The Segway E3 Pro May Just Be the Best Entry-Level Electric Scooter for Commuters

8.3/ 10
SCORE

Segway E3 Pro

Benefits

• Well-designed electric scooter for urban commuters and students

• Quite affordable

• Double suspension

• Easy to fold and reasonably light

• Additional features typical of more premium scooters

Disadvantages

• Not enough power for heavier riders

• The bridge can be a bit short and narrow

• The kickstand is better on Segway Max scooters

Our resident electric scooter Expert Joe Kaminski typically tests high-end electric scooters that are more powerful, have high top speeds and can travel longer distances. He’s a bigger, braver guy than me – he complains about needing more power to get up hills and often rides in NYC traffic.

The more entry-level Segway E3 Pro costs $700 (although it currently sells for $700). $500 for Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday) probably isn’t for him, but he’s right in my wheelhouse. It’s a great option for commuters looking for an electric scooter that’s fairly lightweight (40.1 pounds or 18.2 kilograms), folds easily, offers decent overall performance, and has some features found in higher-end models that cost closer to $1,000. That’s why I gave it CNET’s Editors’ Choice.

Learn more: Best electric scooters for 2025

I have been riding Segway Ninebot electric scooters for a while. I’ve also purchased some truly entry-level models in the $300 range for my younger teens. These only had top speeds of 13-15 mph because I didn’t want my kids going too fast.

However, the E3 Pro is more powerful than those. Fitted with 10-inch tubeless tires, it has an 800-watt motor and a top speed of 20 mph, with a rated range of up to 34 miles, although this varies greatly depending on your weight, how fast you ride, how fast you accelerate, and the terrain. (That 34-mile range is based on an average speed of 9 mph in Eco mode.) In other words, expect less than that maximum figure, but I found it sufficient for my needs since I tend to only go about 10 to 15 miles during most of my jaunts to New York.

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Smooth ride and acceleration

I’m 5’11” and 166 pounds, so I had no problem climbing steeper hills. Although I was OK with using the standard throttle setting, I favored the Sport setting for faster driving. (Eco mode has slower acceleration and feels underpowered, but it helps preserve battery life.)

For some people, the scooter’s deck may be a bit short and narrow at 19 inches long to the fender and 6 inches wide, but that wasn’t a problem for me. I was generally impressed with the smooth ride and acceleration. (You’re not thrown forward when you press the throttle; it’s smooth acceleration, especially when riding at a lower throttle level.) The 40-inch height of the handlebars felt comfortable to me, as did their 22-inch width. I didn’t feel any clicking or movement in the stem while I was riding.

The E3 Pro features a dual suspension system (“dual elastomer”) and a trailing swingarm design with a large trailing distance of 67mm, meaning the E3 Pro’s wheel is placed slightly behind the stem axle. This gives you more stability and control than your typical entry-level scooter. (According to Segway, it’s also equipped with the company’s SegRide stability-enhancing system.) I felt more secure on the E3 Pro than on my 5-year-old Ninebot Max, which feels a bit dated in comparison, although it still works well.

The E3 Pro is equipped with a front drum brake and an electronic rear brake. There are better and more advanced braking systems (disc brakes for example) that will allow you to stop faster. It is nice to have a mechanical brake, however, in the unlikely event that the electronic brake fails. I managed to stop about 22 feet from a set speed of 15 mph. But if you weigh more, that distance will increase – or decrease if you’re lighter. I tend to avoid using the brakes and just let off the gas when I want to slow down.

Some useful extras and Bluetooth app support

The E3 Pro has a few extra bells and whistles, including a real bell, a 4-watt front light, a rear brake light, turn signals, and RGB underdeck lighting. There’s an Apple Find My feature and the Segway Mobility companion app for iOS and Android that I used to update the scooter’s firmware and battery firmware, as well as enable traction control, adjust the starting speed, customize the RGB lighting, and activate guard mode, which locks the scooter’s dashboard.

A fairly easy elevator

As I said, folding the scooter is relatively easy, although it helps to watch an instructional video before doing it for the first time. Simply use your foot to press the foldable switch with some force (you need to release the switch first) and pull the handlebars towards you.

At 40.1 pounds, it’s pretty light for an electric scooter. However, not everyone can lift 40 pounds easily, and it takes some strength to carry the E3 Pro. The problem is that larger caliber scooters tend to weigh even more, so there is a trade-off between performance and weight. I’d prefer it to weigh about 10 pounds less, but few electric scooters weigh less than 30 pounds – at least the ones worth buying.

If I have one small design gripe, it’s that the kickstand isn’t slightly longer – or placed further towards the front of the deck as is the case with previous Ninebot Max models – so the scooter doesn’t lean as much as when the kickstand is lowered. I still wanted the scooter to sit a few degrees higher.

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Is the Segway E3 Pro worth it?

The Segway does so many models of electric scootersit can be a little difficult to choose which one to buy, especially since it keeps the models for a while. Intensification Segway F3 The scooter has superior suspension and braking systems, as well as more power (a 1,000-watt motor) and a longer range (up to 44 miles), but it costs about $250 more.

There is also the 2 year old Max G2 at about $100 more than the E3 Pro, which offers a higher top speed (22 mph) and longer range (43 miles) and more power (1,000 watts). The Max range also offers additional lowering models. The Max G2 is slightly aimed at more intermediate or advanced riders with longer rides, while the E3 Pro is perhaps a bit friendlier to entry-level riders looking for a stable ride with smooth acceleration, as well as high-end features at a reasonable price. That said, it’s well suited to any casual cyclist with a short to medium commute, so it’s ideal for that last mile commute to and from a station.

For a little less money you can upgrade to something like the Swiss engineered model. VMAX VX5 Pro (around $450), but it doesn’t offer the same top speed as the Segway E3 Pro or the same range. And Segway still sells the E2 Pro for around $400, with similar top speed and battery life to the VMAX VX5 Pro. I think the E3 Pro is the better choice if you can afford it, because it makes you feel like you’re stepping into more premium territory without paying the hefty price tag.

Segway E3 Pro Key Specs

• Weight: 40.1 pounds (18.2 kg)
• Maximum power: 800W
• Maximum range: up to 34 miles on a single charge (in Eco mode, average 9 mph)
• Maximum speed: 20 mph
• 10-inch tubeless tires
• Maximum ascent gradient of 18%
• Dual suspension system (double elastomer)
• Brakes: front drum brakes and rear electronic brakes
• Improved stability and traction control of the SegRide
• Safety features: 4-watt LED headlight, turn signals and rear brake light
• Bluetooth connectivity with Segway Mobility app support for iOS and Android
• Works with Apple Find My