Let’s cut through the marketing: Engwe and Fiido both sell sub-€1,500 eBikes to Europeans through direct-to-China sales. But after six weeks testing four models across 800+ kilometers in the Netherlands and Belgium with two colleagues (combined rider weight: 165-180kg), the gap between what they claim and what you actually get is where these brands truly separate.
This isn’t a spec-sheet comparison. I’m not going to regurgitate manufacturer wattage numbers. Here’s what happened when we rode these bikes into the ground.
The Four Horses of the E-Pocalypse
We bought these retail, paid real prices including shipping and customs, and rode them like we actually owned them — not like loaner units being babysat by a PR team.
| Engwe Engine Pro 2.0 | Fiido D4S | Engwe M20 | Fiido M1 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listed Price | €1,299 | €999 | €1,099 | €1,199 |
| What We Actually Paid | €1,347 (€48 customs) | €1,089 (€90 customs) | €1,156 (€57 customs) | €1,298 (€99 customs) |
| Battery | 48V 16Ah (768Wh) | 36V 10.4Ah (374Wh) | 48V 13Ah (624Wh) | 48V 12.5Ah (600Wh) |
| Motor Claim | 750W | 250W | 750W | 500W |
| Actual Weight | 32.4 kg | 19.8 kg | 29.7 kg | 25.1 kg |
First red flag: every single unit got hit with unexpected customs charges. Fiido’s were proportionally worse — that “free EU shipping” claim doesn’t include the Dutch taxman. Engwe’s “EU warehouse” promise for the Engine Pro 2.0 still got held for 4 days in Rotterdam. Check recent Trustpilot reviews — this isn’t isolated.
Range Testing: The Truth They Don’t Put on the Box
Manufacturer range numbers are fiction. We all know this. But the magnitude of the gap still shocked us.
Our test protocol: same riders (me at 82kg, colleague at 83-98kg), same tire pressures, 15-20°C, wind under 10km/h. Two route types — flat urban (Rotterdam-The Hague loop, 85% asphalt) and hilly rural (South Limburg, 200m elevation changes). Two power modes: Eco (minimal assist, ~100W rider effort) and Turbo (full assist, barely pedaling).
Engwe Engine Pro 2.0 — The Range Disappointment
| Condition | Claimed | We Got | Efficiency (Wh/km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat, Eco | 120 km | 71 km | 10.8 |
| Flat, Turbo | 75 km | 38 km | 20.2 |
| Hilly, Eco | — | 52 km | 14.8 |
| Hilly, Turbo | — | 26 km | 29.5 |
That 768Wh battery is real. The problem is the 750W motor is genuinely voracious. Engwe’s “120km” claim assumes a 50kg rider on flat ground with near-zero pedaling effort. At European legal speeds (25km/h) with actual pedaling, 60-70km in mixed conditions is honest.
The hilly/turbo result — 26km — is the one that matters. My colleague’s €3,200 Riese & Müller with similar battery capacity managed 42km in identical conditions. That gap tells you everything about motor tuning.
Fiido D4S — The Underdog With a Tiny Battery
| Condition | Claimed | We Got | Efficiency (Wh/km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat, Eco | 80 km | 54 km | 6.9 |
| Flat, Turbo | 50 km | 28 km | 13.4 |
| Hilly, Eco | — | 41 km | 9.1 |
| Hilly, Turbo | — | 19 km | 19.7 |
The D4S’s 374Wh battery is tiny by 2024 standards. That 54km flat/eco result required genuine effort — my heart rate averaged 130bpm versus 110bpm on the Engine Pro 2.0. The Fiido forces you to work for it. That’s not inherently bad, but Fiido’s “80km” claim is fantasy.
The battery degradation caught us off guard. After six weeks of daily riding (probably 30 full charge cycles), our final flat/eco run produced only 47km — roughly 12% capacity loss. For a €1,089 bike, that kind of degradation in under two months is concerning.
