Let's get one thing straight: these are not the same kind of bike. The Rs 21,000 price gap between the Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220 (Rs 1,28,891) and the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 (Rs 1,49,900) is real money - but more importantly, these two machines are trying to do different things. One is built for effortless highway miles. The other is built to look great and do everything reasonably well. The question is: which one is right for you?
Quick Specs Comparison
| Feature | Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220 | Royal Enfield Hunter 350 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (ex-showroom) | Rs 1,28,891 | Rs 1,49,900 (base) |
| Engine | 220cc, oil-cooled | 349cc, air/oil-cooled |
| Max Power | 19.03 PS @ 8,500 rpm | 20.21 PS @ 6,100 rpm |
| Max Torque | 17.55 Nm @ 7,000 rpm | 27 Nm @ 4,000 rpm |
| Mileage (ARAI) | 40 kmpl | 36.2 kmpl |
| Kerb Weight | 163 kg | 181 kg |
| Seat Height | 737 mm | ~800 mm |
| ABS | Single-channel | Dual-channel |
| Wheels | Spoke (tubed) | Alloy (tubeless) |
Numbers on paper tell part of the story. Let me fill in the rest.
Engine & Performance: More Torque Wins in the Real World
The Hunter 350's 349cc motor produces 27 Nm of torque at a lazy 4,000 rpm - nearly 10 Nm more than the Avenger's 17.55 Nm. What does that mean on a Pune - Mumbai expressway? You cruise at 100 kmph on the Hunter without the engine spinning its head off. The Avenger at the same speed is working harder - it's comfortable enough, but you can feel the difference.
The Avenger's engine makes its power up top (8,500 rpm), which means you need to rev it to extract performance. Fine on a Saturday morning highway run. Less fun on NH44 when a truck suddenly pulls in front of you at 90 kmph and you need grunt fast.
That said, if you mostly ride at 80-85 kmph - which honestly most of us do - the Avenger's engine is perfectly sufficient and noticeably smoother than the Royal Enfield's unit at highway cruising speeds.
Price & Ownership Cost: The Avenger Makes a Strong Case
Rs 21,000 upfront is just the beginning. The Hunter 350 costs more to service, more to insure (bigger engine = higher premium), and alloy-wheel punctures on tubeless tyres are easier to manage but actual tyre replacements are pricier. The Avenger's spoke wheels are a bit of a hassle for tubeless conversion - one of its most frustrating omissions.
On mileage, the Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220 claims 40 kmpl (ARAI) and owners regularly see 35-40 kmpl real-world. The Hunter 350 claims 36.2 kmpl and delivers around 32-36 kmpl in practice. The mileage gap adds up meaningfully on long tours - if you're doing Leh - Manali, that's fewer fuel stops and real savings.
Annual service costs for the Avenger run approximately Rs 4,000-6,000 at an authorised Bajaj centre. Royal Enfield service costs are typically higher - expect Rs 6,000-9,000 per year once you're in paid services.
Comfort & Ergonomics: Avenger's Biggest Advantage
This is where the Avenger Cruise 220 runs away from the Hunter 350. The 737mm seat height means shorter riders can flat-foot comfortably - a genuine confidence booster in Mumbai traffic. The windshield deflects wind blast efficiently, the forward-set footpegs reduce lower back strain on long hauls, and the wide pull-back handlebar puts your wrists in a completely relaxed position.
I've spoken to Avenger owners who do 300 km days on NH44 without complaint. The Hunter 350 is comfortable too - it's a Royal Enfield, comfort is in the DNA - but it's more upright, taller, and heavier. Taller riders will prefer the Hunter's ergonomics; shorter riders will strongly prefer the Avenger.
The Avenger's turning radius, though, is genuinely bad. In tight Mumbai traffic or while attempting a U-turn on a narrow lane in Old Delhi, the wide wheelbase becomes a curse. The Hunter 350 is far more manageable in city conditions.
Features & Tech: Hunter 350 Wins Clearly
No sugarcoating here - the Avenger Cruise 220 is dated when it comes to features. No tubeless tyres, no alloy wheels, no Bluetooth, no smartphone connectivity. The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 offers dual-channel ABS (at least on higher variants), tubeless tyres on alloy wheels, and a Tripper navigation pod option on some trims.
The Avenger gets single-channel ABS only. It works, but dual-channel is meaningfully safer - especially during panic braking on wet NH58 heading into Uttarakhand.
If modern features and safety tech matter to you, the Hunter 350 is the clear pick.
Styling: Different Strokes
The Avenger Cruise 220 has a low, stretched-out American chopper silhouette that's genuinely distinctive. Chrome accents, spoke wheels, a big windshield, and a low-slung seat - it looks expensive for the money and turns heads at highway dhabas.
The Hunter 350 has Royal Enfield's characteristic retro-roadster look. It's stylish in a completely different way - more café racer/streetfighter inspired. Both look good; it comes down to personal taste. The Avenger is more of a statement; the Hunter is more versatile-looking.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220 if:
- You primarily ride long highway stretches (100+ km regularly)
- Your height is 5'6" or under and comfort and confidence matter
- You want the lowest total cost of ownership in this segment
- Budget is a genuine constraint and you can live without the latest tech
Buy the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 if:
- You split time between city and highway equally
- You want better performance headroom and modern safety features (dual-channel ABS)
- A more powerful motor and alloy wheels with tubeless tyres matter to you
- You're comfortable spending Rs 21,000 more upfront and a bit more on running costs
The Verdict
The Avenger Cruise 220 is a specialist - brilliant at highway touring, underwhelming everywhere else. The Hunter 350 is a generalist - competent everywhere, exceptional nowhere.
If you live on the highway, the Avenger's combination of comfort, mileage, and price is hard to beat at this price point. If you live in a city and take the occasional highway run, the Hunter 350's better all-round capability and modern features are worth the premium.
There's no wrong answer here - just an honest question: what does most of your riding actually look like?
Drop your take below - Avenger loyalists and Hunter 350 owners, let's hear it. City riders, which one did you end up choosing?
