Nissan Kicks review

We’d like to say ‘it doesn’t disappoint,’ but that’s because we came in with low expectations. Look, when you see the I4 and CVT on the window sticker, you know what the deal is - budget pricing, fuel-stretching ambitions and low-stakes thrills – if any are to be had. That’s all fine, and indeed, the Kicks doesn’t set the ground beneath it on fire off the line, but it performs quite well for what it’s got to work with. 

What it lacks in grunt it makes up in spirit, to a degree. The CUV is quick in low-speed bursts for dancing around city traffic, but merging onto the highway is a flat-on-the floor affair with a lot of racket and little payoff. 

How does it handle? 

Thankfully, the Kicks has a suspension setup dialed in to complement its powertrain situation and put some money where its stylish Z-inspired mouth is. All versions have an independent front while in the rear, the FWD cars have a twist beam and the AWDs go multilink, all equipped with twin-tube shocks. At the end of the day, it feels boxy but tight and playful, not being uncomfortably stiff but not too wobbly on the turns. 

Is there a big difference between FWD and AWD?

In general, not really, thanks to the way Nissan runs its AWD setup. All four wheels only come into play when the Kicks senses traction is lacking, and according to the chosen drive modes. It makes sense given that there isn’t any extra power for the AWD Kicks to play with and the fact that there can’t be a huge MPG discrepancy between the two. By the way, they net a combined 31 and 30 MPG, respectively. 

Both have a ‘sport’ mode which bumps the throttle aggression up ever so slightly, but don’t expect the digital safeguards to let their guard down drastically. The extra drive mainly comes into play in slippery conditions, with the AWD-exclusive ‘snow’ mode making the most use of the setup.