This looks…different. What’s up with this Vespa?
This is the Vespa GTV, the much larger sibling of the typical Sprint and Primavera Vespas that you usually see strolling around the metro on weekends. It’s undoubtedly a Vespa, but it’s slightly different as the headlight is placed on the front fender—it’s impossible to miss. It looks quite chunky, too, because as I said, it’s literally a bigger brother in the lineup.
The design’s quite quirky.
It sure is. You might not like the execution with the styling here, but you’ve got to admit that it looks damn interesting. To add to that, you even have the equally quirky colorway that just makes the scooter pop when you’re riding in the middle of city traffic. The unit I drove had this Beige Sabbia finish with striking orange accents. You can also have it in Grey Titanio if you prefer a slightly darker look. Either way, you’re getting a very cute two-wheeler that’s a bit of a head-turner.
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Okay, so how is it ‘bigger’ than other Vespas?
Well, we’ll have you know that this is the most powerful Vespa ever built, and it packs a 278cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine. This is why the GTV variant is called the 300 HPE, which stands for ‘High Performance Engine.’
Vespas aren’t exactly known to be fast, but they’ve always been fun scooters. This GTV takes that up a notch with this new powertrain that churns out 23.8hp at 8,250rpm and 26Nm of torque at 5,250rpm. It may not seem much, but on the road, it’s actually a lot of fun.
It’s not that quick off the line, and neither does it get to 100kph in record time, but it’s punchy and still makes for spirited rides. It’s more than enough to ride around central business districts in Metro Manila, but just right for fun weekday morning sprints across Marilaque.
Speaking of Marilaque, with that big engine, how does the GTV handle?
I find some scooters from other brands a lot sportier and more nimble than the Sprints and Primaveras. The GTV, however, is a bit more planted than its smaller siblings and feels better to weave through twisties. You’ll feel the weight of that bigger engine, but it won’t be an issue when cornering.
It could be a problem, though, when you’re in traffic. The GTV isn’t tall and is still relatively friendly to relatively shorter riders with just a 790mm seat height, but if you’re crawling through gridlock, you will feel the shifting weight underneath you. Even if you can flatfoot this scoot, I reckon that’s still something you should be careful with, especially if you’re a beginner.
Alright. Then apart from that big engine, what does the GTV have to offer?
It comes with a digital display that’s not only pleasing to the eyes but also very useful as well. It also comes with a key fob and a wireless ignition, which I myself am a fan of. Front and rear ABS also come as standard. There’s a large compartment under the seat and a small enclosed compartment up front.
On top of all these, the GTV is also highly customizable with accessories straight from Vespa. We’re talking crash guards, front and rear foldable racks, sport exhausts, branded top boxes, and leather bags, among many others. Typical Vespa stuff.
So…how much is the Vespa GTV again?
Are you sitting down? Good. If you aren’t yet, go grab a chair, then proceed.
The Vespa GTV 300 HPE stickers for P425,000. We should’ve told you to refrain from drinking water as you read this. We hope you didn’t spit anything onto your screens.
Hefty. Very hefty. Is it worth it?
That is true. But as we all know, Vespas aren’t for everyone. Frankly, everything’s been perfect so far before anyone started talking about the SRP. It’s not only glaring—it’s downright blinding.
Now, I could already answer the question on whether it’s worth it or not, but I’d suggest you wait for our full video review instead. Keep an eye on our YouTube channel or this article because I’ll link it here once it’s out.
