GoTrax GXL V2 review

Check out the GoTrax GXL V2 if you’re looking for a great, inexpensive electric scooter for less than $400. While it won't win any speed or endurance contests, it will get you around easily and comfortably.

Very affordable

Light

Strong braking

Not very powerful

Limited range

Why you can trust Tom's Guide? Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Motor: Single 250-watt (front)Wheel size: 8.5-inch, air-filledMax speed: 15.5 mphRange: 12 milesMax rider weight: 220 poundsBattery: 36V 5.2aH Lithium-ion BatterySize (unfolded): 44.1 x 43.3 x 16.7 inchesWeight: 26.5 pounds

The GoTrax GXL V2 is like the Honda of electric scooters; you’re not going to win any style points or races, but it's an inexpensive and reliable way to commute to and from work or school. While testing the $349 GoTrax GXL V2 for this review, I found it to offer a dependable and comfortable, if unexciting ride. But for many, that's all you need. And, at less than $400, it's a great bargain pick among the best electric scooters.

The GoTrax GLX V2 is available for $349. It's the company's least expensive scooter (not including the GKS, which is one of the best electric scooters for kids), and is among the cheapest electric scooters you’ll find with these specs.

The GXL V2 looks almost identical to the older, more expensive GoTrax XR Ultra. It has a rather thick downtube (to accommodate the non-removable battery), a relatively thin deck and a very angular connector joining the two halves. The scooter is all black, save for one white section on the downtube with "GoTrax" emblazoned on the side.

A single cable for the scooter's handbrake runs along the outside of the downtube. It sets the GoTrax apart, but not in a good way. While exposed brake lines are standard for many bikes, most electric scooters manage to conceal them within the body of the scooter itself. No matter — when you’re spending less than $400, it's an acceptable tradeoff.

Atop the handlebars is a small bell and a small but functional display that shows you your speed and battery life. A single button turns the scooter on and off, and lets you switch between riding modes and activate the front headlight (there's no taillight, unfortunately). On the right side is a thumb-activated throttle lever. If you hold the lever down long enough, the GXL V2 turns on cruise control, so you don't need to hold the button down during your entire ride. Pressing the brake deactivates cruise control.

The GXL V2 folds neatly in half when you pull and tab and press the lever at the base of the downtube. While the thick downtube makes it a little harder to carry for those with smaller hands, it isn't too inconvenient.

And, the GXL V2's weight of 26.5 pounds is also pretty light — on a par with the carbon-fiber Unagi Model One.

The GXL V2 performed very well for its price, but its modest specs became very evident when I took it for a ride. With a single 250-Watt motor, it scooted me along at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour on level surfaces. However, the GXL V2 had trouble getting me up steeper hills, especially when starting from a stop.

That said, I’m about 6 feet tall and weigh upwards of 190 pounds, which is nearing the GXL V2's maximum weight limit. Those who are smaller and lighter will have an easier time of it.

I did like the V2's 8.5-inch air filled tires, which provided as smooth a ride as you’ll get without shock absorbers. Its rear handbrake was nice and grippy, bringing me to a full stop quickly.

Similarly, the scooter's 36V 5.2aH Lithium-ion Battery gives it at best a range of around 12 miles. I rode it around for a little over 3 miles on mostly flat terrain with a few hills mixed in, and drained the battery about 30 percent, so I would expect to get about 9 miles on a charge. If you use this to commute to your office, you’ll probably want to charge it up every night.

For those who want a solid budget electric scooter for less than $400, the GoTrax GXL V2 is definitely worth a look. For around the same money as the GXL V2, the Razor E Prime ($399, Amazon) has a shorter range and a lower max weight limit; the Segway Ninebot ES1L, which you can find for as low as $299 on Amazon, has a lower top speed of around 12.4 MPH.

Ultimately, the GoTrax GXL V2 is a good, no-frills scooter that will meet the needs of those who want something cheap to get them from point A to point B.

Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom's Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he's not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he's probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.

10 best Apple Watch biking features to try on your next ride

How to enable macOS beta updates to try macOS 14

5 ways to make your grill last longer and perform better

By Tony PolancoMay 30, 2023

By Brian NadelMay 30, 2023

By Kate KozuchMay 30, 2023

By Becks ShepherdMay 28, 2023

By Alex BracettiMay 26, 2023

By Matthew MurrayMay 25, 2023

By Gregory HanMay 25, 2023

By Anthony SpadaforaMay 25, 2023

By Rory MellonMay 25, 2023

By Mike ProsperoMay 25, 2023

By Tony PolancoMay 24, 2023