Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost Review

Summary

For what it’s worth, the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost is a powerful e-scooter from within its price point, with nuances only starting to come out once you compare it with more expensive entry-level e-scooters. 

Currently tagged at £238 (around $330), it’s quite hard to complain about what this e-scooter offers compared to what it lacks, knowing that you opted for an electric scooter that’s only meant for fast commutes and not long-distance outrides.

It offers several specs you’d only get from e-scooters bordering the mid-tier which are more or less  £150-£300 more expensive. 

The thing about the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost is that it’s quite hard to compare with competitors, as it admittedly dangles a bit on the low-end of entry-level scooters.

It’s a cheap counterpart that one could easily afford whenever they’re trying to get into riding electric scooters.

Meanwhile, it also serves as a good alternative for people looking for an easy pick-me-up on their daily commutes — looking to do nothing serious with the e-scooter but only having it as a cheaper and more sustainable commute substitute. 

 Performance Overview

The Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost offers a 300W motor paired with a 37V Li-ion battery that manages to power the e-scooter for speeds of up to 18 mph and a range of 11 mi in a single charge.

It takes only 3.5 hours to recharge the battery after a commute, which is actually quite fast in comparison to other scooters within this tier.  It’s a great balance of performance, price, and power — which is something hard to get from electric scooters today.

With 300W worth of torque that’s backed by a 37V battery, you already know you’ve got a great ride on your hands.

Amazing features are abundant on this e-scooter, from the 8” airless puncture-proof honeycomb tires, the AutoGuard-equipped rear braking system, the aluminium frame with IPX4 water resistance rating, to the inclusion of great accessories such as the bottle holder and the strong LED lights.

All of this gets jam-packed in this 26.5 lb electric scooter, which is definitely something you won’t see on a day-to-day basis — and neither would you be able to get these specs for this price anywhere else. 

Its battery is not as powerful as patrons would’ve wanted, and the tyres do tend to skid in wet weather a bit. Its mobile app is also not as intuitive and is quite easily forgettable.

Top Speed & Acceleration

The Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost has three ride modes or gears — each with its own top speed. First off is the slowest one which is the first gear, and it tops at 5mph.

This speed is perfect for when you’re trying to carefully cruise around the city or moving through a road with a lot of pedestrians. Up next is the second gear, offering a standard maximum speed of 10 mph.

This is perfect for roads with heavy traffic or generally busy terrains. Lastly, we have the fastest mode which is the e-scooter’s third gear, maxing out the motor’s torque at 18 mph.

Keep in mind, however, that the road conditions, rider and gear weight, as well as weather conditions usually affect the numbers. Thus, the results would definitely vary for everyone.

The acceleration on the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost is actually not that bad, as the 300W motor manages to power through most obstacles and roads with ease.

It still quite suffers a bit from taking a while before actually dragging the speed up, but at least you’re not going to be surprised with a quick and sudden change in momentum.

All of the three speed modes on this e-scooter accelerate to the top speed in only a matter of seconds, so there’s nothing really to complain about the e-scooter’s torque. 

Controls & Display

The LED display on this electric scooter is actually not the biggest.

Yet, it manages to deliver all the information needed for a quick ride as straightforward as possible. Frugal as it may be on the details, you’d be easily able to check the scooter’s remaining battery life, your current speed, and Bluetooth Pairing status.

You’d actually not be able to see the cockpit at first glance if the scooter is turned off, as it’s just around the size of the scooter’s neck.

To zoom in on what the app does, it’s basically a more detailed extension of the dashboard.

It offers a real-time speedometer, map routing, cruise control, and light control. It’s not really that useful, especially that your rides on this scooter are quick. But, it’s nice that they managed to develop quite an app for this specific model.

Battery Life & Range 

The 37W Li-ion battery of the Swagger 5 Boost proves to be its weakest link, only managing to pull through 11 mi per single charge worth of mileage.

The upside here is that it only takes 3.5 hours for it to fully charge, making it quite an apt electric scooter for short commutes or quick errands that would have you charging by the end of the day — and plugging it out before going to sleep since it’s already fully charged.

It can also power through for most of the morning, with a quick period of charging yet again probably after lunch.

This would have the scooter be fully charged again by the time you need to leave, draining it as you commute on your way home. From there the cycle would ensue.

Motor Configuration

This e-scooter’s motor is quite peculiar, as it offers 300W worth of torque and speeds of up to 18 mph.

There’s no indicated climbing range on the scooter though, but we would assume that it can power through most inclines with ease. 

Construction & Build Quality

The surprising thing about the Swagger 5 Boost is its aluminium frame that manages to carry a maximum rider weight of 320 lbs.

It’s also IPX4 water-resistant but weighs only a shy 26.5 lbs. Light as it may be, you should never underestimate this electric scooter just by the way it looks, as it performs far better than what your eyes may perceive. 

For what it’s worth, this durable and sturdy electric scooter defies what anyone may think of it as it efficiently manages to power through tricky roads and tough terrains. It’s a good balance of aesthetic and strength, not to mention the fact that it also has several great features and functions. 

When it arrives at your doorstep in a box, all you need to do is take it out, prop up the neck for it to lock into place, charge the battery as necessary, and you’re good to go.

The Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost is loved by many, because it’s just so easy to get up and running. On top of that, every feature it has is presented with a touch of engineering ingenuity. 

The durability and overall sturdiness of the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost are hard to question, especially that it manages to pull through with weights of up to 320 lbs.

The aluminium used on the frame manages to exceed expectations. Meanwhile, its IPX4 water resistance surely helps in creating a hassle-free and low-maintenance electric scooter that’s super inexpensive for the specs it has. 

Suspension

There’s no suspension on the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost, but its puncture-proof honeycomb tyres offer ample give whenever roads get bumpy or a bit unruly.

It may not seem like much just by looking at it. But, the internal structure of its tyres make sure to support your weight, and the scooter’s combined along with not letting you feel any discomfort as you power over bumpy roads. 

Ride Quality

The Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost offers no problems at all when it comes to delivering a comfortable ride. Its aluminium frame and IPX4 water-rated components make sure to ease maintenance trouble that may plague you in the long run.

Meanwhile, its puncture-proof honeycomb tyres managed to pave the way into a smooth ride that would be the envy of both solid and pneumatic tyres. 

Braking

This electric scooter offers your typical run-of-the-mill, entry-level braking system, with a mechanical disc brake that can be trigger by both a lever or a foot brake.

What sets the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost apart, is its “AutoGuard” feature, which simply put is a mechanism that safely disengages its motor power as you press on the brake. This means that there’s greater stopping power involved and battery power is reserved for throttle use instead.

Portability

Weighing only 26.5 lbs, the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost is easy to carry around and comfortable to take up several flights of stairs. It’s also not that big enough for it to be able to fit the boot of cars and even very narrow storage spaces.

Swagtron has managed to create a line of e-scooters that balance being lightweight and portable while also being quite powerful. If anything, this e-scooter is living proof of that.

Water Resistance

The Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost comes with IPX4 water resistance that allows for it to tolerate small amounts of water. It’s actually not that bad of a rating, especially that most e-scooters under this tier usually don’t have water resistance from the get-go.

Lights

The lights included on the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost consist of only the LED headlight and LED brake light. It’s a simple set-up, but the thing is that these LED lights are more powerful than the stock lights that are usually on entry-level scooters. This makes for easier electric scooter movement around the night. But, the addition of reflectors would have made it a lot better.

Tyres

The Swagtron line of scooters boasts puncture-proof airless honeycomb tyres, and the Swagger 5 Boost actually has a pair of these — both 8.5” in diameter.

They’re totally maintenance-free, and they actually do a great job in being a suspension substitute for this inexpensive e-scooter. They also manage to grip on the road and hold your weight pretty well, making it quite an amazing engineering feat to have it added to this e-scooter. 

Deck

The IPX4 water resistance rated deck on this electric scooter offers ample space for anyone to stand on.

The grip is also excellent, making sure you don’t fall off when you go to speeds as fast as 18 mph. On top of that, it holds weight very well, knowing that this scooter manages to hold a weight of up to 320 lbs. 

Reliability, Warranty & Customer Support

Swagtron is well-known for pushing out models of scooters that are quite a paradox, as they offer a great number of functionalities and features while also slashing way below the price of their competitors.

Nonetheless, the wear and tear on this one don’t necessarily reflect ASAP, and the 90-day warranty makes sure to not leave you disappointed.

If you ever get into trouble with this scooter, their customer support is actually super helpful. Their agents are free to be contacted on weekdays, making sure to heed your call and answer all your problems as necessary. 

Maintenance

There’s not much maintenance needed on the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost since the tyres are mostly taken care of.

What you may want to look out for in the future is the battery’s lifespan, since its charge cycles depleting make it a little less reliable as time passes by.

Also, you may want to always keep it clean from time to time, as dust and grime build up,may result in several unwanted problems down the line. 

Known Issues

Most of the issues that plague the Swagger 5 Boost are the following:

• very weak battery
• the intolerance towards most inclines
• the underdeveloped app
• The cheap-looking (and feeling) frame. 

It’s actually quite hard to try and have this be fixed, especially that this scooter is priced at quite a bargain. Still, it’s not all that bothersome, as you’d still be able to enjoy your time on this electric scooter despite these little caveats. 

Accessories

The only accessories that come with the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost are its lights and a bottle holder. But, you may opt to have the overall scooter upgraded as well. Some additional accessories include:

• improved tires
• a seat for when you get tired
• an extra battery
• a phone mount or a carrying strap.

It’s not particularly necessary or needed whenever you want to ride this e-scooter, but it sure could help improve the overall experience. 

Is this Electric Scooter value for money and is it worth buying?

You definitely get what you pay for with the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost, and the price point makes it harder to complain about a better e-scooter.

If you feel like this is too simple for you, then you should be more than ready to shell out more cash for a higher-tiered electric scooter.

Otherwise, the Swagtron Swagger 5 Boost can manage to pull through and get the job done.

Nonetheless, it’s a tour de force of an entry-level electric scooter that’s well packaged for such a low price, making it the perfect gateway for people to get into the whole e-scooter hobby.