Apollo City 2022 vs Kaabo Mantis X Plus - Which "Goldilocks" Scooter Actually Gets It Right?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

If you want a calm, polished daily commuter that just works, the APOLLO City 2022 is the better overall package: more weather-proof, lower-maintenance, and friendlier to live with day in, day out. The KAABO Mantis X Plus hits harder on power and sportiness, but asks more from you in terms of maintenance, care, and compromises.

Choose the Mantis X Plus if you're chasing weekend thrills, fast group rides, and hill-eating performance and don't mind a bit of wrenching and a longer charge. Choose the City 2022 if you mainly commute, ride in mixed weather, and want something that feels like a mature vehicle, not a hobby project.

Both can be fun - but for most real-world urban riders, one makes your life easier, not louder. Read on to see which one matches your roads, your body, and your patience.

On paper, the APOLLO City 2022 and the KAABO Mantis X Plus live in the same neighbourhood: mid-priced, mid-weight, "serious commuter with a wild side" scooters. I've put plenty of kilometres on both, from battered old European cobblestones to shiny new bike lanes and just enough dodgy backstreets to test my survival instinct.

One feels like a modern commuter tool designed by people who actually ride to work. The other feels like a de-tuned sports scooter that decided to wear a shirt and tie to the office while still wearing race boots underneath.

If you're torn between polished practicality and spicy performance, this comparison will walk you through how each behaves in the real world - and which one I'd trust as my everyday companion.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

Both scooters sit in that dangerous middle ground where many riders upgrade from their first Xiaomi or Ninebot and decide, "This time I want the good one." They're too heavy to be true last-mile toys, powerful enough to be taken seriously in traffic, and expensive enough that you should absolutely think before you tap "Buy".

The APOLLO City 2022 (I'm talking mainly about the dual-motor Pro here, as that's what really competes with the Mantis) is pitched as the thinking person's commuter: integrated design, strong water resistance, low-maintenance components, and an emphasis on comfort and day-to-day usability.

The KAABO Mantis X Plus is the extrovert cousin: dual motors, adjustable suspension, TFT display, more aggressive stance. It lives in the same price band, weighs about the same, and claims similar range - which is exactly why riders cross-shop them constantly. Both promise that "Goldilocks" balance between real-world commuting and proper fun.

Design & Build Quality

Put them side by side and you can immediately tell who studied industrial design and who grew up watching motocross videos.

The Apollo City 2022 is all about integration. Cables are hidden away, the chassis flows in one continuous line, lights are neatly built in, and the rubber deck and tidy fenders make it look like something that belongs in a modern office lobby. It genuinely feels like a "finished product" - fewer exposed parts, fewer places for grime and rain to get in, fewer bits that look like they came from a parts bin.

The Mantis X Plus goes the other way: bold, angular, with the classic "praying mantis" arms and a cockpit dominated by that big TFT display. It looks fast even on the stand. You do see more cables, more exposed metal, more things that scream "performance scooter". The frame itself is solid and reassuring, but the overall impression is more mechanical than refined.

In the hands, the Apollo's controls feel cohesive: the regen thumb throttle on the left, the main throttle on the right, a display that blends into the stem, and a rubber deck that doesn't shred your shoes or turn into a sandpaper mud-pie. The Mantis cockpit is flashy and, to its credit, the buttons and screen are genuinely nice to use - but the rest of the scooter has that familiar Kaabo rough edge: fenders that can rattle, a stem that may eventually creak unless you show it some love, and a few more bolts you'll end up knowing on a first-name basis.

If you care about discreet, office-friendly aesthetics and a "single, cohesive object" feel, the Apollo is ahead. If you like your scooters to look slightly menacing and don't mind a bit of visible hardware, the Mantis will scratch that itch - but it feels a bit more like hardware than like a polished vehicle.

Ride Comfort & Handling

Both of these scooters are far more comfortable than the typical rental-style commuter, but they do it in different ways - and that really shows after a long ride.

