The Nissan Kicks is likely one of the model’s finest sellers. Regardless of going into the primary era’s remaining 12 months of manufacturing, the model noticed a 21 % improve in gross sales from 2022 to 2023. Nissan is doubling down with an all-new Kicks, promising more room, extra know-how, and a bolder general bundle. The query is: does it ship?
To seek out out simply how good this new Kicks is we traveled to Detroit, Michigan, house of the Nissan Technical Heart. That’s the place the automaker advised us that it needed this new automobile to supply an expressive design, superior tech, and a assured driving expertise. Lofty objectives for a funds subcompact crossover, little doubt, however we have been curious to see how they performed out in the true world.
Learn: 2025 Nissan Kicks Again With Harder Appears to be like, Extra Energy, And AWD
We spent slightly time with the crew there to get a greater really feel for what went into this new subcompact phase participant. Then, we took the brand new Kicks out onto the pavement and even onto some gravel roads for in-person testing. It seems that this phase is heating up and the Kicks is a brand new and compelling possibility.
Fast Details
Extra Energy And Extra Grip
Pop the hood on the brand new Kicks and also you’ll discover a very neatly packaged, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 141 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. That powertrain is the one one you’ll get throughout the lineup regardless of how a lot one spends. Whereas fanatics may clamor for extra oomph, the Kicks does make significantly greater than the outgoing mannequin which had simply 122 horsepower (90 kW) and 114 lb-ft (154 Nm) of torque. Remember too that there is no such thing as a hybrid energy right here.
The Kicks is solely an ICE-powered automobile. Nissan says it’ll stand up to twenty-eight mpg within the metropolis, 35 on the freeway, and 31 mixed. Including all-wheel drive reduces every of these figures by one mpg. That’s one other key level value mentioning although. For the primary time, the brand new Kicks affords all-wheel drive as an accessible possibility all through the lineup. That’s considerably uncommon on this phase. The Hyundai Kona additionally affords it, however prices extra and might’t present the identical stage of gasoline financial system.
Nissan touts the all-wheel drive setup within the Kicks as a “new clever AWD” system. It options new software program logic and Automobile Dynamic Management settings to enhance line traceability. Briefly, that signifies that it shouldn’t understeer in the identical manner that the Rogue Sport would at occasions.
Nissan additionally leverages braking pressure to the within wheels to assist the Kicks make its manner round some turns. AWD Kicks fashions usually run in front-wheel drive mode for the absolute best gasoline financial system however they’ll ship energy to the rear wheels earlier than the entrance wheels slip. Curiously, Snow Mode within the Kicks forces some torque to the rear wheels continuously and works in any respect speeds.
Inside Changes
Photographs: Stephen Rivers/Carscoops
Throughout the car world, automobiles are getting larger and the Kicks follows swimsuit in that method. It’s now 2.8 inches (71 mm) longer, 1.6 inches (41 mm) wider, and as much as 0.8 inches (20 mm) taller than the earlier era. These adjustments lead to extra passenger quantity and extra cargo area. In actual fact, it’s clear from the primary time one sits down that this isn’t a automobile that feels cramped, at the least not upfront.
At 6’6 I had no difficulty getting snug within the driver’s seat. Nissan’s well-known Zero Gravity seats are commonplace throughout the lineup in each rows of the Kicks. The one factor I didn’t like about them is that they sit too excessive up of their lowest place.
In fact, for drivers who aren’t as tall as me, this might be a technique that Nissan is hoping to realize that “assured driving” really feel. On the plus facet, they’re supportive in a manner that only a few different automobile seats handle to be. Nissan additionally added thicker carpet and different insulation to quiet the cabin.
The format is easy and straightforward to make use of. The steering wheel options a number of buttons to regulate the gauge cluster options, the infotainment system sits low and out of the way in which after which we run into the primary actual bugaboo within the Kicks: local weather controls. Particularly, they’re all touch-sensitive buttons. Whether or not you get the enter proper or flawed, you’ll have to take your eyes off of the highway and have a look at the panel to make certain about it.
Fortunately, the remainder of the cabin seems freed from problematic design. A bodily quantity knob and energy button are welcome additions together with a track-back/skip button and a digital camera button. The infotainment and gauge cluster screens are bigger than in most different automobiles on this phase.
The graphics are vibrant, the menus are intuitive, and the response occasions are fast. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are commonplace. Talking of infotainment, Nissan additionally affords a flowery 10-speaker Bose sound system on this automobile. Test that field and also you’ll even get two audio system in every of the front-row headrests. Having hung out within the Chevrolet Trax, Subaru Crosstrek, and Mazda CX-30 not too long ago, the Kicks sounded the very best by far when it comes to sound high quality.
As for area, the Kicks definitely affords greater than earlier than however don’t combine it up for a mid-sized SUV. Taller adults received’t be very snug within the again seats. I couldn’t sit up and needed to straddle the again of the entrance seat when again there. Regardless of that, it’ll match most passengers shorter than myself fairly simply. Nissan additionally affords variations with USB ports for the rear occupants. An accessible panoramic moonroof, unique on this class to the Kicks, was additionally a pleasant choice to have.
