Engwe L20 3.0 Pro (2025 - ) review

Being a folding electric bike, the usual considerations come into play and it’s a classic step-through design. Overall, Engwe has done a fine job making everything look and feel good to use – particularly the locks on the folding joints, which clip together satisfyingly and didn’t give us any trouble. It’s a sleek looking bike in the all-black colour scheme (although, a beige colour called ‘champagne’ is also available, while not as nice), with a sturdy-looking frame around the battery and motor housings. The handle bars have nice flat grips, the pedals are wide and grippy, the gear selectors and derailleur click nicely, the control screen is crisp and clear, and the whole bike gives off a feeling of being robust. At the back of the bike is a small cargo rack, and the big 20-inch urban-hybrid tyres just add to the overall tough look.

The riding position is upright, similar to many electric bikes. You must find the right seat height, because if you don’t the slightly back-set pedals will make your thighs ache way earlier than they should on a ride. However, the assisted pedaling will mitigate this on its higher settings and do most of the work for you on flat ground. On steeper inclines we were able to sit on the seat and found the saddle to be incredibly comfortable even after an hour of riding. The only thing to watch out for is the small stand under the motor used to hold the bike up when folded; it is quite low to the ground and we couldn’t help worrying it might hit a rock on rougher terrain.

Is it practical to have to build your electric bike? Not always, but it’s great fun and makes that first ride feel like a just reward. We had a blast putting it together with only a little help required from Engwe’s helpful series of YouTube videos – the manual was sometimes a bit difficult to follow. That it folds is a bonus for storage and carrying it around in a car boot, but we didn’t use the function all that much. The addition of a cargo rack behind the saddle is a nice plus, but not all that necessary with a good backpack, and the kickstand is a good addition and heavily sprung. It is a heavy bike at nearly 33 kg, and moving it about and folding it up can be unwieldy, however it wasn’t difficult to load fully assembled into the back of our Toyota Proace panel van, we just made sure to strap it down properly. There are lighter folding bikes available, but not many that offer the big battery and all-terrain capabilities of this bike for below £2,000 – that’s its big practicality point!

We found it hard to ride this bike without assisted pedalling, which isn’t a deal breaker because an electric bike with nearly 100 miles of range is there to be ridden ‘always on’. On the lower power settings it performs well on town roads, with the highest setting being the go-to when you need to get moving quickly. And it is quick, chucking you along the road with a childlike ‘whee’ thanks to the 250 W motor’s 100 Nm of torque. We tested the bike on inclined grass hills, gravel bowls and muddy forest tracks with few issues aside from some wobbles (probably due to the small wheels). The full suspension and thick tyres work together well and you’ll only feel the biggest of bumps in your rump. The disk brakes on the front and back are very keen and can be sharp for the first few miles before they settle. The bike gave us an enormous sense of power at our disposal, and it’s hard to imagine anyone getting on and not enjoying themselves on gentler terrain. But remember, this is not a mountain bike and it won’t feel like one on tougher terrain – if you want to do proper off-road riding you’ll need an e-mountain bike.

A comfortable saddle, big tyres and full suspension make this a comfortable bike to ride on every surface we tested it on. There were some stability issues on the highest power setting in town, but that’s most likely down to it being our first run out while trying to find the right seat height or getting used to the size of the wheels. As mentioned, the pedals are set slightly back due to the folding mechanisms in front of the motor and it’s critical to find the right seat height to compensate for this. The gear switches are easy to access by your right hand, and the derailleur is quick and smooth even when traversing multiple gears. Adjusting the power-assist settings is also a doddle thanks to the big plus and minus buttons by your left hand. Our tester was a first-time electric bike rider and found this bike very easy to use, saying it was “foolproof”.

The bike’s 720 Wh Samsung battery can be charged from empty to full in just two hours. After removing the battery, you need to use the supplied 8A three-pin charger which can be plugged in at home or at work. Charging costs will depend on your own home energy tariff, while we’re pretty sure your workplace will be fine with a two-hour recharge. The £1,599 price tag is pretty good, sitting somewhere in the middle of the commuter market’s budget. Check the Engwe site regularly for any discount events taking place… a recent promotion we saw knocked nearly £200 off the RRP. And, if you can get one on a cycle-to-work scheme then this bike becomes less of a curio and more of a must-try electric bike.

The L20 3.0 Pro feels very reliable, although we’d hazard the one-year warranty might make people think twice when other electric bikes get two years as standard. However, the bike feels tough and robust, although we’d most likely need a few months with it to make sure that feeling sticks.

The bike is covered by a one-year warranty for most parts you’d expect, although the headlights and taillights (and some other basic parts) are only covered for six months or less so check the paperwork. You can add a year to the warranty at the point of sale for around £170, which is probably worth doing if you’re going to be using it regularly. Make sure you get it serviced at a properly-badged service centre to preserve the warranty. If anything goes wrong then head to the dealer you bought it from, they’ll advise what to do next.

As you can see from the sections above, there’s a lot on offer here. The L20 3.0 Pro is well equipped for the price, with a well-built folding frame that compromises only in the places you’d expect a folding bike to have to compromise. You can also purchase accessories from Engwe’s online shop, including a bike lock, pump, phone mount and a bespoke rack bag.

Full suspension, a robust step-through frame, nearly 100 miles of range, big tyres, multiple power settings and a powerful motor for under £1,600 is impressive. Its weight might make some potential buyers think twice, but those needing a powerful and robust daily commuter bike should definitely add this bike to their list.