Verdict
Design | Consolation | Expertise | Efficiency | Security | Effectivity | Worth | FAQs
The needle on affordability has moved. Vehicles that after value $30,000 now are available in nearer to $40,000, and people $20,000 base fashions have gotten even tougher to search out. The Nissan Kicks stays considered one of only a handful of automobiles that begins at round $20,000 – $21,285 with vacation spot, to be actual. And so far as reasonably priced excellence goes, the Kicks units a excessive bar.
Though it will not be the quickest or most dynamic, the Nissan Kicks gives top-tier gasoline economic system and a great deal of inside house for that excellent beginning worth. Plus the tech is fairly good for the section, too.
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Design
Exterior Colour: Scarlett Ember / Tremendous Black Inside Colour: Black Wheel Measurement: 17 Inches
The Nissan Kicks seems completely common. Though the “Double V-Movement” grille and slim headlights (a part of the 2021 replace) add an excessive amount of face to the small SUV, the general design remains to be pleasing. The Kicks has a pleasant tapered form, a cool two-tone choice (for $645), and blacked-out 17-inch wheels on this SR trim (for $495).
The supplies within the cabin border on beneath common, even for the category. The cabin is clear and uncluttered with easy black leatherette on a lot of the surfaces and soft-touch plastics on the sprint. Even the fake aluminum trim items on the steering wheel and shift knob have a pleasant matte end to them, however then once more, there are some low cost plastics elsewhere.
Consolation
Seating Capability: 5 Seating Configuration: 2 / 3 Cargo Capability: 25.3 / 53.1 Cubic Toes
The Kicks has a lot room for actions. It is one of many high canine by way of rear house and is a really snug place to sit down to your 6-foot-tall writer. The Kicks nonetheless has the perfect cargo house in all the section, too, boasting a roomy 25.3 cubes behind the again seat.
The entrance seats are form-fitting and really snug, and although you possibly can’t get actual leather-based on the Kicks, the Prima-Tex leatherette is sort of as comfortable and supple as the true factor. The again seats are extra conventional by way of a second-row bench, missing some help and cushioning, however the ample house makes up for it.
However like another entry-level crossovers, the Kicks will be loud at freeway speeds. Sound deadening is sub-par and permits an excessive amount of wind and tire noise to enter the cabin at over 50 miles per hour. The powertrain additionally protests fairly aggressively getting as much as these speeds. At the least the Kicks is completely quiet round city.
Expertise & Connectivity
Heart Show: 8.0-Inch Touchscreen Instrument Cluster Show: 7.0 Inches Wi-fi Apple CarPlay / Android Auto: No
Though the bottom Kicks S nonetheless will get a 7.0-inch touchscreen, the mid-range SV or high SR fashions internet you a bigger 8.0-inch touchscreen with an additional USB-C port, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Nissan’s ubiquitous infotainment system. The graphics nonetheless look a contact dated and contact responsiveness is a bit laggy, nevertheless it’s a straightforward system to make use of typically.
This automobile comes with the $1,200 Premium package deal, which provides a Bose eight-speaker audio system with audio system embedded within the headrests. Having that sort of expertise is uncommon at this worth level it delivers an superior sound.
Efficiency & Dealing with
Engine: 1.6-Liter 4-Cylinder Output: 125 Horsepower / 115 Pound-Toes Transmission: Repeatedly Variable Transmission
As you’d count on, the Kicks is nothing to write down house about from a efficiency standpoint. Its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine sends 125 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque to the entrance wheels via a repeatedly variable transmission. It has simply sufficient pep for puttering round city so long as you keep on the throttle, however there’s barely sufficient energy to get the Kicks in control on freeway onramps.
So far as dealing with goes, the Kicks has a comparatively athletic suspension for the category, however there’s nonetheless a number of physique roll. And the numb steering really feel makes it arduous to gauge what the automobile is doing in corners.
Security
Driver Help Stage: SAE Stage 1 (Arms-On) NHTSA Ranking: 4 Stars IIHS Ranking: Not TSP / TSP+
Each 2022 Kicks comes commonplace with Nissan’s Security Defend 360. That features issues like computerized emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, high-beam help, and rear computerized emergency braking. Nissan remains to be the one producer to supply rear computerized emergency braking on a crossover that begins at round $20,000
Choosing the SR mannequin examined right here offers you entry to extra superior security options like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise management.
Gas Economic system
Metropolis: 31 MPG Freeway: 36 MPG Mixed: 33 MPG
Pricing
Base Worth: $19,990 + $1,295 Vacation spot Trim Base Worth: $21,285 As-Examined Worth: $25,930
The Nissan Kicks remains to be some of the reasonably priced crossovers available on the market. It begins at $21,285 with the $1,295 vacation spot price included. Solely the Kia Soul and Hyundai Venue are extra reasonably priced. The highest-of-the-line Kicks SR begins at $23,415 and the automobile examined right here is available in at $26,185 post-options.
The priciest choice is the $1,200 Premium Bundle, which provides the bangin’ Bose audio system, heated fake leather-based seats, a heated steering wheel, satellite tv for pc radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The 2-tone paint is one other $645, the 17-inch wheels are $495, and the carpeted flooring mats are $295.
However even at $26,185 with choices, the Nissan Kicks appears like an absolute steal. A great deal of room, best-in-class gasoline economic system, and upgraded expertise as a part of a 2021 replace make this tiny crossover nonetheless among the best reasonably priced choices on the market.
