Kinetic DX+ review, first ride: Just old-school vibes or a real contender?

Manufacturers are increasingly revisiting their roots, reviving not just legacy names but entire products. Joining this trend, Kinetic has brought back the DX+, not just as a badge, but as a full throwback to the original scooter. While it stays true to its retro design, it also integrates modern tech. But does it strike the right balance? Let’s find out.

Kinetic DX+: Design and features

At first glance, the new DX+ may appear almost identical to the original, especially to a layman. The front mudguard and side panels carry over familiar design cues, staying true to the original’s styling. They’re still made of metal, and even today, the design feels appealing, a testament to its classic appeal.

Up front, the apron now features a ‘K’ logo that doubles as a DRL, while the headlamp and indicators adopt a modern LED setup. Despite these updates, they still evoke a sense of the original design.

The rear, however, is where things change noticeably, with LED tail lamps that bear no resemblance to the original version.

The 8.8-inch instrument panel echoes the original Kinetic’s design but is now fully digital, presenting a lot of information in a simple manner. It gets a built-in speaker with volume control, supports 16 languages, and even greets the rider. Features like Bluetooth, music playback, and voice navigation are included, along with a Kinetic Assist switch for direct customer support. However, the cluster feels outdated, lacking turn-by-turn navigation and appearing oversized without a strong sense of modernity.

The switchgear feels overly complicated, with too many buttons to get used to. The scooter does feature a neatly integrated onboard charger in the front apron, just pull out the cord and plug in, keeping the underseat area free. With around 37 litres of storage, the underseat space is among the best in its class, easily fitting a full-face helmet along with everyday essentials.

With a seat height of just 714 mm, the Kinetic DX+ is surely going to be accessible to most frames, especially beginners, making the scooter feel unintimidating and easy to manage. The seat is on the softer side, which ensures comfort for short city rides apart from helping the suspension absorb bumps. The floorboard is compact but offers enough space for the rider to rest his or her feet. Space for the pillion is best called ample and Kinetic has also added a mechanical lever that activates the pillion footrests.

On the tech side, the DX+ comes with the Telekinetics suite, offering features like anti-theft alerts, GPS tracking, geo-fencing, intruder detection, remote lock/unlock, “Find My Kinetic,” guide-me-home headlamps, ride analytics, and FOTA updates. It also gets the My Kiney Companion, a voice assistant that supports 16 Indian languages, greets the rider, shares alerts, and even wishes them on birthdays, adding a personal touch.

There is no physical key. Instead, you get a panel with a power button and a numeric keypad. To unlock the scooter, you press and hold the power button until an indicator lights up, then enter your PIN or simply unlock it via the app. A physical key as a backup would have been a reassuring addition.

The Kinetic app itself is quite comprehensive. It allows you to open the boot, lock or unlock the scooter, switch riding modes, check the odometer and trip data, monitor the state of charge, view alerts, open the charging lid, and even adjust cluster illumination and speaker volume, covering almost everything you’d need on a day-to-day basis.

Kinetic DX+: Battery and range

The Kinetic DX+ uses a 2.6kWh LFP battery with a convenient onboard charger. It claims a range of 105km, though real-world figures are likely closer to 80–90km. A key highlight is its 60.8V system, which improves efficiency by reducing current draw, leading to lower heat loss, better energy use, and more consistent real-world performance.

Charging is fairly convenient too. Going from 0 to 80 per cent takes around three hours, while a full charge is achieved in about four hours. The DX+ uses a BLDC hub motor, producing a peak power of 4.78kW, which is roughly 6.5 bhp, adequate for everyday city commuting.

Kinetic DX+: Ride and handling

The Kinetic DX+ feels easy to ride, making it suitable for the entire family. It offers three ride modes: Range, Power, and Turbo. Even in Range mode, performance is adequate, with smooth and steady acceleration. Power mode feels the most balanced for daily use, with quicker responses. Turbo mode delivers a clear boost in performance and a more lively character, though it never becomes overwhelming.

At city speeds of around 50–60kmph, the scooter feels stable and confidence-inspiring. However, when pushed harder, especially in Turbo mode at about 80 kmph, it starts to feel slightly light and less planted, with reduced grip. At a steady 50kmph, it remains effortless to ride, with enough power in reserve for quick overtakes. The throttle response is well-tuned, offering smooth and predictable acceleration without any jerkiness. While the weight distribution is balanced, it doesn’t feel particularly nimble.

Ride quality is good, the front suspension is on the firmer side, which makes the front end feel slightly stiff and you will feel sharp bumps but it’s not a deal breaker. The rear suspension is on the softer side, doing a good job of absorbing bumps and potholes. Overall, the Kinetic DX+ handles well at city speeds up to 60kmph, beyond which its limitations become more apparent. That said, it remains an easy, comfortable and natural scooter to ride in everyday conditions.

When it comes to handling, the DX+ feels light in traffic and changing lanes is not an issue. However, around corners, the soft suspension tends to show flex and reduce confidence.

Kinetic DX+: Verdict

The original Kinetic was an iconic scooter, and the electric DX+ has big expectations to meet. It gets the retro-modern design right, striking a balanced look that feels neither outdated nor overly futuristic. It is easy to use in daily life, comfortable for all riders, with smooth ride quality and adequate performance. However, it has a few shortcomings, including a narrow floorboard, no physical key, and a dated instrument cluster lacking turn-by-turn navigation. At Rs 1.17 lakh (ex-showroom), the Kinetic DX+ stands out as a strong overall package.

Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine