Kymco KRV 180i DDS

Despite coming from a newer brand in comparison to the established brands, the Kymco KRV 180i DDS manages to be in the league of some of the most stylish-looking scooters with the way its design has turned out. While it is the most affordable maxi scooter from Kymco, it takes its design inspiration from the other 200-500cc maxi scooters from the brand, which has resulted in an edgy-looking design suitable for modern tastes.

At the front, the Kymco KRV 180i DDS welcomes you with an edgy-looking fascia, which comprises a dual-LED headlamp setup sitting in between a sharp-looking chin and a sleek and vertically-aligned long black panel on the apron. The sides of the apron have body-coloured panels, which extend from top to bottom in a sleeker and edgier manner. The top of the front apron has a bulging cowl, which hides the instrument console behind it.

The side profile of the Kymco KRV 180i DDS looks even edgier with sharp-looking side extensions of the front apron and side body panels, which bear the name of the scooter. The floorboard is compact but good enough to accommodate the knees of a taller rider. Behind the apron, the Kymco KRV 180i DDS gets an external fuel filler and a small cubbyhole, above which the ignition keyhole is located.

The sharply-designed side panels of the Kymco KRV 180i DDS extend towards the tail section of the scooter, which comes with a split setup for the LED tail lamp cluster. The dual inverted-L strips of the LED tail lamps sit at the top of the rear profile, with split pillion grab rails above the tail lamps and conventional LED turn indicators mounted on the rear fender. The Kymco KRV 180i DDS also gets a small rear tyre hugger and aluminium rear footrests mounted on the sides of the side panels.

The Kymco KRV 180i DDS gets a commuter-like handlebar, which has LED turn indicators mounted on its front edges and aluminium levers on either side. Behind this utilitarian-looking handlebar, the Kymco KRV 180i DDS gets a fully-digital instrument console featuring readouts for the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, odometer, trip meter, and other warning lights.

The chassis of the Kymco KRV 180i DDS comprises a pair of telescopic hydraulic forks at the front and a unit swingarm at the rear. The suspension combination of the KRV 180i DDS has been tuned on a softer side, which makes the overall ride quality quite comfortable and composed. Riding on 110/70-13 front and 130/70-13 rear tyres, the Kymco KRV 180i DDS comes with a braking combination of 270mm front disc and 234mm rear disc.

Powering the Kymco KRV 180i DDS is a four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 175.1cc engine, which happens to be the smallest scooter engine in Kymco’s lineup for the Philippines. This engine, which is mated to a CVT gearbox, produces a maximum power output of 17.03 PS and a peak torque output of 15.68 Nm, which makes it decently powerful for a 175-180cc scooter engine. However, the refinement levels of this engine, especially towards higher RPMs, should have been more controlled.

The Kymco KRV 180i DDS is equipped with a lockable under-seat storage compartment, a lockable ignition keyhole with a key shutter mechanism and a dual-channel ABS as standard.

For the price at which it is being offered, the Kymco KRV 180i DDS comes across as a quality product which feels value for money offering over its traditional Japanese rivals. The engine feels peppy, while the scooter looks overall good and modern.