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The P275 ST is Engwe’s first mid-motor electric bike. Its hydroformed alloy step-through frame, integrated lights, large battery capacity and bargain price make it a great competitor to more established brands' electric commuter bikes.
Up until now, Engwe has focused on rear-hub motors for its drive systems, but the £1,899 P275 ST represents a change of direction.
This mid-motor ebike has a big range, a practical design and a bargain price; there’s a lot to like about the Engwe P275 ST.
Engwe P275 ST frame details
The P275’s frame is neatly finished with hydroformed alloy tube sections and lots of purposeful welds, adding up to a quality finish that belies the Engwe’s budget price.
The step-through frame design and lots of seat-height adjustment open up the P275 to a wide rider-size range. That said, the stem is fixed: an adjustable stem would make the most of the one-size-fits-all approach.
The frame has a dedicated mount bracket for the kickstand, and the solid direct-fit rear rack helps keep things tidy. Proper mudguard mounts and the inclusion of full-length mudguards makes practical sense.
With Engwe operating a direct-to-consumer business model, it’s good to see the bike arrive mostly assembled, with only the front guard, rear rack and front wheel requiring fitting to get you on the road.
Engwe includes instructions and all the tools you’ll need for assembly, along with unboxing and assembly video instructions on Engwe’s website.
| | One Size |
|---|---|
| Rider height (cm) | 175-200 |
| Payload Capacity (kg) | 100 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1165 |
| Total length (mm) | 1870 |
| Standover (mm) | 750 |
| Reach (mm) | 480 |
| Min saddle height (mm) | 920 |
| Max saddle height (mm) | 980 |
| Handlebar height (mm) | 1140 |
Ananda motor system
The heart of the P275 ST is Shanghai-based eMobility specialist Ananda’s M60 motor. This 3.5kg mid-motor comes with a claimed maximum 70Nm of torque and 250W of power.
It's comparable in weight and power to Bosch’s Performance line (3.2kg and 75Nm).
Where the Engwe stands out is with its large 691Wh Samsung Li-ion removable battery, a significantly larger size than Bosch’s standard 500Wh battery.
The motor is controlled by a neat full-colour TFT screen, which shows battery level, speed and power mode.
Twin buttons within reach of your thumb enable switching between the five power modes, and operate both the lights and the P275’s walk assist mode.
An information button on the side provides plenty of ride metrics.
The large battery slots into a lockable channel behind the bike's seatpost. Battery removal and replacement is easy, although I’d have appreciated a handle because the large battery can be cumbersome to handle.
Engwe P275 ST specifications
With an RRP of £1,899 but available for significantly less, the Engwe’s build is on the basic/budget side, although it’s good to see all the key components coming from established and respected brands.
Shimano provides the gearing from its nine-speed Altus range and Tektro provides hydraulic disc brakes front and rear.
Selle Royal provides its comfort-focused Vivo urban saddle, designed for a more upright riding position and replete with a clip-in rear light. This sits atop a convenient under-saddle operated dropper seatpost.
The wheels are sturdy 27.5in/650b alloy rims on disc-specific hubs. These are wrapped with broad 2.4in-wide lightly treaded tyres, with anti-puncture protection built in and a safety-aiding reflective pinstripe on their flanks.
The hefty oversized rear rack bolts directly to the dropped rear stays. It’s a solid platform for luggage, but requires panniers with oversized clips.
For a bike that's going to be used for commuting and shopping duties, I’d have liked options for a front rack, euro-crate platform for the rear rack, and pannier bags compatible with the oversized rails.
Engwe P275 ST ride impressions
The commanding upright ride feel that results from the high-rise bar and pitched-forward seated position is very comfortable.
It affords you a great view all-round, which is ideal when riding in urban traffic.
The contact points are good, with the textured, slender lock-on grips on the bar providing a secure hold in all weather.
This is matched with the plush Vivo saddle that’s broadly shaped for the more upright ride position, with supportive padding that’s comfortable even on longer rides.
It’s supplied with resin platform pedals, which are kind to your shoes (they don’t rip holes in the outsole), although I’d have liked a more secure grip when riding in wet weather.
The P275 ST looks like a sensible budget urban bike, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that might make it a little dull.
However, I enjoyed riding the P275 – its unassuming look with the oversized low-step frame and chunky battery compartment hides a surprisingly swift and quite responsive ride.
I found the large 2.4in-wide slick tyres encouraged cornering speed and their big volume took the edge off bumpy surfaces, making the P275 ST a fine companion on towpaths and bike paths, as well as tarmac.
The inclusion of an integrated light at the front provides ample illumination for urban and suburban riding, although there isn’t an integrated rear light.
Instead, Engwe provides a Selle Royal clip-in rear light that slots into the base of the saddle. I’d certainly add another rear light to the mix to boost visibility, though, and the sturdy rear rack has a light-mounting plate fitted.
The motor system impresses, with five power modes: Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo and Boost. On flat urban streets, Eco mode is more than enough assistance to keep you at traffic speeds.
Tour is ideal for more undulating urban environments, while the three further modes enable you to ascend the steepest inclines without breaking a sweat.
The small full-colour LCD screen hides a lot of ride information. There’s the standard trip distance, odometer, average/max/current speeds and also energy metrics – power from the motor in watts, your power in watts, and watts per kilometre for both you and the bike.
It’s a huge wealth of information that wouldn’t be out of place on a performance electric road bike rather than a round-town runabout.
The only niggle with the control system is the range predictor on my test bike didn’t function as it should, giving unpredictable/unbelievable numbers. It's certainly not on a par with premium ebike systems from Bosch or Shimano.
This means you're more reliant on the five-segment battery indicator for reserve levels.
Range, however, isn’t an issue with the P275 – the large cartridge-style battery has an impressive 691Wh capacity.
So, while the P275 may well be a sturdy 24kg+ urban bike with fat tyres and light gearing, it has the range of a top-end performance ebike.
I achieved a huge 94.94km/58.99 miles with 845m/2,772ft of climbing on a single charge. That should be sufficient reserves for an urban runabout to mean you only need to charge around once a week.
That said, it’s worth noting the charge time for the large-capacity battery comes in at just over seven hours.
Engwe claims up to a huge 260km range in eco mode, on the flat. It's ambitious but not necessarily out of the question, depending on how you ride and what you’re carrying.
The Shimano Altus/Alivio nine-speed gears work well and the shifting is quick, although it feels somewhat clunky compared to Shimano’s higher-level products (such as Deore).
That said, gear shifts are reliable and easy thanks to the trigger shifter, and the gear-indicator window lets you know in an instant where you are in your gear range.
The full-hydraulic Tektro brakes offer lots of smooth, progressive power, but elicit the occasional scraping noise when braking in the wet as the pads clear the rotor of detritus and road spray.
The braking remains consistent in all weather, though, which is a big plus.
The rear rack is a useful addition, but the hugely oversized tubes mean you’ll need to find panniers with oversized clips to match.
The head tube has four-bolt front rack fittings, although Engwe doesn’t yet offer a front rack as part of its accessory range (we are told it's imminent).
