In a Nutshell:
Recommended For: Anyone weighing up to 300 pounds who are looking for a machine primarily for use on flat, paved surfaces.
Are you a busy, on-the-go person who travels primarily in urban environments? Do you have a mobility issue that’s been cramping your style?
Are you on the hunt for a scooter or electric wheelchair to help you regain a portion of your freedom?
If you answered yes to the questions above, then you’re going to like our Transformer scooter review.
The Transformer is offered by a smaller company you may not have heard of, but don’t let that fool you.
Solax Mobility may not have a long, storied history in the market, but the two products they offer, the Transformer automatic folding scooter and the Mobile Plus, reveal the company to be quite adept at handling the technology.
In the sections that follow, we’ll walk you through everything this great little machine can do, and we’ll be quick to point out its shortcomings and limitations. That way, you’ll have all the details you need, right at your fingertips, so you can decide for yourself if this is the scooter you’ve been searching for or if the hunt must continue.
If that sounds good to you, read on, and let’s take a closer look!
An Overview of the Solax Scooter
We’ll admit early on here in our Transformer scooter review that the aesthetic of the model doesn’t do much for us. It basically looks like a fishing chair, mounted on a rolling platform, with a spindly steering column sticking out of one end.
Don’t get us wrong. It’s not an ugly machine, but it’s also not hard to find models that are much more stylish and attractive. This one seems to be designed purely for function. Form definitely took a backseat here, and we’re mostly okay with that.
After all, although looks matter to a degree, what people really want in a mobility aid is something that will get them where they want to go.
How well the Transformer scooter by Solax will do this for you will depend in large part on how you plan to use the scooter you eventually buy. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the raw numbers that drive and define the model. Here’s a quick overview:
- Overall Product Dimensions: 37” L x 17” W x 32.5” H (Folded Dimensions: 17” L x 17” W x 23.5” H)
- Seat Width: 15.75” W x 14.25” D
- Seat to Floor Height: 16.5” from the floorboard, 22.5” from ground
- Turning Radius: 47.2”
- Top Speed: 3.75 MPH
- Range: 13.7 miles
- Wheel Size: 6” Front, 7” Rear
- Ground Clearance: 1.6”
- Maximum Slope: 10 degrees
- Scooter Weight: 55 pounds
- Maximum Supported Weight: 300 pounds
These numbers are a mixed bag, with some being quite good and others revealing the limitations of this design. Taking it from the top, the footprint of the machine is delightfully small, with the folded footprint being exceptionally travel-friendly.
This is supported by the total weight of the machine. While it’s not the lightest scooter on the market today, it’s light enough that most people won’t have much trouble stashing it in the trunk space of a mid-sized sedan or larger vehicle.
The height from the seat to the floorboard is 16.5”, which is about average. So if you’re a taller individual or someone with longer legs, this one might be a little on the small side for you (also supported by the seat dimensions, which mark this as a chair that’s simply not designed for larger folk).
The turning radius is not bad for a four-wheeled design. If you live in a smaller home or apartment, it will be somewhat difficult to use indoors unless you resign yourself to getting lots of practice making three-point turns.
The range is slightly above average, but the speed is underwhelming. This little scooter can’t quite manage four miles per hour. So if you’re looking for a scooter with some zip to it, the Solax scooter is definitely not the model for you. As long as you’re not in a big hurry to get where you’re going, though, it should serve you well.
Most of the scooters on the market today can handle slopes of up to six degrees. This one is capable of substantially more than that, making it a good choice for people who live in hilly areas.
At just 1.6,” this isn’t a scooter you can use on rough terrain. It’s specifically designed and optimized for use on flat, paved surfaces. However, if your lawn is flat and level and the grass has recently been cut, you’ll probably be okay provided that you keep a watchful eye out for potential obstructions as just about anything you encounter could potentially hang you up.
Finally, there’s the user weight. While there’s no formal industry standard, three hundred pounds is about the average you’ll find if you look at the broader market. It should be noted, however, that lighter scooters like this one frequently support less. In this case, we count the weight limit as a positive.
Even better, if you decide you want one of these, the company does offer their scooter in a modest selection of colors. You can order yours in your choice of black, blue, red or yellow.
Adjustability and Comfort
This will be a relatively short section, and we regard this as one of the weaker sections of our Solax Transformer scooter review. The scooter is a mostly “what you see is what you get” model, so be sure that the height from the seat to the floorboard and the seat dimensions are a good fit for you. If they’re not, and you wind up buying one anyway, you’ll almost certainly be disappointed.
One thing to note, however, is that although the armrests are not adjustable in any way, you can take them off if you find that they’re in the way. While we don’t consider that an adjustment feature per se, it’s at least worth a brief mention.
