Gazelle Avignon vs Specialized Turbo Como Comparison

The Gazelle Avignon sits in Gazelle’s “Easy” category, which tells you a lot about who it’s for. It’s not a sporty bike. It’s a fully upright, comfortable city e-Bike designed to make riding as easy and relaxed as possible. It has a tried-and-tested Bosch motor and a belt drive, keeping maintenance to a minimum. Gazelle describes the C380 as their most comfortable e-Bike, and I agree.

The Turbo Como is Specialized’s comfort city bike— it’s comfortable by Specialized standards, which still means a more active riding position than the Avignon. This bike was redesigned in 2022, with a dramatically lower step-through height and wider tires, making it feel noticeably different from anything Specialized has made before. They built their own motor in partnership with Brose, resulting in one of the quietest mid-drive motors on the market. MasterMind display, app connectivity, and anti-theft features round out a bike that’s techy and comfortable.

The Avignon C380 is the model you'll find at US dealers. It is fully equipped and built for riders who want city riding to be super easy. There is a C8 version, but it is less common in the US, so the C380 is the one you need to know about. It has the powerful Performance Line motor, seamless Enviolo shifting, and Gates belt drive, making it about as close to a zero-maintenance e-Bike as you can get.

When it comes to the Como family, the 3.0 is the starting point. It is quiet and lightweight, and perfectly capable for most commutes. The 4.0 is more powerful, has a bigger battery, and is Class 3, so it appeals to riders who want a bit more from their daily ride. Both come fully kitted with fenders, lights, and a rear rack. IGH variants are available at each level if you want a belt drive and an internal hub instead of a derailleur.

The Avignon C380 puts you in what Gazelle calls a "Dutch touring" position. You sit fully upright, with the bars swept back toward you, and the front wheel out ahead for stability. Owners describe it as the closest thing to sitting in a comfortable chair while also going somewhere. There are no gear clicks either, just a twist of the grip, and the Enviolo hub adjusts resistance seamlessly. Combined with the Gates belt drive, the drivetrain is completely silent and needs almost no maintenance. Bosch's Performance Line motor has 75 Nm of torque, which is more than enough for city riding.

Sit on the Como, and you’ll immediately feel the difference. The geometry is more active, with narrower bars and a feel that's closer to a conventional city bike than a “Dutch comfort cruiser.” Specialized's proprietary motor, developed with Brose, is widely regarded as one of the quietest mid-drive units available. Owners consistently note that it's almost inaudible at low speeds, which makes riding a very light, responsive bicycle even better. For riders coming from non-electric bikes, the Como tends to feel the most natural of any e-Bike they've tried.

Both bikes are Class 1 at the base level, meaning pedal assist to 20 mph with no throttle. The Como 4.0 takes you into Class 3 territory, with up to 28 mph.

One difference worth mentioning from the spec is that both bikes have a suspension fork, but they're not equivalent. The Avignon's headset-integrated fork offers 40mm of travel, which is comfortable for city use but noticeably less than the Como's SR Suntour Mobie A32 at 80mm. The extra travel on the Como makes a real difference on bumpy roads.

Real-world range is comparable. The Avignon C380's 625Wh battery should give you 40 to 60 miles, depending on terrain and how you ride. The Como 3.0's smaller 530Wh battery falls within a similar range thanks to Specialized's motor's efficiency. The Como 4.0 at 710Wh is better for longer rides.

The Avignon is a heavy bike. At around 63 lbs, it's not the easiest to maneuver off the bike, and a handful of owners have noted it's not ideal for anyone who regularly needs to carry it upstairs. The weight is a consequence of the comfort-first build (there’s no such thing as a lightweight Rolls Royce), with the suspension fork, seatpost, wide tires, and integrated rack all adding up.

All Como models use a custom integrated handlebar and stem unit. Swapping them for a different fit is not straightforward, which has frustrated some riders who felt they needed to tweak the geometry. If you're planning a test ride, pay close attention to how the bar height and reach feel, as adjustability is limited.

As for the recall, the Turbo Como SL 4.0 and 5.0 are under an active CPSC stop-ride recall due to a defect in the fork steerer tube. Standard Como 3.0 and 4.0 models are not affected and are safe to buy.

For a rider who wants the most comfortable possible city e-Bike and doesn't want to think about maintenance, I’d suggest the Avignon C380. The Enviolo hub and Gates belt drive are about as close to a zero-maintenance drivetrain as you can get. The Bosch ecosystem is well-established, parts are widely available, the 75Nm motor handles hills easily, and it’s incredibly comfortable.

For riders who want a premium bike that feels more involved, the Turbo Como is the one I recommend. Brose's motor is exceptional, the ride quality is refined, and the Mission Control app allows you to customize your settings and has anti-theft features that the Bosch system doesn't quite match. Start with the Como 3.0 unless you want the speed of a Class 3 bike; in that case, the 4.0 is the one to go for.

You might also want to check out the Como IGH variants if you like the idea of the Specialized, but low maintenance is a priority. The Enviolo hub and Gates belt drive bring the Como closer to the Avignon's drivetrain, and is less expensive than the C380. The trade-off is the proprietary Specialized motor over Bosch, which has a smaller service network outside of Specialized dealers.

If I were choosing between the two, I'd go to the Avignon C380 for pure all-day comfort and the Como 4.0 for a sportier, faster, more connected ride. The decision mostly comes down to how you want the bike to feel.

Premium bikes like these hold their value better than budget options, but you can still get them for less. Both the Avignon and the Como tend to be well cared for by their original owners, which makes the used market a good option, especially when they are certified. Every bike on Upway goes through a 50-point mechanical inspection, with any battery below 80% capacity replaced before sale.

Browse the Gazelle collection, the Specialized collection, or the full commuter e-Bike listings to see what's currently in stock. The hub vs mid-drive comparison is worth a read if you need more information on motor types, and the best e-Bikes for commuting guide covers a wider range of options if neither bike is quite right. You may also want to browse all the electric bikes on Upway to see what else is available.