The Vvolt Centauri II electric bike is some of the most fun you can have in a saddle

When it comes to "Dutch style" e-bikes with a step-thru frame design, fenders, and other touches that make them comfortable and useful for daily commuting, there are plenty of offerings on the market.

But Vvolt’s Centauri II stands out among this crowded category for its Autoshift system, which changes gears automatically to ensure you’re always pedaling at a solid cadence and have plenty of power to tackle the hills.

It’s a fun and easy option for those riders who just want to pedal and not think about anything else. The Centauri II provides one of the easiest hop-on-and-ride builds out there, in fact, and on top of that, it’s a comfortable bike on which to zip around town. It’s pricey, though, and while you get a lot for the money, it’s a big investment if you’re just looking for a casual commuter.

Overall, the Centauri II is easily one of the best electric bikes with few drawbacks. Just about any commuter in need of simplicity, function, and fun will enjoy riding this bike.

Vvolt Centauri II review: price and availability

The Vvolt Centauri II retails for $3,299 at Vvolt's online store. You get free shipping anywhere in the continental US, and free returns within 14 days of purchase. Plus, you get a three-year warranty and a complementary pre-delivery tune-up.

You can also find the Centauri II at local Vvolt dealers. Vvolt offers a $100 discount if you pick up your bike from a local dealer.

Vvolt Centauri II review: design

The Centauri II features a mid-drive motor with 120Nm torque, 350W of power, and 650W peak power. Mid-drive motors are generally not as powerful as hub motors, but they’re located low and center on the bike, which usually leads to better handling characteristics.

It comes in three sizes (S/M, M/L, and L/XL) as well as two different color options. All sizes feature a step-thru design to make it easy to get on and off. And the Centauri II features a Monoshock up front, with 30mm of travel to take the edge off road chatter and bumps.

The Autoshift system shifts at approximately 12 mph and 20mph, automatically giving you the ideal amount of pedaling resistance for speed and easy use. The autoshift system is adjustable and serviceable. It’s complemented by a Gates belt drive system that eliminates a metal chain. This requires far less maintenance, and it’s also much quieter than a chain drive system.

When it’s time to slow down, the Centauri II uses Shimano hydraulic disc brakes for consistent stopping power in all conditions. And if you’ll be riding in less than ideal weather, the Centauri II conveniently includes front and rear fenders, as well as front and rear lights. The lighting system offers 360-degree visibility.

There are four assist levels: Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo. The assist cuts out at 28mph, making this a class 3 ebike. You can use the Boost button in any of the modes; this gives you four seconds of Turbo so you can accelerate from a stop quickly.

The controls for the assist live on the handlebar, and they’re easy to reach even while riding. You can see relevant information like current speed and battery level, as well as assist level, on the full-color Ananda D16 display mounted on the handlebars.

Vvolt Centauri II review: performance

The Centauri II immediately shows off its comfort features when you start pedaling. The front suspension system takes the edge off jarring hits and even road vibrations, and while the rear is a bit stiffer, it still flexes enough vertically enough to make most cracks and potholes seem very bearable.

I usually don’t like suspension implementations on bikes like these, but this one works fairly well. It’s perhaps on the stiff side — it’s basically just a spring that relies on friction for damping control — but that beats squishy soft any day. It offers just the right amount of movement to keep away the ugliest impacts while maintaining tight handling characteristics.

The autoshift works seamlessly and quietly. You’ll notice your pedaling cadence drop slightly when the shifts happen, but it feels natural. And you won’t notice downshifts to easier gears at all. I really enjoyed the autoshift system, even if I did occasionally find myself looking for a shift lever out of habit.

The assist levels are all very useful, even the lowest setting. The highest assist setting gets you up to full speed very quickly on flat surfaces, and it’s easy to maintain that speed with little thought. No shifting, no adjustments, just pedal.

There doesn’t seem to be any power compromise with the mid-drive motor. Generally, hub motors tend to be more powerful, but Vvolt’s mid-drive system kicks in quickly and lends plenty of assist power. As a bonus, the low, central placement makes the handling characteristics of the bike much more natural and easy to manage.

I even got the bike started on a steep hill from a dead stop, albeit with some real pushing on the pedals. This was my only real grievance with the Centauri II: I wanted the 4-second boost to kick in quickly enough that I could use it to get started on a hill, but it doesn’t function that way.

Instead, you hold down the button mounted on the right side of the handlebar for about a second to get the boost to engage. When you’re already pedaling, this works just fine, but if you’re at a dead stop, it’s not super useful.

I think the Centauri II would be better served by a throttle instead of the boost button. With a throttle, you can engage the assist without having to pedal. That makes it much easier to get started on hills.

Aside from that, there was almost nothing to complain about in terms of the Centauri II’s performance. It ticks all the boxes: ease of use, comfort, speed and quality.

Vvolt Centauri II review: battery life

The 490Wh/ 13.6Ah battery is fully removable from the frame. According to Vvolt, you should get a 60-mile range out of a full charge. This is, of course, dependent upon the conditions in which you’re riding, and the terrain you’re rolling over.

I got about 37 miles out of my first charge, when I mostly used the Turbo assist level, which uses more power. I also ran the front and rear lights every time I rode. And I tested the bike during winter in Colorado, cold temperatures could have had an effect on the battery life.

While Vvolt does not note on its website any specific brand for the battery, the company does indicate that the battery is UL2849 compliant and UL2271 tested for safety and quality.

Vvolt Centauri II review: accessories

There are plenty of accessories on Vvolt’s website to complement the Centauri II. Most notably, the Aluminum Rear Rack ($55) is an ideal add-on so you can carry cargo while you’re commuting.

If you want to extend your range capabilities, you can purchase the Ranger 490Wh battery for $399. Beyond that, Vvolt offers a wide range of non-specific accessories like panniers, water bottle cages and locks.

Should you buy the Vvolt Centauri II?

The Centauri II is an excellent commuter bike. It’s comfortable, fast, fun to ride, and most importantly, easy to operate. The autoshift system works wonderfully, and the belt drive is super quiet.

My only nitpick about the Centauri II is the boost button. It’s useful in certain situations, but not in one key situation: getting started from a dead stop. I think the Centauri II would be better served by a throttle here.

It’s an expensive bike for commuting, but it also offers features that are difficult to find anywhere else. If you want a bike that does almost all the work for you — except the actual pedaling — the Centauri II is right up your alley.

And the combination of Dutch-style, step-thru design, mid-drive motor and autoshift system mean there are few direct competitors too. But if you needed another option, Gazelle’s Avignon C380 looks similar, has a mid-drive motor and shift-smoothing system — although you need to do the gear-shifts yourself.