Trek District+ 3 vs District+ 4 — which city e-bike is right for you?

Two ways into the same idea

Trek's new District+ range is built on one belief: a city e-bike should be ready for real life the moment it leaves the shop. Both models come fully equipped — lights front and rear, a MIK-compatible rack, SKS mudguards, a kickstand and reflective puncture-protected tyres — on an easy lowstep aluminium frame with a suspension fork and seatpost, Bosch Smart System power and hydraulic disc brakes. Nothing to add before your first commute. The question is which one fits your riding — and having both in our range, here's our honest take.

District+ 3 R9 360 LS — £2,300

The fully-equipped essential. A Bosch Active Line Plus motor delivers 60Nm of smooth, quiet assistance, fed by a removable 360Wh PowerTube battery — plenty for daily commutes and around-town riding, and it lifts out to charge indoors. A 9-speed Shimano CUES drivetrain with a wide-range 11-46 cassette keeps pedalling easy on the climbs, and the whole package weighs in around 24.3kg with a 136kg total weight limit.

Who it's for: flatter commutes, shorter hops, riders who want the fully-equipped package at the sharpest price.

District+ 4 R10 LS — £2,700

The step-up — and the differences are exactly where they matter in Cornwall. The Bosch Performance Line motor puts out 75Nm, a quarter more torque than the 3, and the 600Wh battery carries two-thirds more capacity — the difference between charging every day and charging a couple of times a week, or between eyeing the battery gauge on a long ride and forgetting it exists. The drivetrain steps up to 10-speed Shimano CUES U6000 with an optical gear display and an 11-48 option, the headlight is a brighter 140-lumen Herrmans unit, and despite the bigger battery it's a kilo lighter at 23.3kg.

Who it's for: hilly commutes (so, most of Cornwall), longer rides, anyone who wants range to spare.

So — which one?

The £400 between them buys 67% more battery, 25% more torque, an extra gear and a brighter light. Our honest steer: if your riding is flat and your distances short, the District+ 3 does everything you need and the change stays in your pocket. If there's a proper hill on your route or your rides run longer — and around here they usually do — the District+ 4 is worth every penny of the step. When customers are genuinely torn, we point at the hill outside the shop and recommend the 4.

Try before you decide

Our District+ 3 demo (Lunar Silver, size M) arrives in store this week — test rides are bookable now. Sizing runs S (147–155cm), M (155–173cm), L (170–185cm) and XL (185–203cm) across both models, and most sizes and colours are just a couple of weeks from order to handover.

Ordering through Saint Piran Service Course

Every District+ we sell is built and handed over at our Redruth workshop — torque-logged, set up to you, first level 1 MOT check service included. Order online from the Trek District+ collection, or call our knowledgeable team on 01209 215787 and we'll size you and sort the right model in one call. Finance options available.*

*Finance available via Snap Finance: 11 months interest free, or spread the cost over up to 48 months with interest added. Representative 29.9% APR. Representative Example: Cost of Goods £1,200, Deposit £1, Amount of Credit £1,199, Annual Fixed Interest Rate 26.47%, Monthly Payment £65.23, Term 24 months, Total Payable £1,566.52, Representative 29.9% APR. SAINT PIRAN LIMITED trading as Saint Piran Service Course is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Snap Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm reference number 741813). Snap Finance Limited act as the lender. Snap Finance receives a commission (Merchant Discount Rate); this does not affect the terms of your loan. Credit subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Snap Finance Limited reserve the right not to extend credit. Missing payments could have consequences, including legal proceedings, and could make it more difficult to obtain credit in the future.