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The Best Electric Scooters in 2022
When it’s too far to walk but too short to drive, then maybe one of the best electric scooters is the answer. Electric scooters have exploded in popularity because they’re easy to use and zip you around quickly. And, because they’re more compact than bikes, they’re easier to store in apartments and smaller spaces.
Choosing the best electric scooter for your needs comes down to price and purpose: What are you willing to spend, and what are you using it for? We’ve tested scooters ranging from less than $200 to more than $1500 to find the best electric scooter for everyone. Regardless of the electric scooter you choose, we suggest plenty of practice before you hit the road. And wear a helmet.
Gotrax GXL V2 Electric Scooter
Swagtron SG-5 Swagger 5 Boost Commuter Electric Scooter
Gotrax XR Ultra Electric Scooter
Razor Power Core E100 Electric Scooter
What are the best electric scooters?
After taking a number of models for a spin, we think the best electric scooter overall is the Unagi Model One (E500). This scooter has motors in each of its wheels, which allows it to cruise up hills better than the other models we tested. The Unagi has a large, bright display, easy to use controls, a built-in horn, and bright head- and taillights. It also has a sleek design that’s sure to turn heads, and you can even get a custom skin as an add-on. However, the Unagi Model one is a pricey $990, though you can also find it for less, and Unagi lets you rent it for as low as $39 per month.
The best electric scooter for those on a budget is the GoTrax GLX V2. This scooter has fairly modest specs — a 250W motor and a range of just 12 miles — but it costs just $348.00, and will be more than enough for most people who only need to travel short distances.
If you need a scooter that can go the distance, we recommend the Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max. While It weighs more than 40 pounds — heavier than most models — it has a battery that will last up to 40 miles on a charge, which is double that of many other scooters. And, it’s powerful enough to get you up pretty steep hills.
How we test electric scooters
There are dozens of varieties of electric scooters on the market, but only a few are worth bringing home to ride.
For entry-level and commuter scooters, we primarily considered things like portability — how easy it is to fold up to bring on the bus or other types of public transportation, or how light it is to cart up a long stretch of stairs — along with range and top speed.
Commuter scooters don’t need to be the fastest things around, but it helps if they can manage at least 15 mph for a sustained time so that you’re not holding up anyone in the bike lane. We also looked at braking mechanisms, including hydraulic disc brakes, which are the best for stopping quickly and safely at top speeds, and mechanical disc brakes, which are considered the second best for their reliability. Extra features like headlights, reflectors and available speedometer also factored into our commuter picks.
For the performance-based, higher-end rides, we considered range, speed and braking mechanisms, but we also looked at suspension. If you’re paying upward of $1,000 for an electric scooter, it should be comfortable to ride and able to scale curbs, hills and bumpy roads. We also verified our picks by cross-referencing reviews between Amazon, manufacturer’s sites, and in some cases, Walmart.
For our picks for kids, electric scooters in this category don’t offer the same bells and whistles as commuter models. For instance, many of the child and preteen picks don’t fold up for portability, so we considered overall weight and size for kids with longer rides to school. We also stuck with scooters that topped out at 15 mph for utmost safety. And like our commuter and high-performance picks, we pored over reviews from parents where accessible.