Behind the second row, house owners will discover 30 ft of cubic space for storing. Drop these seats down and that expands to 60 cubic ft. That’s dramatically greater than you’ll get in one thing just like the Mazda CX-30 or the Buick Envista.
Extra: We’re Driving The 2025 Nissan Kicks, What Do You Need To Know?
To sum up, the cabin is completely acceptable. Nothing about it actually wowed me however nothing felt overly low-cost or like a pure cost-cutting measure. The seats are very snug and the infotainment system and different controls are very barely above common for the phase.
Drive Impressions
Photographs: Stephen Rivers/Carscoops
Past feeling as if I used to be sitting too excessive up within the Kicks, the journey was what most of you’ll anticipate. To be frank, it was uninspiring, however on the identical time, it does really feel higher to pilot than the outgoing automobile. Nissan says that the brand new platform within the Kicks offers higher torsional stiffness, a smaller roll angle, and a better lateral g functionality. Having pushed it throughout Detroit, these statements really feel unquestionable.
On the identical time, the powertrain is nothing to get enthusiastic about. Positive, it does have extra energy than the outgoing era however it’s additionally heavier. Relying on the trim stage and curb weight, the brand new Kicks can find yourself with a worse power-to-weight ratio although it’s usually barely higher. The distinction is sufficiently small that the elevated horsepower probably isn’t one thing you’ll discover if you happen to’re buying and selling up from the older Kicks.
Although not on a drag strip, we did get an opportunity to check the Kicks’ 0-60 mph time and at first look, it wasn’t superior. Our first run registered an 11.89-second time with a GPS-based tracker referred to as Dragy. Finally, we managed to chop off fairly a bit from that although. Our greatest run of the day was 9.79 seconds. That’s not what we’d name brisk however on this phase, it’s all too frequent frankly.
Regardless, this isn’t meant to be a efficiency machine, and “assured driving” comes right down to extra than simply acceleration. The steering felt excellent. The brakes did too. Even the CVT gearbox managed to be largely unobtrusive.
I particularly like that Snow Mode works in any respect speeds as a result of the AWD system stays engaged with energy despatched to the again wheels. That may simply sound like PR converse however in arduous quick turns it makes the Kicks really feel extra steady and fewer liable to understeer. The Kicks is snug too. The roads round Detroit aren’t precisely pristine however I didn’t discover this little SUV getting unsettled by potholes or cracked pavement in any respect.
When it comes to outright practicality, it’s value noting that the Kicks comes commonplace with a slew of driver aids like computerized emergency braking, lane-departure warning, computerized excessive beams, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise management, and rear computerized braking. Those that need it could actually splurge for Nissan’s ProPilot help which provides lane-centering, intersection help, blind-spot intervention, and extra.
The Competitors
This phase is extra aggressive than ever earlier than. The oldsters at Nissan focused at the least three important opponents right here. They embrace the Chevrolet Trax, the Kia Soul, and the Hyundai Kona. Being final to the celebration so to talk enabled Nissan to take a look at the opposite gamers earlier than releasing the brand new Kicks and the model definitely leveraged that information.
The Kicks affords lots for the cash when evaluating sure features of it to these three rivals. It has bigger screens than all however the Kona. It has extra driver-aid options than all however the Kona and prices lower than the Hyundai in a trim-for-trim comparability. It’s the one one with options just like the Bose headrest audio system or the panoramic moonroof.
On the identical time, it’s value noting that there are different elements to think about. For instance, if you happen to care about driving dynamics, the Mazda CX-30 is in a very completely different league whereas providing a nicer inside. If longevity and guarantee protection are key to you, Hyundai and Kia provide way more in that realm. Different manufacturers like VW or Buick provide a bit extra luxurious too.
2025 Nissan Kicks MSRP
Verdict
It’s arduous to disregard the worth the Kicks affords—particularly for first-time consumers or youthful drivers in search of a tech-heavy, reasonably priced subcompact crossover that ticks many of the sensible packing containers. Is a totally loaded, prime SR trim with all-wheel drive rally value over $32,000? For some, the additional tech, higher audio system, and some added options may justify the value tag, however for many, that feels extra like a stretch than a wise purchase. You’re getting a whole lot of bells and whistles, positive, however that worth level begins to push the Kicks into territory the place rather more compelling automobiles exist.
In actuality, sticking with the decrease to mid-level trims makes way more sense. Beginning at $21,830 for the bottom front-wheel-drive mannequin and maxing out at $25,330 for the AWD SV (earlier than the $1,390 supply and vacation spot charge), these trims provide significantly better worth. You continue to get nice gasoline financial system for a non-hybrid engine, superior cargo area, a whole lot of nice know-how, and a snug inside with out venturing into questionable pricing.
Primarily based on all the things I skilled on this automobile, I believe there’s an ideal marketplace for it: youthful folks. This can be a automobile targeted on security, practicality, know-how, and luxury. It’s kind of an ideal jack of all trades (with a few strengths like audio gear) that younger folks can get pleasure from with out breaking the financial institution.
Nissan additionally affords two years or 24,000 miles value of complimentary upkeep protection with it. This isn’t an ideal automobile, however it improves on all the things from the unique Kicks and provides just a few issues to that recipe that assist it stand out in a really aggressive class.
