Review: Unagi Model One Voyager

I've had a lot of fun testing Unagi's new electric scooter, the Model One Voyager, a follow-up to the company's original Model One from 2019. Most of the electric scooters I end up testing are bulky and large, so it's always refreshing when something superlight arrives that I can carry down my narrow flight of stairs without breaking a sweat.

Seriously, the Model One Voyager feels pocketable. It's so easy to operate, fold down, and carry around, that it feels like everyone should have a little Unagi stowed away in a closet for those days when you really don't want to walk 15 minutes to the nearest train station.

Unboxing and setting up the Voyager is simple, and the scooter paired quickly with the Unagi app (Android, iOS). It's one of the slickest escooter apps I've ever used, though it's fairly basic. There are no customizable speed settings, and you can't tweak the acceleration or anything like that.

Instead, you can switch between dual motor and single motor, choose a speed setting, turn on the headlight, and lock the scooter. (You can access many of these settings from the scooter's display as well.) I like that you can input your weight and height to get a precise measurement of how many more miles you can ride before the battery depletes. It's definitely more accurate than what it suggested without knowing this information. My only gripe is that it's impossible to figure out how to unpair the scooter when you want to pair it with another device.

Photograph: Unagi Scooters

The Voyager has a stainless steel hinge at the bottom of the stem you can push down with a click to make it fold. Lower the carbon-fiber tube, and it clicks into place to stay parallel with the deck. It's hands-down the best folding system I've ever used on a scooter, and it's just as easy to unfold. The scooter weighs roughly 30 pounds, so just grab the stem and trot away! It's so lightweight—thanks to a mix of materials including magnesium, aluminum, and carbon fiber—and since the deck and handlebars aren't too long, they don't snag on rails or bump into walls as you carry it.

As someone who's 6'4", the handlebars are a little low for me, but it's manageable. Don't expect to mount a phone on it though, there's not much space. The scooter's deck is relatively short too, so I couldn't comfortably put one foot behind the other. But the benefit of having such a compact and lightweight vehicle quells these shortcomings. It's much easier to carry it inside a store or coffee shop without the risk of toppling over a milk jug (yes, that happened once). I was able to put it underneath my seat on the subway, and it took up almost no space when I was going up a crowded elevator. It's just a lot less awkward to maneuver with than most other scooters.

There is a thumb control on each handlebar; the one on the right is for acceleration, and the one on the left is for the brake. Both are responsive, and you can be precise to get the level of acceleration or braking power you need at the moment. I never had issues coming to a quick stop with the dual e-brakes, though you can step down on the rear fender for extra stopping power. (At this price, I still would have expected disc brakes.)

Photograph: Unagi Scooters

Above these thumb controls are tiny yellow buttons—hit the one on the left and your ears will be treated to what's arguably the most useless horn. It's just … not the kind of blaring sound you want. No one jolts when they hear it (believe me, I've tried it on pedestrians and cars in the bike lane and no one bats an eye). It sounds like the ordinary beeps and boops of a scooter and not a “GET OUT OF THE WAY" alarm. It's easily drowned out by the bustle of the city.

Hit the right button twice to change speed modes. There are three: level one goes up to 9 mph, level two 12 mph, and level three is 15 mph, which is what I used exclusively. If you really want, you can unlock a top speed of 20 mph by pressing and holding a combination of these buttons, but this will just eat at the limited range. (More on this later.)

The Voyager has two 250-watt motors that typically operate at 500 watts but have the potential to ramp up to 1,000 watts at peak power. Press the power button in the center of the dashboard twice to switch between single-motor mode and dual-motor mode. The speed levels don't change, but in dual-motor mode, you're able to take advantage of the extra power to climb slopes at a slightly faster pace and enjoy a more responsive acceleration. It'll take off at a traffic light faster than if you just used single-motor mode. I was surprised that it was able to cruise up the Williamsburg Bridge at 13 to 14 mph, barely breaking its top speed—this little thing packs a surprising amount of power.

Riding the Voyager is akin to sailing on the high seas. When the ocean is calm, it's smooth sailing. But you'll need to brace yourself in the thick of a storm. OK, what I mean by that is when you're on perfectly flat roads, the Voyager offers up a super smooth ride. But anything less will shake you quite a bit, and I am not confident in the scooter's ability to handle a pothole or two. This is largely due to the 7.5-inch solid rubber tires. They'll make you feel all the bumps on the road, though at least you won't have to worry about a flat.

Range is the next pain point, though it's not as poor as I was expecting. In dual-motor mode, I was able to get a little more than 10 miles, even after going up a bridge. Sticking to a single motor doesn't seem to save you that much extra battery life. I did an 8-mile roundtrip with the single motor and another on a different day with the dual motor, and I ended up with roughly 32 percent remaining when I arrived home after both trips.

However, I should point out that I'm a 6'4" 240-pound man riding a scooter that's 30 pounds and rated to carry riders up to 220 pounds. I can see most people easily hitting somewhere between Unagi's claim of 12 to 25 miles, which is pretty solid considering this thing's weight and size.

I propose you treat this scooter as a last-mile option. Ride it to your train station or bus. Take it on public transport. Then hop back on it when you arrive to get to your final destination on time and in style. I had a meeting in midtown and instead of taking two trains, I rode the Voyager from Brooklyn to lower Manhattan so I didn't have to bother with a train transfer. Best of all, the Voyager can fully recharge in three hours, and can even get to 50 percent within an hour. The charger isn't too bulky, so just bring it with you everywhere.

Photograph: Unagi Scooters

The only nitpick I have about the Model One Voyager is the IP dust- and water-resistance rating. At IPX4, it can handle some light splashes, but that's about it. I don't usually ride in the rain, but it would've been nice to see more improvement in resistance over the 2019 model, especially considering that some competing scooters have IP66 ratings. At least the kickstand and headlamp are pretty great, and the battery is UL-certified.

It's worth noting that you can either buy or rent the Model One Voyager. The MSRP is $1,190, which is pricey for what's on offer. Renting will set you back $69 per month and will also add service in case there are any issues (you also have to add $5 per month for theft insurance, or a one-time $300 security deposit). I prefer to own what I ride outright, but go with whatever works for you financially.

This Unagi is one of the lightest escooters on the market, but it's not the only one you should consider. There's Fluidfreeride's Fluid Mosquito, which is a little more rough around the edges, but it's cheaper, packs more power, and is just as lightweight. The Speedway Mini 4 Pro is more my speed, as it has the range I want while weighing only about 7 pounds more. But neither matches the Model One Voyager in elegance, simplicity, and ease of use, and that might justify the price to some.