The Swiss three-wheel scooter Quadro QV 3 offers a high level of safety even when leaning. Driving report from our test editors.
- Class B driving license is sufficient, minimum age: 21
- Competitors are Piaggio MP3 and Peugeot Metropolis
- Only occasionally available at dealers
Wet autumn leaves, gravel, oil stains, icy frost early in the morning and similar slippery hazards on our roads – all of these things are no longer a problem when motorized two-wheelers switch to tricycles. Two tires at the front provide double the grip at the front, thus more safety and, after a short period of getting used to them, often more fun to ride than conventional scooters.
Official name: Multi-track vehicle
The Swiss brand “Quadro” was founded by former Piaggio employees. And the idea of using a three-wheeled scooter to defy the limits of physics also came from Italy. There are now several suppliers of these unusual scooters. The width of the two-wheeled front axle of the Quadro QV 3 and a foot brake pedal on the right officially make it a multi-track vehicle. This is why you can drive the 29 hp fresh air vehicle with a class B car driver’s license – if you are at least 21 years old. The question is, is this only an option for non-bikers who want to enjoy the wind? Or is the tricycle an alternative to scooters and motorbikes if you want to play it safe ? Convinced motorcyclists turn up their noses at two-wheeled scooters, and they generally don’t think much of tricycles. But most of the time they don’t know what they’re actually making fun of. Because if you don’t dare to drive a single-track vehicle, a tricycle is a good choice.
Good overview in the cockpit
The advantages of the three-wheeler are: very high cornering speed, leaning without fear and the typical scooter advantages such as easy parking in the city. The technical prerequisite of the Quadro QV 3 is the two-wheeled front wheel design, the ” hydraulic-pneumatic tilting system HTS ” (HTS = Hydraulic Tilting System). Manufacturer Quadro promises “driving safety, driving comfort and driving fun”. Our test drives confirmed all three points with slight reservations. First, let’s talk about comfort: This starts when you park the scooter, which is secured with a red lever – this means the Swiss vehicle is stable and cannot tip over. At traffic lights, the scooter feels very stable, even with a passenger. There is also storage space in small compartments and under the seat, as well as good wind and weather protection thanks to the fairing. Even more important is the issue of safety: the two-wheeled front axle sits unusually firmly on the road and moves almost unerringly through tight bends or around corners. Unpredictable slip spots or potholes are hardly a problem. Thanks to the hydraulics, you can even drive very diagonally over a curb , because the system compensates for the different heights of the front tires.
Enough storage space for a trip for two
The two-wheeled HTS front axle can lean up to 40 degrees . This is a breathtaking value, at least for scooter newbies. The disadvantage of the system: when driving, the double front wheel creates a certain amount of inertia . For experienced scooter riders, this takes some getting used to. But anyone who cannot compare it to a conventional two-wheeler will not mind, but will instead enjoy the advantages. Because once the QV 3 is leaning, it allows higher cornering speeds and offers greater safety reserves. The design of the Quadro QV 3 appears too futuristic to many observers. And the choice of materials is not pleasing due to the amount of plastic parts. But the QV 3 has both of these things in common with its direct rivals. When maneuvering, the front wheel system of the three-wheel scooter feels a bit stiff. However, it makes up for its shortcomings with a curb weight of just 220 kg – the direct competition is significantly heavier: the Piaggio MP3 350, for example, weighs 256 kg, the Peugeot Metropolis Allure at least 265 kg. This means that the 29 hp Quadro QV 3 can compensate for its power disadvantage, because Piaggio (31 hp) and Peugeot (36 hp) have more powerful engines.
Driving behavior: No fear of lean angles
A three-disc combined brake system increases driving safety: the QV 3 activates all available brakes as soon as you pull one of two levers or press the right brake pedal. This is particularly important for inexperienced drivers, as the 29 hp of the single-cylinder engine means you can travel quite quickly in the city. You would only wish for a little more power and torque when riding with a passenger or overtaking on country roads. At 4.3 l/100 km, our practical test consumption was only marginally higher than the manufacturer’s specification (4.1). Die-hard scooter pilots or experienced bikers will not be so quick to get on a three-wheeler. The situation is different for car drivers who want to enjoy the airy scooter feeling even without driving experience or a motorcycle license. Our tip: Precisely because the Quadro QV 3 and its three-wheeled rivals shine with high driving dynamics, you should definitely complete a driving training course.
Technical data Quadro QV 3
To make sure everything is correct, we use technical details straight from Quadro’s official websites.
| Manufacturer’s Components | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Motor | Liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine with four valves per cylinder, displacement 346 cm³, power 21 kW/29 hp at 7000 rpm, max. torque 31.8 Nm at 5500 rpm, continuously variable variator |
| driving performance | Top speed 125 km/h, 0–100 km/h n/a |
| chassis | Steel bridge frame, front hydraulic-pneumatic tilting system “Hydraulic Tilting System” (HTS) with 40° tilt angle left and right, front telescopic fork with 35 mm fork tube diameter, rear double spring strut (100 mm spring travel) |
| brakes | front double disc brake, diameter 240 mm each, rear single disc brake, diameter 256 mm |
| Tires | front 110/80-14 31M, rear 140/70-15 66M |
| dimensions/weight | Wheelbase 1560 mm, tank capacity 13.2 liters, seat height 810 mm, empty weight ready to drive 220 kg, permissible total weight: 440 kg |
Conclusion
The Quadro QV 3 proves that three-wheel scooters can be much more than just an alternative for cautious riders, they can offer a genuinely fun, dynamic riding experience with added safety. Thanks to its innovative Hydraulic Tilting System (HTS), the QV 3 delivers confident cornering, impressive stability, and high levels of comfort even in tricky road conditions. Its lighter weight compared to competitors, practical storage solutions, and the ability to ride it with just a car license (from age 21) make it especially attractive to new riders or commuters looking for a safer, stylish urban mobility solution. While seasoned bikers might find the handling a bit unfamiliar at first and wish for a little more punch at higher speeds, for everyone else, the Quadro QV 3 offers a refreshing mix of security, usability, and pure riding enjoyment, especially if complemented with a professional riding course.