In terms of comfort, our comments will mirror what you’ll see on most other Transformer reviews.
It’s adequate for shorter sitting periods, but this is definitely not a scooter you’ll want to spend several hours at a stretch lounging around in. Not only is the fishing style seat on the small side, it only offers a modest amount of padding. It’s also upholstered in vinyl, which means that the more time you spend in it, the hotter you’re bound to get.
The good news is that you can enhance the comfort easily enough. There are all sorts of padding options available, both for the seat itself and for the seatback, and you can get anything from memory foam to conventional block foam upholstered in breathable fabric. Even with extra padding, though, the seat still makes a relatively poor choice for long-duration lounging. It’s simply too small to support that, even if you’re a small-framed individual.
Extras and Options
Smaller companies are not known for offering tons of extras or accessories, either as built-in features on the models they sell or on the company’s storefront.
While there are no built-in accessories on offer where the Transformer scooter by Solax is concerned, the company does offer a small selection of accessories on its website. These include a cup holder, a folding storage basket, and a docking station you can use when recharging the battery.
It’s honestly more of a selection than we were expecting, and they’re not bad. If you decide to get one of these, then you’ll almost certainly venture into the aftermarket for most of your customization and personalization options.
There is one “extra” here that’s worth mentioning. You don’t have to do anything to fold it to get it ready for transport. Just push a button on the remote, and it collapses for you.
You’ll own your very own Transformer!
That’s fantastic, especially for frequent travelers, because you won’t have to worry about disassembling your scooter to get it in the trunk, then wasting time putting it back together when you get where you’re going, and you won’t have to grunt and sweat trying to force the scooter to collapse. None of that!
Just push the button, stand back, and watch. We find it awesome, and we’ve only found one other scooter on the market so far with that feature. You’ll love it.
Portability and Ease of Use
The Solax Transformer automatic folding scooter wins high marks in both of these categories. As we just talked about, collapsing it and getting it ready for transport is as simple as pushing a button. The machine is light enough that if you have a reasonable amount of upper body strength, you won’t have any trouble hefting it into your trunk and pulling it back out again when you get where you’re going.
In terms of ease of use, the control system is simple and intuitive. It will take you all of five minutes to master the basics, and the turn radius isn’t horrible either. Unless you live in a tiny home or apartment, you shouldn’t have to make too many three-point turns. Kudos to the folks at Solax Mobility for an excellent job on this front!
Pros & Cons of Solax Transformer Automatic Folding Scooter
We really like the Transformer electric scooter, and we think you will too. It’s a strong design, but it’s not without its limitations. In no particular order, here are this model’s strongest points, in our view:
- It’s got a small footprint and is light enough to make it travel-friendly.
- It has a superb auto-folding feature (from which the scooter’s name is derived)
- And excellent slope handling
On the other hand, there are a few potential gotchas to be aware of. These include:
- It has an extremely low ground clearance, which marks it as a machine designed mostly for use on flat, paved surfaces.
- It’s not at all adjustable.
- There are a few extras and accessories on offer.
- And it has a disappointingly small seat.
We don’t regard any of these as being outright dealbreakers, but some of them may be for certain segments of the market.
Transformer Scooter Review Conclusion
So, where does that leave us?
As mentioned in the previous section here in our Transformer Scooter review, the model is an excellent option for a certain segment of the market and a very good option for a broad swath of it. The ideal user for this machine is someone who:
- Weighs 300 pounds or less
- Is a frequent traveler, or at least wants the option to travel with relative ease
- And is someone who plans to use the scooter primarily on flat, paved surfaces.
If all three of those apply to you, then you’re going to love this model. If not, it’s probably going to underwhelm you. On that basis, we provisionally recommend it.
Comparable Products to Consider
If, for any reason, this model isn’t what you’re looking for, here are a couple of alternatives that might serve you better:
Recommended For: This is definitely a niche product, recommended for users weighing no more than 250 pounds who are looking for a machine for indoor use only.
This one offers the same auto-folding feature with a slightly different aesthetic that you may find more appealing.
Recommended For: Anyone weighing up to 275 pounds. Even if you’re not a fan of off-brands, this one’s well worth considering, provided that you don’t exceed its modest weight limit.
While this one doesn’t have an auto-folding feature, it’s an award-winning design, and surprisingly full-featured. Be aware, however, that this one doesn’t support quite as much weight (275 pounds, versus the Transformer’s 300).
References & Resources:
- Solax Mobility, Official Brand Website.
- Folding Mobility Scooters – A Gateway to Maintaining Independence, Essentialaids.
- How to Prevent Mobility Scooter Theft, Which?
- Pedestrian and Motorized Mobility Scooter Safety of Older People, PubMed.
- Can Your Scooter Go on Public Transport?, Independent LIVING.