial position, and long-term plans for electric scooter use.

Unagi brings one of the cheapest electric scooter monthly subscription fees to the table, at $79. You can sometimes snag an even better deal when you subscribe for a longer period, when using the student's discount, or during promotions on like Independence Day sales.

Unagi's all-in monthly payment covers the cost of the electric scooter, loss and theft insurance, and any maintenance issues. If your scooter gets stolen or needs repairs, Unagi will send you a replacement, minimizing downtime. This is a killer plan for commuters who don’t need an electric scooter all the time but want a top-tier ride without dropping a hefty sum upfront.

On the flip side, the GoTrax GXL V2 e-scooter is a steal if you're looking to buy outright. Typically priced around $350 on big retail sites like Amazon and Target, this already wallet-friendly price can drop to about $300 during promotional sales. This option is ideal for riders who prefer to own their electric scooter and anticipate using it frequently over an extended period of time. It's one of the most budget-friendly electric scooters you can get from a reputable manufacturer.

Performance

Right off the bat, the Unagi Voyager lightweight electric scooter flexes its muscles with better performance stats than the GoTrax GXL V2. Why? Because the Unagi Voyager packs a bigger battery and features dual motors—250W on each wheel, peaking at a combined 1000W with 32 Nm of torque.

It's going to feel a lot punchier compared to the 250W front-wheel single motor of the GoTrax GXL V2 portable electric scooter. So, how do they stack up in different categories?

Speed and Acceleration

The Unagi Model One Voyager can reach a top speed of 20 mph, outpacing the GoTrax GXL V2's 16 mph maximum. However, performance varies with the rider's weight; lighter riders can expect quicker acceleration and potentially higher top speeds. Regardless, both speeds are sufficient for most city riding.

Dual motors typically mean faster acceleration, so the Unagi has an edge here too. It hits 15 mph in just 4.4 seconds, while the GoTrax GXL V2 electric scooter takes a leisurely 6.5 seconds to reach the same speed.

Both electric scooters come with different speed modes: the Unagi offers three modes (9 mph, 12 mph, and Maximum), while the GoTrax GXL V2 has two (10 mph and 15.5 mph). This allows you to customize your speed to what you're comfortable with or according to the speed limits set by your jurisdiction.

Range and Battery

The UNAGI Voyager packs a UL-certified 360 Wh battery, promising up to 25 miles on a single charge. That number can vary based on the rider's weight, terrain, and riding style. If you're closer to the 220 lbs max weight limit, expect more like 12 miles.

Unagi scooters, however, provide a way around this uncertainty. You can use the Smart app to tweak settings for a more accurate range estimate based on your weight. And once the battery life is depleted, it takes only 3 hours to get back to full juice, which is relatively fast.

The GoTrax scooter, meanwhile, is running a UL-certified 187 Wh battery. On paper, it claims 12.5 miles, but in real-world conditions, think more along the lines of 6-9 miles. Luckily, it fully recharges in just 3-4 hours, so you won’t be waiting around too long.

Hill Climbing

The Unagi Model One Voyager electric scooter once again demonstrates its performance superiority; thanks to its powerful motors and extra torque, it zooms up a 200ft 10% grade hill in just 14.1 seconds, maintaining a solid 10 mph.

The GoTrax GXL V2, on the other hand, does okay on hills, but not without a bit of a fight. It's got enough power for slight inclines, but steeper hills will slow it down, especially if you're close to the 220 lbs weight limit. It manages the same 200ft 10% hill in 20.9 seconds, dropping the speed to around 7 mph.

Braking

The GoTrax GXL V2 sports a dual braking system featuring a rear disc brake and a front regenerative electric brake. This combo gives you reliable stopping power, ensuring you can come to a halt when you need to

The UNAGI electric scooter has a dual electronic anti-lock brake setup and a stomp brake for added stopping muscle. While the electronic brake alone is often enough, the stomp brake is there for those "just in case" moments. The electronic brakes are managed via an electronic thumb throttle brake, the more you press, the stronger the brake—simple and precise. These electronic brakes give you a buttery smooth braking experience, even at higher speeds, but keep in mind, that they do have a slightly longer braking distance compared to disc brakes.

