Engwe P275 SE review: Could this e-bike replace your car trips?

The most interesting thing about an electric bike isn’t how fast it goes, it’s whether you’d actually use it to nip to the shops on a Tuesday, when the car keys are sitting right there and you’ve already talked yourself out of cycling because there’s a hill on the way back. The Engwe P275 SE is that sort of bike.

It’s a new launch from the burgeoning brand, which is now offering a huge range of e-bikes in the UK, and it's a step-through design, which is set up predominantly for urban riding.

It has a removable battery, hydraulic disc brakes, and seven-speed Shimano gearing.

There's also a sale on the Engwe website at the moment, bringing the price down from £1,499 to £799 - and at that money, it has features that completely outclass its competitors.

What I liked about the Engwe P275 SE

The step-through frame design is a good starting point. Traditionally, this was a frame design built for ladies, but it's a practical layout for urban riding. If you’re hopping on and off in town, wearing work clothes, or simply don’t fancy swinging a leg over a high crossbar every time you stop, you'll quickly understand the appeal.

There's also a smart torque sensor, which is great to see at this price. It measures how hard you pedal, so the motor can vary its assistance with your effort. In towns, following cars through traffic, this means there's a helpful surge when you pull away from the lights, but a calm power delivery once you're up to speed.

Shimano gears are a nice touch. Seven speeds might not sound like a lot but it's plenty on an e-bike, and I'm thrilled to see hydraulic disc brakes - although bear in mind they do come delivered the wrong way around for us Brits. You'll need to get them swapped over.

The removable 468Wh battery is another feature worth shouting about. Engwe claims it can give you a range of up to 100km. Take this with a pinch of salt, but it is possible.

In reality, I've found 30 varied miles around my part of the Peak District is perfectly doable, but it obviously depends how far your route is, and which of the power assistance modes you use.

The built-in lights also have an impact, if not much.

I really like the little handlebar-mounted display. It's compact, but easy to use, and there's everything on the screen you could need.

There's also an app control with a navigation system. I didn't use this much in practice, but it's good to see smart tech on a bike at this price.

What I didn’t like about the Engwe P275 SE

At around 24kg, this is no lightweight. In e-bike terms, it's no monster either, but the big battery and powerful rear-mounted motor do add some bulk.

The handlebars are a notable feature on the Engwe P275 SE. They're angled back slightly, and the natural riding position is quite upright. This is great for town riding, but less comfortable on trails. And the bike handles trails better than you'd expect.

If you do more off-roading than on-roading, don't shy away from the P275 SE, but do consider some straighter handlebars.

Overall verdict: Should you buy an Engwe P275 SE?

At £799, if you can catch the deal, the P275 SE is an appealing proposition for someone who wants to replace a few short car journeys and build up some fitness along the way.

The step-through frame and smart tech are the features that make the most sense to me, and it's a particularly comfortable ride if you're sticking to the roads. A long battery life and quality componentry are the icing on the cake.

I’d put it on the shortlist if you want a bike for commuting, errands or getting around town. It's perhaps not the best bike for long distances, or off-road trails, but it does a reasonable job of pretending to be.

Fundamentally, it's just great value for money, and a likeable unisex bike that gives you more than enough incentive to take to two wheels.