Kinetic DX+ Electric Scooter First Ride Review: The Legend Is Back!
The electric two-wheeler segment has been seeing a lot of action lately. It is one of the fastest-growing segments in one of the world’s largest two-wheeler markets. Last year, Kinetic decided to join the EV race by resurrecting the legendary Kinetic DX scooter. Although it was launched last year, the brand has only recently started deliveries.
If you were born in the 90s, chances are you have either seen or heard of Kinetic scooters. We recently got a chance to spend some time with the all-new Kinetic DX+ electric scooter in Delhi, and here is what we think about it.
Kinetic’s aim was to create an electric scooter that reminds people of the original Kinetic DX, and we feel they have achieved that to a large extent. The overall design is clearly inspired by the original scooter.
The front apron, mudguard, and even the head section draw inspiration from the older model. The headlamp is an LED unit with curved edges. The turn indicators are placed on either side of the headlamp and feature an arrow design, finished in an orange shade to enhance the retro appeal.
There is an illuminated “Kinetic” lettering on the small flyscreen, along with an illuminated logo on the apron that doubles as a DRL. The retro inspiration continues on the sides, where we see triple air vents on the panels. At the rear, the scooter gets LED tail lamps with sleek LED turn indicators on either side.
Another design highlight is the instrument cluster. Kinetic has gone with a retro-inspired layout. The small digital display supports Bluetooth connectivity. While it shows basic information when connected to your phone, it does not support turn-by-turn navigation.
The seat is long and wide enough to accommodate two riders comfortably. The handlebar houses switches for functions like start/stop, ride modes, and indicators. One of the major highlights of the DX+ is the integrated onboard charger. This means you don’t have to carry a separate charger - just plug it into a 16-amp socket to charge the scooter.
The under-seat storage is another strong point, offering 37 litres of space - enough to fit a full-face helmet along with a half-face helmet. Kinetic has also provided USB charging ports for added convenience.
The scooter rides on 12-inch alloy wheels, with a disc brake at the front and a drum brake at the rear.
The Kinetic DX+ is designed primarily for city use and is not intended for long-distance rides. The seat height is comfortable, and most riders will find it easy to place both feet flat on the ground.
The seat cushioning feels adequate, although long-term comfort remains to be seen. The battery pack is placed under the floorboard, which results in a slightly higher floor height. Taller riders may notice limited under-thigh support, with their knees positioned slightly upward.
We tested the scooter in Delhi on a weekday, which provided ideal real-world conditions, including traffic, broken roads, and occasional open stretches.
To start the scooter, you need to enter a 4-digit passcode on the keypad located below the instrument cluster. While this looks modern, a traditional key system would have been simpler and more convenient for everyday use.
The scooter offers three riding modes - Range, Power, and Turbo. In Range mode, the performance is limited to maximise efficiency, with a top speed of 50 km/h. Power mode increases performance, offering a top speed of 70 km/h. Turbo mode further increases the top speed to 90 km/h, while performance remains similar to Power mode.
In Range mode, the scooter feels sluggish, with noticeable lag in acceleration. However, in Power and Turbo modes, acceleration feels smoother and more responsive. The hub motor delivers power in a linear manner, which makes the scooter easy and predictable to ride. The scooter also features cruise control, which can be activated above 20 km/h.
One issue we noticed was with the switchgear. The buttons for the turn indicators and horn are placed too close to each other and lack clear differentiation. This can cause confusion while riding, and we often had to glance down to ensure we were pressing the correct button. At times, we even ended up pressing the button to open the integrated charger by mistake.
The ride quality feels slightly stiff. According to Kinetic, this setup was chosen based on customer feedback, as a softer suspension made the scooter feel unstable on bad roads. While the current setup offers better control, it could have been slightly softer for improved comfort.
The brakes perform adequately, and the scooter comes with CBS. Weighing around 128 kg, the scooter feels stable at higher speeds, but aggressive riding is not recommended. Kinetic also offers a reverse mode, which is helpful while manoeuvring in tight parking spaces.
The DX+ is powered by a 2.6 kWh battery pack, offering a claimed range of 105 km. During our test, we rode around 40 km mostly in Power mode and still had over 50 percent charge remaining. This suggests that a real-world range of around 100 km is achievable.
Overall, the Kinetic DX+ electric scooter feels like a well-rounded product. It successfully blends retro design with modern features. However, there are a few shortcomings, such as the lack of turn-by-turn navigation and the confusing switchgear layout.
These are areas Kinetic can improve in future updates. Along with that the brand should also focus on expanding its dealership and service network to improve reach and customer confidence. This is extremely important if they really want their product to get popular in the sea of electric scooters in India.
The electric scooter segment in India is highly competitive, but the Kinetic DX+ stands out as a practical option in its price range. The standard DX variant is priced at Rs 1.11 lakh (ex-showroom), while the DX+ variant starts at Rs 1.17 lakh (ex-showroom). While we cannot say that the legend is back, we really appreciate the efforts put by Kinetic team to actually bring the modern EV twist to the old world charm of the Kinetic scooter’s design.