This is evident in the braking distance test, where the GoTrax GXL V2 outperforms the Unagi Model One Voyager. From a speed of 15 mph, the GoTrax GXL V2 comes to a complete stop in 15.8 feet, compared to the Unagi's 17.3 feet (using only the electronic brakes).

Build Quality

When it comes to build quality, both electric scooters knock it out of the park. The Unagi Voyager is like the luxury yacht of electric scooters—a blend of luxury and robustness. The GoTrax GXL V2, on the other hand, is the workhorse—focusing on practicality and resilience.

Materials and Durability

The Unagi Voyager, often dubbed the "Tesla of electric scooters," lives up to the hype with the same high-end carbon fiber found in SpaceX crafts for its stem construction. Add a magnesium alloy handlebar and a single-piece machined aluminum deck, and you’ve got a lightweight electric scooter that weighs as a feather yet is sturdy enough to support up to a max rider weight of 220 lbs.

The GoTrax GXL V2 is built from durable aerospace-grade aluminum alloy. This electric scooter is solid, holding up well to regular use with minimal creaking or looseness over time. It’s a workhorse that, like the Unagi, can support a max rider weight of up to 220 lbs.

Aesthetics

The Unagi Voyager is the head-turner of the two, hands down. It comes in a range of colors: deep cobalt, matte black, cool mist, and latte, and screams elegance with its clean lines, smooth curves, and minimalist vibe. No messy wires; everything’s tucked away neatly. The digital display on the handlebar looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, and the premium materials make it feel like a lifestyle accessory.

The GoTrax GXL V2 lightweight scooter, on the other hand, goes for a more traditional electric scooter design. It's available in black with subtle red accents or pink with red accents, though the black version is more common. It’s got a simple, minimalistic design that focuses on performance and reliability over flash. The setup is straightforward, with basic controls and a small display, perfectly fitting its utilitarian approach.

Tires

The GoTrax GXL V2 rolls on 8.5-inch pneumatic tires, giving you that sweet, smooth ride and solid traction you expect from this type of tire. The downside is that they can get flats, so a bit of TLC is needed to keep them in top shape.

The Unagi Voyager lightweight electric scooter, on the other hand, opted for 7.5-inch solid tires. These are designed to be maintenance-free, which is awesome, but there's a bit of a trade-off in ride comfort. Unagi mitigated this by adding air pockets in the solid tires to improve shock absorption.

Suspension

Neither electric scooter has suspension, so it’s all about the tires here.

Deck Space

The Unagi Voyager lightweight electric scooter sports a 19.2-inch by 5.04-inch deck covered in rubber grip, while the GOTRAX GXL V2 rocks an 18.6 x 6-inch rubber-covered deck. Not much difference in size here. Both decks can comfortably fit the feet of most average adult riders.

Note, however, that both decks are long and narrow, meaning you’ll be riding with one foot behind the other, not side by side.

Both decks also feature grippy rubber material with ridges, giving you secure footing and better traction, even when things get wet.

Ride Quality

For ride quality, neither of these electric scooters comes with suspension, so it all boils down to the tires. The GoTrax GXL V2, with its slightly larger pneumatic tires, offers a bit more cushioning, giving you a smoother ride. But on smooth pavement, you won't notice much difference between it and the Unagi Voyager. However, a cool feature that the GoTrax GXL V2 has is cruise control, which maintains a constant speed after 10 seconds of steady riding, perfect for those longer commutes.

When it comes to handling, the Unagi Voyager has a lower clearance at 3.3 inches, which lowers its center of gravity. This makes it feel more stable and gives it a better handling feel in the corners. Pair that with a steady stem, soft rubbery handlebar ends, smooth acceleration from the responsive thumb throttle, and silky-smooth deceleration from the electronic thumb brake, and you've got a stellar overall ride experience.

