Full Nissan Kicks Review: Features, Tech, and Performance

Photo Source/Copyright: NISSAN USA

Subcompact crossovers used to be the budget consolation prize, the vehicle you bought simply because the finance department vetoed everything else on the lot. That isn’t the story anymore. Nissan’s smallest crossover just underwent a thorough ground-up redesign that widened its track, squared off its shoulders, and finally checked off the big item on every buyer’s wish list: available all-wheel drive.

Exterior and Stance

The exterior reads much sharper than the outgoing model ever managed. It drops the soft, rounded hatchback vibe in favor of upright proportions, bold horizontal grille accents, and clean geometric lines. Wheel options range from sensible 16-inch steel wheels up to aggressive 19-inch alloys on top trims. 

The signature two-tone paint schemes pair a contrast roof with vivid body colors, giving it a distinctive personality that stands out in a sea of silver commuter boxes. An available panoramic moonroof opens up the cabin, while sturdy roof rails add practical utility for hauling bike racks or rooftop cargo pods on weekend escapes.

Under the Hood: Practical Performance

Powering the lineup is a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque, mated to an Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). It won’t pin you to the seat when merging onto a crowded highway, but nobody shops this segment with a stopwatch in hand. Buyers look at subcompact crossovers for efficiency and everyday usability.

Front-wheel-drive (FWD) configurations return an EPA-estimated 28 miles per gallon (MPG) city and 35 MPG highway. Adding Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) nudges those numbers to 27 city and 34 highway, essentially a rounding error against the added traction and all-weather confidence you gain. A dedicated Snow drive mode recalibrates throttle mapping and AWD torque delivery to keep you planted when the weather turns ugly.

Cabin Space and Practicality

Cargo space is where this subcompact quietly embarrasses the competition. You get 30 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats, expanding to 60 cubic feet with the 60/40-split seatbacks folded flat. All-wheel-drive setups give back about 10 cubic feet to accommodate the rear differential, but 50.1 cubic feet will still swallow a full dorm-room move or a weekend’s worth of camping gear in a single trip.

Up front, Nissan’s NASA-inspired Zero Gravity seats come standard, taking the edge off long stints in stop-and-go commuting traffic. Rear legroom is surprisingly generous for a vehicle with such a compact footprint, allowing adult passengers to sit comfortably without knees jammed into the front seatbacks.

Standard Tech and Safety

Nissan stopped tiering the screen size this cycle. A 12.3-inch touchscreen display is standard across all three trims, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and dual front USB-C ports. 

Base variants in this class usually force you to upgrade trims just to get modern phone connectivity, so removing that paywall is a massive win. Higher trims add a matching 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10-speaker Bose Personal Plus sound system with headrest-mounted speakers.

Every trim also includes Nissan Safety Shield 360 standard:

• Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
• Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Lane Departure Warning and Rear Automatic Braking
• High Beam Assist

Stepping up to the SR trim adds ProPILOT Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with hands-on lane centering to take real strain out of long interstate drives.

Trim Breakdown and Pricing

• S: Covers the fundamental tech and safety features cleanly.
• SV: Adds convenience items like wireless charging and available heated seats.
• SR: Maximizes tech, 19-inch wheels, and driver-assist features.

Starting at $22,730 MSRP (excluding destination fee), the updated Kicks presents an undeniable value proposition. Stop by for a test drive to see how it handles in person.