It’s generally an accepted fact that budget-friendly cars require some compromise to offer an affordable price. This might include subpar materials, outdated tech, and a boring design. It usually means an underpowered engine as well. However, the Nissan Kicks has bucked this trend with its recent redesign.
Impressively Well-Rounded SUV
The new Nissan Kicks breaks the mold with a stylish exterior design that turns heads. The striking design would be attractive at any price, but the Kicks really draws attention with its base price of $23,000. This is one of the most affordable cars on the market. The top trim with all the options will set you back just over $30,000. That’s still $20,000 below the average price of a new car.
The pricing draws you in, but then you might wonder where the Kicks compromises. Before this latest model, AWD wasn’t available. However, the new Kicks does indeed offer AWD, and it also has the best ground clearance in its class at 8.4 inches. This gives it an edge in slippery conditions or snow-covered roads.
Back In Style
One of the worst ways that budget cars compromise is through boring exterior designs. The Nissan Kicks throws that out the window with sharp lines and bold colors. It also adds a ton of thoughtful details like small logos on the mirror support and the D-pillar.
The Kicks ups its style quotient with flashy extras like LED headlights and three-spoke wheels. Two-tone paint options and standout paint colors like Yuzu Yellow Metallic and Arctic Ice Blue help it depart from the crowd even more.
Energetic Performance
Another area where the Nissan Kicks adds value is its new, more energetic powertrain. It now features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 141 horsepower. Those aren’t performance numbers, but the Kicks is a light vehicle, and the engine is plenty capable of managing daily driving tasks. The CVT keeps the engine in the right power band during acceleration situations.
The efficient engine also delivers good fuel economy with 27 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined. In other words, you get reasonably good performance paired with savings at the pump.
Interior Upgrades Stand Out
The interior of the new Nissan Kicks is also impressive, with more quality materials, more space, and more advanced tech. Some highlights include a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and digital gauge cluster, plus two rear USB-C ports, and a 360-degree camera system. For $1,950, you can add the Premium Package for a panoramic moonroof, heated front seats, and a 10-speaker Bose audio system.
Not to be forgotten are Nissan’s incredibly comfortable Zero Gravity seats, which provide amazing all-day comfort. Finally, the little details stand out, like thick carpets and wide cupholders that can fit almost any drinking vessel.
The new Nissan Kicks doesn’t just cover the basics, it goes well beyond that with extras you might not even find in the base models of cars that cost a lot more.
