Reincarnating a popular model from yesteryear is quite the rage with two-wheeler companies of late. Kinetic is the latest to join that bandwagon with the new DX electric, which is very similar-looking to the original Kinetic Honda DX 2-stroke petrol scooter. While the new DX electric is actually a fairly decent product, its success isn’t purely going to hinge on its accomplishments as a scooter.
Kinetic DX design and quality
With its boxy, squared-off lines and clear design similarity to the original, the new DX electric is sure to stand out on the road and tug at the heartstrings of fans of the OG KiHo DX. The top DX+ variant comes in some vibrant colour options, which further enhance its appeal.
A metal body is something the typical Indian scooter buyer looks for in their purchase, and quite a few of the new DX electric’s panels are made out of metal. In general, it has a solid, built-to-last feel, and the overall quality is nice.
Some areas that could see some improvements are the big plastic flap that covers the onboard charger and the switchgear. The buttons are entirely new and aren’t shared with any other two-wheeler, which means until you’re familiar with the layout, you’ll have to look down momentarily to see whether the button you’ve pressed is the one you intended to.
Kinetic DX features and safety
While Kinetic offers you quite a few useful features on the DX, like an on-board charger, a large 37-litre underseat storage area, hill hold assist, a mobile app for some smart Bluetooth-based functions, and remote opening for the seat and charger flap, it has unnecessarily complicated things in one area.
To unlock the DX, you don’t have a physical key, and instead, there's a covered keypad into which you input your four-digit security code. In theory, this seems like a good solution because you never have to carry a key or worry about misplacing it, but in reality, the situation’s a little different.
The trouble is that there is a good chance that, over time, these plastic buttons will fade, and you'll be able to make out the four numbers used routinely for the passcode, after which it's just a guessing game. While 10 wrong tries will lock the DX until you reset the code via the mobile app, this seems like a security vulnerability that could be avoided by simply having a physical key.
However, the other two standout features on the DX do actually have real-world utility. The onboard charger comes with a 3-pin plug integrated into it, which means you don’t need to carry any cables or wires with you. This is actually the best-thought-out onboard charger design we’ve seen on any electric two-wheeler yet.
The second is that you can flip open the pillion footpegs with a handy lever under the left-hand grip, although closing them will have to be done manually.
Kinetic DX range and charging
Kinetic DX performance and refinement
This battery sends power to a hub-mounted motor, which drives the DX. In general, the riding experience is largely positive and more or less what you’d expect from a polished electric scooter in 2026. The hub-mounted motor ensures you have a near-silent riding experience, and it builds power linearly.
Motor Type BLDC Hub Motor | Max Motor Power 4.8 kW | Transmission Type Automatic |
Acceleration, while strong, doesn’t feel frantic, which will be well-suited to the practicality-oriented consumer the DX is targeting. Throttle response feels well judged, although initial acceleration is slightly dull up to 20kph in all three riding modes.
Speaking of modes, there are three: Range, Power and Turbo. Range is the least powerful, giving you the most riding range, while Turbo is the most powerful and has the least range. I found the middle Power mode to actually be the best fit for nearly every situation I found myself in and ended up using the DX in this mode for the majority of my ride.
Kinetic DX ride comfort and handling
What also impressed me was the DX’s suspension setup, which seemed to be well judged for our road conditions. It rounded off most bumps fairly well, and only the big ones forced the slightly soft fork to bottom out. Braking power is also commensurate with the performance here, and there’s only combined brakes, not ABS here.
However, what throws a spanner into the overall comfort is the riding position. For 5’11 me, I felt the riding position was a little too knees-up, which could prove to be a pain point over longer durations. Another ergonomic flaw is the placement of the passenger pegs, which are a little too far forward. It results in the pillion having to stretch their legs unnaturally, and as a consequence, their foot will foul the rider’s shin at a standstill.
Kinetic DX sales and service reach
Before we sum up, something to bear in mind is that the DX electric is going to be sold via a new dealer network, and you won’t find it in Kinetic Green showrooms. Kinetic Watts and Volts is headed by Ajinkya Firodia, whereas Kinetic Green is managed by his sister, Sullajja Firodia Motwani. Despite the similarity in their names, these are two very different companies under different management. While they fall under the larger umbrella of the Kinetic Group, realistically, they operate in very different orbits.
Kinetic Green sells basic and affordable electric scooters as well as the E Luna, all of which fall under the Rs 1 lakh mark, whereas Kinetic Watts and Volts sells only the DX electric for now.
Kinetic DX price and verdict
To sum up, the Kinetic DX electric is a perfectly nice scooter, but I’m not sure it’s doing enough in today’s day and age. This is especially true when established rivals from Hero, Bajaj, TVS, and Ather are offering you proven products with more range at a lower price. Price and range are two of the biggest considerations in this class, and the DX doesn’t wow you with either.
Then there’s also Kinetic’s rather limited dealer network to contend with, and since this is a brand-new scooter, the first from the brand in a long time, its long-term reliability is unknown.
Where the original KiHo DX entered a nascent market, the new DX electric has entered a fiercely competitive one, and it remains to be seen if buyers warm up to this electric scooter, whose main draw is its appealing style.
Rishaad Mody
Azaman Chothia
Ved Janve
