6 Best Foldable Electric Scooters (I Tested 23 Portable, Compact & Small Models)

SPLACH has positioned the Turbo as “the ultimate entry-level electric scooter”. Big words, I hear you say. To reach this acclaimed title, such a model needs to be reliable, plucky, low maintenance, and perhaps most importantly, portable.

Since this is a guide to the best foldable scooters, let’s focus on its portability credentials first. Despite weighing a relatively hefty 45 lbs, it boasts a suite of features that make it exceptionally transportable.

Its cantilevered folding mechanism is home to a quick-release lever that makes collapsing the stem super easy, while the handlebars can be folded to make it even more compact. Luckily, the cuffs that hold the handlebars in place are threaded to ensure that they remain solid when tightened.

And that’s not all: the stem is telescopic, meaning it can be retracted to reduce its length. It’s also a super useful feature that allows you to adjust the handlebar height. In its lowest setting, it reaches 30.6 inches above the deck, while in its highest, it measures 40.3 inches.

With all these mechanisms at your disposal, it’s no exaggeration to say that the SPLACH Turbo can fit in the smallest of spaces – be it your car trunk, in the corner of your room, or under your office desk. It measures just 43.0 (L) x 7.9 (W) x 15.7 (H) inches when folded to leave a bold tick in the portability box.

But, there’s a lot more to this scooter than meets the eye. The original Turbo was renowned for its ride quality, and I’m happy to report that the new iteration continues this lineage. Its dual swingarm suspension is an exceptionally rare commodity among scooters within its price class. In fact, the Turbo and its sibling, the Ranger, are the only models to feature such a system.

The payoff for you is a silky smooth, well-calibrated ride devoid of any bottoming out. Working in cahoots with the front air-filled tire, the springs absorb every nasty shock and vibration from the road.

This high-end ride quality is refined by a spacious and grippy deck, wide handlebars that boost maneuverability, and a well-balanced distribution of weight that promises excellent handling.

The Turbo is satisfyingly low maintenance, too. The rear solid tire eliminates the risk of flats, plug-and-play cabling makes replacement super easy, and an IPX5 water resistance rating protects against inclement conditions.

Then you have the dual drum brakes. Again an exceedingly rare feature on a sub-$700 model, they’ll last you for years without degrading in quality. Combined with the electronic braking system, you’ll come to a safe stop from 15 mph in an impressive 2.4 meters.

Such braking prowess is welcomed on a model that can hit speeds of 26-28 mph. While testing the Turbo I measured its top speed against 14 similarly-priced models and it came out on top. Key to its success is the fact that it has the most powerful motor of all its rivals. This is best-in-class stuff – as is its acceleration of 0-15 mph in 4.3 seconds.

When it comes to range, it isn’t quite as impressive. Its 52V 10.4Ah battery delivers a maximum of 22 miles, though under realistic conditions you can expect 18 miles. However, when we consider that this is a match for more expensive models like the Horizon 10.4, it doesn’t shape up too badly. If range is particularly important to you then I’d suggest opting for Turbo Plus (it has a 36% bigger battery, equating to 11 more miles).

Now, the Turbo’s most glaring flaw is its lighting rig. While there’s a lot of illumination on the stem and deck, none of it is bright enough to safely light your way forward at night. The absence of a proper headlight means you’ll need to purchase one if you want to ride after the sun goes down.

And trust me when I say that this is a model that you’ll want to ride night and day. Exceptionally affordable and wielding a treasure trove of high-quality features, the SPLACH Turbo is yet another home run from a brand that’s intent on shaking up the electric scooter market.