The Apollo City's triple spring suspension, combined with its self-healing pneumatic tyres, gives a very "planted yet cushioned" feel. On broken city asphalt, expansion joints, and the usual catalogue of European road sins, it quietly flattens out the chatter. You still feel the road, but your knees and wrists don't keep a running complaint log. The deck is comfortable, reasonably roomy, and the rear kickplate gives nice leverage when you lean back under acceleration or braking.

The Mantis X Plus, with its adjustable spring shocks and wider tyres, feels more like a sporty touring scooter. Out of the box it's quite plush, and being able to tweak preload is a genuine advantage if you're heavier, lighter, or just picky. Dialled in correctly, it floats over potholes and speed bumps in a way that makes cheaper scooters feel medieval. But its geometry and wider rubber clearly favour carving and spirited riding; it invites you to lean into corners and play with weight transfer more than the Apollo does.

In tight, low-speed city manoeuvres, the Apollo's calmer steering and slightly more "commuterish" stance make it a bit more predictable and less twitchy for newer riders. The Mantis feels more agile and alive - brilliant once you're used to it, but it does egg you on. On long, rough commutes, the two are closer than you'd think: both are comfortable. The difference is that the Apollo feels like it's trying to keep you relaxed, while the Mantis feels like it's constantly reminding you that you could be going faster if you wanted.

Performance

This is where the Mantis X Plus flexes - and where you need to be honest about how you actually ride.

The dual-motor Apollo City Pro has perfectly respectable acceleration. It's brisk off the line, more than enough to dust cars in the first dozen metres, and climbs typical city hills without drama. The torque arrives smoothly, the sinewave-style control means no jerky on/off nonsense, and the whole thing feels very controlled. You can ride it aggressively, but it doesn't constantly shout about it.

The Mantis X Plus, by contrast, feels hotter. With dual motors tuned for accessible performance and that same smooth controller technology, it lunges forward more eagerly when you pull the trigger. It surges up hills that make smaller commuters groan, and keeps that strong pull deeper into its speed range before easing off. If you're used to single-motor commuters, your first proper launch on the Mantis will be one of those "Oh, we're doing this then" moments.

At the upper part of their speed envelopes, both feel reasonably planted, but the Mantis gives you more overhead for fast group rides and open stretches. The Apollo tops out slightly lower and feels like it was tuned to feel solid at sane commuting speeds rather than bragging-rights numbers. That's not a bad thing if you mostly ride in dense traffic or bike lanes where you're limited by common sense and police, not by the scooter.

Braking is a split in philosophy. Apollo's dual drums plus regen trigger are a commuter dream: consistent in the wet, low-maintenance, and with regen doing most of the work once you get used to it. They don't look sexy in photos, but they do the job extremely well and rarely need anything from you. The Mantis uses discs with electronic assistance; they bite harder and feel sportier, but they do demand some periodic fiddling to keep them dialled in. Push both hard and the Mantis will stop more aggressively; live with both for a year and the Apollo will have asked less of your time.

Battery & Range

On paper, the numbers are close, and in the real world they are even closer. Both will comfortably cover a typical urban round trip, with enough in reserve for detours - as long as you're not riding everywhere like you're late for qualifying.

The Apollo City Pro's battery offers a real-world "ride how you like" range that, in my experience, comfortably covers medium commutes and still leaves you a safety margin. Ride more gently, lean on Eco modes, and it'll surprise you; ride like a hooligan and you'll still manage a working day's worth of city mileage without starting to sweat about the last few kilometres.

The Mantis X Plus claims heroic figures, but once you put dual motors and spirited riding into the mix, you realistically land only a little ahead of the Apollo - if at all - unless you're very disciplined with speed. It does hold decent pace even as the battery drains, which is nice, but that enthusiasm for acceleration and climbing is not free; the gauge falls quicker when you're using all the performance you paid for.