Engwe M20 — The Surprise Package
| Condition | Claimed | We Got | Efficiency (Wh/km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat, Eco | 100 km | 68 km | 9.2 |
| Flat, Turbo | 60 km | 35 km | 17.8 |
| Hilly, Eco | — | 51 km | 12.2 |
| Hilly, Turbo | — | 24 km | 26.0 |
The M20 surprised us. Better efficiency than the Engine Pro 2.0 despite similar motor claims — Engwe clearly tuned this model more conservatively. The 624Wh battery physically looks smaller than the Engine Pro’s, but the real-world numbers are nearly as good.
This is the Engwe I’d buy. Not the flashiest, not the most powerful — but the most honest about what it can do.
Fiido M1 Pro — The One We’d Skip
| Condition | Claimed | We Got | Efficiency (Wh/km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat, Eco | 80 km | 48 km | 12.5 |
| Flat, Turbo | 50 km | 27 km | 22.2 |
| Hilly, Eco | — | 36 km | 16.7 |
| Hilly, Turbo | — | 18 km | 33.3 |
At €1,298 (including customs), the M1 Pro costs almost as much as the Engine Pro 2.0 but delivers significantly less range. The 500W motor feels underpowered on the hills, and the 600Wh battery — while decent on paper — struggles to keep up with the heavier frame. Not recommended at this price point.
The Customs Tax Nobody Mentions
Both brands advertise “free EU shipping.” What they don’t mention is that Chinese eBikes imported into the EU attract VAT and customs duties that the shipping label doesn’t cover. Fiido’s D4S cost €90 in unexpected fees. The Engine Pro 2.0 — despite coming from an “EU warehouse” — still got hit for €48 and a 4-day customs hold.
Budget your total cost at €100-150 above the listed price for customs. If that kills the value proposition, look at European brands instead.
The Verdict
Best overall: Engwe M20. The most honest range figures, decent battery, and at €1,156 landed, it’s the best value in the lineup.
Cheapest option: Fiido D4S at €1,089 landed. But the tiny battery and 12% degradation in six weeks give me pause. If you’re a lightweight rider (under 70kg) doing mostly flat urban rides, it’s fine. Heavier riders or hilly terrain — look elsewhere.
Avoid: Fiido M1 Pro. You’re paying near-Engwe flagship money for Fiido budget-level performance.
Both brands have improved significantly in the past two years. The build quality on the M20, in particular, would have been unthinkable at this price in 2022. But the marketing claims — the “100km range” and “free EU shipping” — remain pure fiction. Do your homework, budget for customs, and take the range numbers and halve them for a realistic estimate.
FAQ
Which is more reliable — Engwe or Fiido?
Based on our six-week, 800km+ test: Engwe, specifically the M20 model. We experienced measurable battery degradation on the Fiido D4S (12% capacity loss in ~30 charge cycles) and the M1 Pro’s motor struggled on hills. The Engwe M20 showed no significant degradation and more consistent performance across all conditions.
Are Chinese eBikes legal in Europe?
Yes, all four models in this test are EU-compliant (EN15194 certified). The 250W Fiidos are legal everywhere. The 750W Engwes are technically “pedelecs” — they only assist up to 25km/h in EU mode. Some Engwe models have a “off-road” mode that removes the speed cap, but using it on public roads is illegal in most EU countries.
Do I need to pay customs for Engwe/Fiido to Europe?
Almost certainly, yes. Despite “free shipping” advertising, both brands ship from China and EU VAT + customs apply on arrival. Budget an extra €100-150 above the listed price. Engwe’s “EU warehouse” stock may avoid this — but confirm before ordering, as our Engine Pro 2.0 from the EU warehouse still got charged.
What’s the real range of the Engwe M20?
In our testing: 68km flat/Eco, 51km hilly/Eco, 35km flat/Turbo, 24km hilly/Turbo. For mixed daily riding (combination of flat and some hills, mostly Eco mode), expect 50-60km from the 624Wh battery. Halve that in winter.
