Nissan Kicks

Expert Review by Maxabout

Introduction

Nissan started producing the Kicks subcompact crossover SUV in 2016, but the India-spec model was launched in January 2019. The global model is built on the V-platform while the Indian model is developed on the B0 platform, which is for reducing the manufacturing costs. The Kicks significantly shared platforms and parts with the Dacia Duster and the Dacia B0 platform-based Renault Captur, since all of them were made at the same Renault-Nissan facility in Chennai. Nissan stated in May 2020 that the K9K diesel engine will be phased out owing to the adoption of BS6 norms, with the Renault-Nissan-Daimler HR13DDT petrol turbo engine serving as a substitute. Let's discuss whether the car is worth buying and has all the required features and specs.

Nissan Kicks Design and Style

Styling experts at Nissan have done a great job in designing the Kicks SUV. Its front fascia boasts a V-shaped grille which has chrome garnishing to a great extent; however, it doesn’t look over. The grille is surrounded by projector headlights with boomerang-shaped LED DRLs. The bonnet of the car is quite chubby and gives the car a massive appearance.

In the side profile, a robust shoulder line runs the length of the car. Nissan deserves credit for developing the 17" diamond-cut alloy wheels, which look really fantastic. The dual-tone finished floating roof adds to the beauty of the side design. The rear is also rather attractive; the tail light assembly is traditionally illuminated but includes a boomerang-shaped LED element.

In addition, the dual-tone bumper and use of chrome on the boot lid elements make it look attractive. Overall, the car gets a simple yet classy design. In terms of body dimensions, the SUV is 4384 mm in overall length, 1813 mm in overall width, and 1669 mm in overall height, with a wheelbase of 2673 mm.

Nissan Kicks Engine and Gearbox

Nissan has offered the new Kicks SUV with two powertrain options. The first one is a 1498cc, 4-cylinder In-line, 1.5-litre H2K petrol engine that uses the multi-point fuel-injection system and is capable of churning out 106 HP and 142 Nm of torque when mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The other one is a 1330cc, 4-cylinder In-line, 1.3-litre HR13DDT turbo petrol engine that uses gasoline direct injection and churns out 156 HP and 254 Nm of torque when mated to a 6-speed manual or CVT.

Nissan Kicks Interior, Instrument Cluster & Boot Space

Step inside the car and you will have a feeling of premiumness. The cabin is exceptionally nicely outfitted, with top-tier trimmings receiving leather treatment all around. It's the small details that count, and Nissan has certainly taken care of them. The dashboard gets a lovely leather finish that looks and feels great. There are also pseudo-carbon fibre parts within the cabin in a few spots.

The front and rear seating is quite comfortable, and the bolstering on the seats is really good. There is enough headroom and legroom in the second row, which makes journeys comfortable. Even three passengers can sit there comfortably. Headrests are adjustable, and an armrest with a cup holder is also offered.

The instrument cluster unit in the car gets a digital speedometer and a small MID. It offers a wide range of information, including range, fuel gauge, average, distance, and more. The offered boot space is a huge 400-litres for carrying ample luggage.

Nissan Kicks Brakes, Suspension & Tyres

Braking duties in the new Nissan Kicks are done by disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. While the suspension duties are assigned to McPherson Strut with Coil Spring, Stabilizer Bar & Double Acting Shock Absorber at the front and Torsion Beam with Coil Springs & Double Acting Shock Absorber at the rear. The SUV rides on 17-inch alloy wheels for the XV, XV Pre, and XV Pre Option variants while the XL variant gets 16-inch steel wheels. The 17-inch alloy wheels are clothed in 215/60 size tubeless tyres while the 16-inch wheels are outfitted with 215/65 size tubeless tyres.

Nissan Kicks Key Features

Like all other its offerings in the car market, Nissan has presented the Kicks with a host of features including automatic headlamps & cornering fog lamps, remote engine start, idle start/stop system, and voice recognition with floating 8.0 A-IVI, cruise control, leather-wrapped dashboard, auto AC, rain-sensing wipers, electrically adjustable ORVMs, cooled glove box with illumination, integrated 2DIN audio system, steering mounted controls, console storage lamp and so on.

When it comes to passenger safety, Nissan has not made any compromise and loaded the SUV with top-notch safety features comprising dual airbags, ABS with EBD & braking assistance, Hill Start assist, impact-sensing auto door lock, emergency stop signal, traction control system, vehicle stability management system and electronic stability control to name a few. However, the mentioned last three features are available for turbo variants only.

Nissan Kicks Top Speed, Acceleration & Mileage

2023 Nissan Kicks accelerates from 0-100 kmph within 11.85 seconds and can reach a top speed of 165 kmph. As far as fuel efficiency is concerned, the car offers a combined mileage of up to 16 km/l which can be different in the real world depending on various factors like terrain, speed, driving style and all.

Nissan Kicks Variants & Colour Options

2023 Nissan Kicks come in a total of four variants called XL, XV, XV Premium and XV Premium(O). The colour scheme of the Nissan Kicks consists of six monotone and three dual-tone shades. These are Pearl White, Blade Silver, Bronze Grey, Deep Blue Pearl, Night Shade, Fire Red, Pearl White & Onyx Black, Bronze Grey & Amber Orange and Fire Red & Onyx Black. It needs to be mentioned that dual-tone colours are available only with XV Premium(O) variants.

Nissan Kicks Ex-showroom Price & On-Road Price

The ex-showroom price for the Nissan Kicks starts at Rs 9.50 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs 14.90 lakh. Understanding the difference between ex-showroom and on-road pricing, the ex-showroom price of a car is the asking price that excludes the cost of road tax, insurance, and registration. But on the other side, the on-road price includes all of the previously stated costs as well as insurance, registration, a one-time road tax, an extended warranty, and all vehicle accessories. It is essential to know that in our country, on-road prices vary greatly from state to state.

Nissan Kicks Competitors

2023 Nissan Kicks locks horns with the likes of Maruti Vitara Brezza, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV300, Honda WR-V, MG Astor and the Renault Duster.

Verdict - Should You Buy Nissan Kicks or not?

As we all know, no car is perfect and has some flaws as well. 2023 Nissan Kicks is a feature-rich, well-designed SUV, but there are some things that can be its negatives. Like there is no sunroof offered and the use of plastic in some places doesn’t feel good. Therefore, if you want to buy a powerful car with a host of features and a sunroof is not a big deal for you, the Nissan Kicks could be a good choice for you.