For ride ergonomics, both electric scooters are pretty similar. They have comparable dimensions, so you'll get a similar feel on each. The handlebar height is around 37.2 inches for both models, which is perfect for riders between 5' and 6'2". This allows for a comfortable fit with minimal hunching. The deck space and setup are nearly identical, so you can expect a similar stance and riding posture on both scooters.

Portability and Weight

Both the Voyager and the GoTrax GXL V2 are highly portable, lightweight electric scooters. The GXL V2 takes the lead by a hair, tipping the scales at 27 lbs., while the Voyager isn’t far behind at 29.6 lbs. Their folded dimensions are pretty close too, with the Unagi collapsing down to 37.8 x 16.5 x 15 inches and the GoTrax GXL V2 folding to 39.0 x 17.0 x 14.0 inches.

Both these lightweight scooters have quick-release folding mechanisms that make them super easy to pack up and carry, but the UNAGI Voyager's is more straightforward. It uses a one-click folding system activated by pushing down on a single button, locking into place without the need for additional hooks or loops.

Water Resistance

Caught in a sudden shower? Both e-scooters can handle it. The Voyager is rated IPX4 for water resistance, while the GOTRAX GXL V2 boasts an IP54 rating, adding dust protection. Both also have excellent fender coverage to keep your feet dry.

App and Controls

The GOTRAX GXL V2 doesn't bother with a fancy app, but its simple LED display gets the job done, showing you speed, battery life, and riding mode. Controls are straightforward—one button for power on/off, switching modes, and activating the headlight. You've got a single brake lever and bell on the left and a thumb throttle on the right.

The Unagi Model One offers a more advanced setup with a futuristic T-shaped display and a companion app. The UNAGI Smart app, available for both iOS and Android, connects via Bluetooth, giving you all the data you need—odometer, trip details, battery level, and range estimates based on rider weight. You can also toggle between single and dual motor modes, control the headlights, update firmware, and manage the electric scooter’s subscription.

The handlebar layout is clean and uncluttered, with just a few controls: the left regen pedal and a small bell button on the left, and the thumb throttle and a small settings toggle button on the right.

Lights

The Unagi Voyager is all set for night rides with built-in front and rear LED lights that double as brake lights. Plus, it's got well-placed reflectors to boost visibility and safety.

The GOTRAX GXL V2, on the other hand, comes with a headlight but skips the rear lights, relying on reflectors instead. This could be a bit of a safety concern, so you're better off installing an aftermarket rear light to keep things bright and safe on those night-time adventures.

Verdict: Which is better, the Voyager or the GoTrax GXL V2?

Both the Unagi Voyager and the GOTRAX GXL V2 offer great affordable options, but it depends on what you’re looking for.

If you’re still on the fence about electric scooters and just want to dip your toes in the water, the Unagi Voyager is a solid choice. You can rent it out for a month to see if it's your thing without shelling out big bucks upfront. It’s perfect for those who want to test the waters or just need an e-scooter for a short period.

On the other hand, if you’re on a budget and looking to buy an e-scooter for under $400, the GOTRAX GXL V2 is a fantastic option. It’s perfect for beginners or anyone needing a reliable and affordable ride for short commutes. The GOTRAX GXL V2 scores high with its easy assembly, user-friendly controls, great build quality, decent top speed and braking, and those comfy air tires. Plus, it’s from a known brand. However, its range is a bit limited, and the battery gauge can be finicky over time. If your daily ride is under 6 miles, this e-scooter could be a great fit. For longer distances, you might need to look elsewhere.

Now, if you’re looking for more range, better hill climbing, faster acceleration, and higher motor power, then the Unagi Voyager lightweight electric scooter is worth a look. Plus, if you’re all about style, the Unagi wins with its sleek design and premium build. It’s also better equipped for night riding with all the necessary lighting features.

Ultimately, it boils down to your preferences and budget. But at $79 a month, the Voyager offers a compelling package. Check out the other benefits you get with your Unagi Membership and see if it’s the right fit for you.