Charging is where the Apollo quietly wins the boring-but-important war. Its pack refills in a reasonable working day or an extended lunch plus afternoon, which makes top-ups practical. The Mantis, with a standard slow charger, feels more "charge overnight and hope you remembered to plug it in". You can speed things up with aftermarket or upgraded solutions, but out of the box you're waiting noticeably longer per Wh topped up.

In everyday terms: for most commuters, both are adequate. The Apollo feels a bit more efficient-per-ride style, especially if you're doing stop-and-go with plenty of regen. The Mantis gives you the range to play, but punishes repeated full-throttle blasts by cutting your total kilometres sooner than the marketing would have you believe.

Portability & Practicality

Let's be clear: neither of these is a dainty "throw it under your arm and sprint up four flights" scooter. They're both solidly in the "I can carry it, but I won't enjoy it" category.

The Apollo City is marginally lighter in its single-motor version and a touch under the Mantis in its dual-motor Pro trim, but once you're in the high-20s kilo range, a couple of kilos either way matter less than you think. What matters more is how they behave when folded and how often you actually have to carry them.

The Apollo's Phantom-style folding mechanism feels very secure when riding and folds quickly enough. The stem hook that's supposed to latch onto the rear deck is the weak point in the portability story: it works, but you do need to be deliberate when picking the scooter up or the hook can slip, turning you and the scooter into an uncoordinated dance duo on the stairs.

The Mantis has a more traditional clamp-style fold with a handlebar-to-fender hook. It's quicker to fold than early Kaabos ever were, and the double locking clamp does give confidence while riding. Folded, it's a bit bulky thanks to wide bars, and at around 29 kg it's firmly in "liftable but not lovable" territory. Lugging it up more than a flight or two feels like punishment for past sins.

In daily life, the Apollo's better weather sealing, self-healing tyres, and drum brakes make it a far more "park it, ride it, forget about it" scooter. It's built around the idea that you might not have a garage or a toolkit. The Mantis, on the other hand, is incredibly practical once rolling - fast, comfortable, secure with its NFC start - but it appreciates a rider who's willing to inspect, tighten, and occasionally fettle. Think of it as a sporty hatchback that's surprisingly usable; the Apollo is more like a well-spec'd family car that just shrugs and gets on with life.

Safety

Safety isn't just about brakes and lights - though those matter - it's also about how predictable the scooter is when things go wrong.

The Apollo plays a strong city-safety game. Dual sealed drums mean consistent braking in the rain, the regen throttle lets you control speed with impressive finesse (and less reliance on mechanical parts), and the chassis feels reassuringly rigid at commuter speeds. The lighting package is sensibly placed, with integrated indicators and good all-round visibility. The headlight could be brighter for dark countryside lanes, but for typical urban use it's adequate. The standout for me is the water resistance: that high IP rating means you're not gambling with every unexpected shower.

The Mantis X Plus has the more dramatic spec sheet: disc brakes with electronic assistance, a bright headlight that actually throws a proper beam, strong side lighting, and clear turn signals. At speed, the wider tyres and sorted suspension keep you planted during emergency manoeuvres. It feels very safe at the kind of velocities it easily achieves - provided the rider respects those velocities.

Where the two part ways is long-term predictability. Apollo's sealed components and cable-free aesthetic reduce the number of failure points in bad weather. The Mantis is fine in light rain on paper, but you can see more exposed elements and the community is understandably a bit more cautious about frequent wet-weather use. Add in the occasional Kaabo stem creak and slightly rattly fenders, and you have a scooter that is mechanically safe, but asks for regular inspections to stay that way.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

Both sit in the upper mid-range price bracket, with the Mantis typically costing a bit more. The temptation, of course, is to look purely at power and top speed per euro - a game the Mantis X Plus plays very well. Dual motors, adjustable suspension, big display, serious performance: at first glance it looks like a bargain.

