Kinetic DX EV

The Kinetic DX Plus has revived a name that once shaped everyday mobility in India. Born in the era of the iconic Kinetic Honda, the original DX made riding simple, practical, and accessible for an entire generation. Fast forward to 2026, and that same spirit returned in an electric avatar, wrapped in a charming retro modern design. It looks slightly familiar, feels slightly nostalgic, but promises modern convenience. The big question is, at its price, is this retro revival truly worth considering? Let's find out.

Design

At first glance, the Kinetic DX Plus carries a strong retro vibe, but unlike the original DX, it doesn’t follow a completely boxy design. Instead, it blends retro elements with a slightly modern approach. This design may not instantly appeal to everyone, especially younger buyers who are now used to sharper and more futuristic-looking electric scooters in the market.

In my opinion, some design elements could have been executed better. For instance, the Kinetic branding on the headlight cover and the large DRL on the apron feel a bit too prominent and could have been more subtle. 

Colours

The Kinetic DX is available in five soothing colour options: Black, Red, White, Blue, and Silver. All of these are glossy shades and suit the stylish appearance of the Kinetic DX quite well.

Wheels

The Kinetic DX comes with minimalistic looking, three-spoke alloy wheels all finished in matte black, and to make these wheels suit the overall stance of the e-scooter, the brand has given it body coloured rim stripes as well.

Quality 

Additionally, the extensive use of black plastic panels across the scooter gives it a somewhat basic feel and could have been slightly better. They also look a lot like the unpainted bumpers seen on older Maruti cars. Other than this, the overall build quality of the Kinetic DX does feel compromised, and it could have been better. The scooter we got had only around 800km on the odometer, but it was rattling quite badly. The button operated footpegs were quite flimsy and the whole mechanism was exposed. Also, the switch gear buttons were placed quite close to each other, which made them prone to accidental inputs.

Convenient Features 

In terms of features, the Kinetic DX Plus doesn’t quite stand out as a segment leader, and some aspects may even add a little complexity in daily use. One such feature is its keyless unlocking system. Instead of a physical key, the scooter requires you to enter a 4-digit code to start it. While this may sound innovative, it can feel time-consuming and slightly confusing in real-world scenarios. Also, to access the underseat storage, first the scooter needs to be unlocked using the 4-digit code, this makes a very easy task super inconvenient.

The scooter also comes with a voice assist feature that announces various updates. However, the execution isn’t very refined, and the speaker quality makes it feel more gimmicky than useful, which can become irritating over time.  On the practical side, the scooter comes with a large 37-litre underseat storage, while the standout feature is the Easy Charge setup. The scooter comes with a built-in 760W charger, eliminating the need to carry a separate charger. It also gets button-operated pillion footpegs, which are convenient, although their quality could have been better.

Safety Features 

As a safety feature, you get a front disc and a rear drum brake setup, with a combined braking system which improves the overall braking system. A good thing is that there is also a hill hold system which works well.

Rider Comfort

Ergonomically, the Kinetic DX Plus should suit riders around 5’5” to 5’6” quite well, offering a natural and upright riding posture. The handlebar position feels neutral, and the footboard area is reasonably spacious for everyday use. However, taller riders may find the scooter slightly cramped. The floorboard sits a bit high, and overall legroom isn’t very generous, especially for longer commutes.

Pillion Comfort 

Pillion comfort is one of its strengths, thanks to a wide, spacious seat, with the right amount of foam to make your pillion feel comfortable. Along with this, the grab rails were also quite supportive and added up to the great pillion comfort. That said, the only thing which could make your pillion uncomfortable, was the slightly firm suspension setup.

Motor 

Unlike the old 2-stroke Kinetic scooters, the DX Plus has an electric motor that pushes out 4.78kW that is powered by a 2.6kWh battery pack. The power delivery is smooth and linear, which works well for city riding. It comes with three ride modes: Range, Power, and Turbo. During my usage, the Range mode felt slow and slightly lethargic, while Power mode strikes the best balance between performance and efficiency, offering decent acceleration and a usable top speed. Turbo mode increases the top speed slightly, but the acceleration remains similar to Power mode. 

City Performance 

In the city, the Kinetic DX Plus performs quite well, especially in Power mode where overtakes feel quick and effortless. The scooter feels peppy enough for daily traffic, with smooth acceleration and easy manoeuvrability. It keeps up with urban flow comfortably, making short commutes stress-free while offering a sense of responsiveness that most riders will appreciate.

Highway Performance 

The DX isn’t supposed to be taken on the highway. However, if your commute requires a bit of highway riding, then Power mode is sufficient for maintaining a fine balance between range and performance.

Range 

The claimed real-world range is around 105 km, which is practical for daily urban use. Charging is also convenient, and as per Kinetic, the scooter should take about 3 hours to go from 0 to 80 percent and around 4 hours for a full charge.

Ride Quality 

The ride quality is inconsistent and has its ups and downs. The suspension setup leans towards the firmer side, which becomes quite noticeable over sharp bumps and smaller road imperfections, where it tends to feel a bit stiff. That said, when tackling bigger potholes or undulations, it manages impacts reasonably well without feeling overly jarring. However, the overall experience still lacks a sense of composure, and doesn’t quite come across as plush or well-sorted as you’d expect.

On the positive side, handling is quite impressive. The scooter feels compact and easy to ride, making it well-suited for city traffic. Filtering through traffic and maneuvering in tight parking spaces feels effortless. The scooter runs on 12-inch alloy wheels at both ends, with a 100-section tyre at both ends. 

Brakes 

The braking setup includes a front disc and a rear drum brake. Both perform well, but the front brake feels sharper and offers better stopping confidence compared to the rear.

Verdict

The Kinetic DX Plus is aimed at buyers who want a city-friendly electric scooter with a hint of nostalgia from the original DX. It delivers on ease of use, practicality, and urban riding comfort, but it falls short in terms of refinement and overall polish.

At a price of around Rs 1.17 lakh (ex-showroom), there are more well-rounded and reliable alternatives available that offer better build quality, refinement, and brand trust. Additionally, its limited availability in select cities could also be a deciding factor for potential buyers.

Competition

The Kinetic DX Plus competes with other established electric scooters like the Ola S1 Pro, Bajaj Chetak C2501, Ather Rizta, TVS iQube (base 2.2kWh variant), TVS Orbiter, and Ampere Nexus. All of which offer a more polished riding experience and better overall usability.