Nissan Kicks review

It’s the Nissan Kicks. Specifically, the all-new second-generation version ready to stand out on its own, now that everyone’s probably forgotten about the Juke. 

Which one was the Juke again? 

Remember that bug-eyed crossover from the 2010s? They were sort of everywhere, mostly in the background, with Nissan desperate to get them noticed by putting out a Nismo version (red bits!) and even sticking a GT-R engine in a handful of them. 

While the Juke continues in Europe – selling like hot cakes – the Kicks came in as a replacement in the US around 2018, after its debut and subsequent foothold in South America a couple years prior. Soccer’s big there, the car’s called Kicks… you can connect the dots. 

The Juke may have been odd-looking, but it at least looked like something. The first-gen Kicks looked like the royalty-free version of the car it replaced, and this is the most anyone has talked about it in a very long time. In a sense, this latest version is a do-over, with a fresh presentation, ready to stand on its own rather than as a sub-in. 

Alright, so what’s its deal?

The Nissan Kicks is a funky, stylized crossover with a four-pot and a reasonable price, contingent on whichever way the current tariff wind is blowing. Like its predecessors, the Kicks is meant to be an accessible first car with the personality and doodads young drivers are looking for. 

Style-wise, it’s a big leap forward, even if the front of the Kicks looks like the back of the latest Nissan Z coupe. Points for continuity, we suppose. Still, it’s a modern aesthetic with two-tone options and a nice reminder that cars are allowed to be fun, even when sitting still. 

How does it drive?

Peppy! With a basic 2.0-liter in-line four producing barely 141hp and conjoined to a CVT, you’re absolutely getting what you paid for, but it’s suitable for this car’s needs. While it won’t impress with power, it does feel tightly wound and sprightly enough for quick darts around town. The otherwise front-driven crossover’s latest version introduces an AWD option for more confident driving in icky weather, and it brings along a ‘snow’ drive mode, too. 

What’s going on inside?

You can get whatever color interior you want, so long as it’s charcoal, though there is a leatherette/cloth combo that adds red stitching and highlights in the SR trim level. While the base car gets the appropriately basic rental-fleet ready infotainment unit, the top trim is treated with dual 12.3-inch displays with an assortment of customization options, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. 

As it’s not too far from being a large hatchback, the Kicks cabin has a decent enough elbow room for four, while up to 30 cu ft (850 litres) of cargo space remains available. Nissan’s also quite good at throwing in a heap of standard safety features like emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane departure alerts. Higher trims also throw in ProPilot assist, a separate drive assist suite that eases long-stretch driving and monitors drivers in the event they nod off or are otherwise incapacitated. 

Reminiscent of Nissan’s more exuberant offerings of the early aughts like the Cube, the Kicks is a vibrant, affordable runabout with a bit of youthful flair that performs as advertised. All the while, it’s a functioning daily commuter vehicle with the inherent versatility of a crossover. Optional all-wheel drive means less worry in lousy weather, though those looking to drive on anything rougher than a grassy lawn should opt for something less citified. 

There are a number of packages that make the Kicks more enjoyable, but they quickly add up, bringing the wallet-friendly starting price up to less amiable amounts. Either way you slice it, the Kicks ticks a number of boxes without completely breaking the bank and manages to do so with the right amount of attitude. 

Rivals like the Kia Soul and Hyundai Kona are similarly charming, though the former doesn’t compare in the tech department while the latter has more options when it comes to power, though at a higher cost.