The Apollo City 2022 counters with value that's less dramatic but arguably more relevant for day-to-day life: better weather protection, fewer consumables, less time spent on brake adjustments and tube changes, and a design that doesn't scream "performance toy" if your boss sees it charging by your desk. Over a couple of years of daily use, that low-maintenance philosophy does start to look like money saved - and frustration avoided.

If your priority is maximum excitement per euro and you're comfortable being your own mechanic (or paying one), the Mantis gives you an enticing deal. If you value predictable ownership costs and a calmer, more integrated commuter experience, the Apollo's slightly more boring spec sheet can end up being the smarter spend.

Service & Parts Availability

Apollo has invested a lot in its brand and after-sales presence, especially in Western markets. That shows in structured support, decent documentation, and a parts pipeline that, while not perfect, is noticeably better than the generic rebrand crowd. Their proprietary parts are a double-edged sword: you can't just bolt on random components, but when you need something, it's usually "the right thing" designed for that scooter.

Kaabo, meanwhile, benefits from sheer scale and a wide distributor network. The Mantis line is hugely popular, so consumables, upgrades, and third-party spares are everywhere. The flip side is that service quality can vary heavily depending on which dealer or country you're in. The scooters themselves are more "standardised" in terms of components, which is great if you're happy to tinker or mod - less great if you expect a single, polished service experience from day one.

In Europe especially, both are reasonably well supported. The Apollo leans slightly more towards centralised, brand-led support; the Kaabo leans towards "there's always a shop or online seller with parts if you know what you're looking for". If you're not mechanically inclined, Apollo's approach is friendlier. If you are, the Mantis ecosystem can be a playground.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If your life is mostly weekday commuting, mixed weather, and the occasional weekend blast, the APOLLO City 2022 is the more rounded choice. It's not the wildest thing you can buy for the money, but it behaves like a mature, well-designed vehicle: low-maintenance brakes, puncture-resistant tyres, serious water resistance, and a riding experience that feels calm, stable and grown-up. You arrive at work not just fast, but also without feeling like you've been negotiating with your scooter all week.

The KAABO Mantis X Plus is undeniably more exciting on a good road. If you crave that dual-motor shove, love tweaking suspension to your taste, and enjoy a display that looks like it escaped from a small motorbike, it will make you grin - repeatedly. But it demands more attention, more maintenance, and a bit more mechanical sympathy. For riders who see their scooter as a hobby and a toy as much as transport, that's part of the charm. For someone who simply wants rock-solid daily mobility, it's noise you might not want.

So, if your heart says "fun" but your calendar and climate say "responsible adult", the Apollo City 2022 walks that line better. The Mantis X Plus is the one you pick when you're willing to trade a bit of hassle for a bigger kick every time the light turns green.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics look purely at efficiency and "value density": how much performance or range you get per euro, per kilogram, or per watt-hour. Lower is better for cost, weight and energy per unit of performance; higher is better where more power or faster charging helps you. They don't know anything about comfort, water resistance or build quality - they just tell you which scooter extracts more from its battery, money and mass on paper.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the APOLLO City 2022 scores 4 points against the KAABO Mantis X Plus's 6. In the Author's Category Battle, the APOLLO City 2022 gets 26 ✅ versus 24 ✅ for KAABO Mantis X Plus (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: APOLLO City 2022 scores 30, KAABO Mantis X Plus scores 30.

Based on the scoring, it's a tie! Both scooters have their strengths. Between these two, the Apollo City 2022 feels like the scooter that has your back on the grim Tuesday mornings as much as on the sunny Friday evenings. The Mantis X Plus is the one that makes those Friday evenings a bit wilder, but it expects more patience and involvement in return. For most everyday riders who just want to get where they're going comfortably and confidently, the Apollo is the more complete partner; the Mantis is the delightful, slightly chaotic friend you meet up with when you're in the mood for trouble.

That's our verdict when we try to stay objective – but hey, riding is mostly about emotions anyway, so pick the one that will make you look forward to your commute every single day.