Carrera Vengeance E (2023 - ) review

The Vengeance E uses a conventional tubular frame, made from aluminium and with minor adaptations for the electric assistance including a battery mounted where your bottle would usually go and an additional box section by the pedals for the control unit. Where more sophisticated (and expensive) e-bikes integrate the motor into the axle between the pedals the Carrera has a hub motor on the rear wheel, which is a cheaper and simpler installation but a proven technology sourced from component giant Suntour. As on all e-bikes this only kicks in when you pedal, the Vengeance E using conventional eight-speed gears for a simple drivetrain capable of getting you up some pretty steep gradients without breaking too much of a sweat.

Mountain bike design has come on a long way in the last few years but the foundations of the Vengeance are pretty traditional, with a relatively short and upright frame. The 18-inch we tried (also listed as a Medium) should fit a wide range of riders, up to and including your 5’ 11” tester. For anyone taller there’s also a Large, though sizing is less critical on an e-bike than it would be on a regular one where you need to optimise pedalling efficiency. There’s plenty of adjustment in the quick release seat, while the short handlebar stem and wide bars are easy to get along with. Casual riders requiring a more upright riding position may want to try a different stem but, overall, by playing it straight down the middle the Vengeance E accommodates riders of all sizes and abilities.

Like most mountain bike the Vengeance E doesn’t come as standard with mudguards or any other creature comforts, though there are mounting points for them if you don’t want a wet backside or mud spraying into your face. Although there are what look like pannier racks on the frame Halfords says you can’t fit one, so check in store before committing if you need to carry luggage. If you’re riding any distance you may want to consider your options for carrying a drink in a bum bag or backpack as well, given the battery takes up the space where you’d usually fit a bottle cage.

The Vengeance E is built to a price, and that’s reflected in the hefty 23kg weight – for context the non-electric Vengeance with a similar specification weighs 14.5kg. While the boost of the electric motor does a great job of offsetting that extra weight you’ll never escape it entirely, even in the strongest of the three available power settings. Ease off, let the motor take the strain and you can whizz up some otherwise strenuous looking gradients, though. Don’t kid yourself you’ll be zipping about like some sort of fast-food delivery rider, though. While many use similar looking bikes some have been illegally modified with improvised extra batteries and ‘twist and go’ throttles but on the Vengeance E you still need to turn the pedals, and you hit something of a brick wall in pace terms once you reach the legally mandated 15.5mph limit for the electric assistance. On the downhills that extra weight really shows, too, especially when you try and slow down with the mechanically operated disc brakes. These look good but are no match for the proper hydraulic ones fitted to more expensive bikes, and it’s worth slowing the bike down before things get too steep because once you’ve built up some speed stopping can require a concerted tug on the brake levers.

The comfortable riding position, wide handlebars and upright riding posture encouraged by the Vengeance E are confidence inspiring for riders of all experience levels, and for the kind of casual bike path style riding it’s built for the Carrera clips along easily. Off the beaten track if the terrain gets steeper or bumpier the weight starts to show, though, the more so for the fact a lot of it is in the wheel-mounted motor and not centred in the middle of the frame as it is on more expensive e-mountain bikes. Nor would we trust the tyres with anything but compacted gravel tracks. The suspension forks are pretty basic as well, with a harsh rebound over the bumps. You’ll be getting the gist by now but so long as you’re realistic in your expectations of what a bike of this price can do the Vengeance E should serve you well.

The gears and other parts on the Vengeance E are all standard kit from respected suppliers in the bike trade. True, they may wear out faster than more expensive bits but you can upgrade as you go and, with proper care, the chain and sprockets should last. We were reassured by the sight of a Suntour motor as well, given this is a proven unit. Charging the battery should cost just a few pence on your domestic supply as well, so in terms of running costs the Vengeance E shouldn’t stand you any more than any other entry-level mountain bike.

As above, the relatively budget parts won’t be as tough or long-lasting as those on fancier bikes. They should at least be cheap to replace, and for those who only use a bike occasionally rather than for commuting or the like the Carrera should be well up to the job. We didn’t use the bike long enough to make any meaningful assessments about reliability to be fair, but the fact all the components – though at the cheaper end – come from big, respected bike industry suppliers should give a bit of reassurance.

Halfords offers a lifetime warranty on the frame, which is reassuring. The battery, meanwhile, is guaranteed for two years or 500 charging cycles. With the support of a wide network of stores getting the Vengeance looked after shouldn’t be too much of an expense or hassle and you’ll never be too far from a service centre, but if you prefer any competent bike shop should be able to keep it running sweetly.

There are no frills on the Vengeance E but that’s quite reassuring in its way, and if you want to add more accessories the fact it’s just a regular bike with a battery means you can easily customise it to suit your tastes and needs. So if you want to change the seat, handlebars, grips or anything else you can just buy off the shelf. In terms of e-bike specific features the only real extra you’ll notice on the Vengeance E is the small controller on the left side of the handlebars. Having turned power on via the main switch on the battery this then lets you scroll up or down between the three assistance levels, the highest of which will obviously get through the charge more quickly. The small LCD display helps you keep tabs of this and also shows your speed.

If you’re looking for an e-mountain bike to take you places a regular one won’t go we’d say you still need to spend a bit more money, no matter how tempting the idea of a £1,000 Vengeance E may seem. But that’s fine, and while ‘serious cyclists’ may not be too impressed for the more casual riders it’s aimed at the Carrera does a better job than we’d have credited. As a holiday bike to sling on the back of the car or motorhome it’ll mean you can explore the local area or pop to the shops for your morning baguette without breaking a sweat, and even broaden your horizons to include quiet coastal lanes or gentle forest paths should the mood take you. It may be built to a price but Carrera has wisely kept things simple and tough as well, and for a relatively affordable first step into the world of e-bikes the Vengeance E looks like an honest workhorse.