The Nissan kicks began its life in 2016 as a subcompact crossover SUV. The idea of a subcompact SUV came into existence when the demand for practical aspects of an SUV merged with the compact footprint of a hatchback arose. This worked well for the company as the vehicle was one of the best in its segment.
The 2022 Nissan Kicks gets several updates in terms of styling and interior. The SUV comes in at an affordable price point, and for 2022 it is loaded with technology as standard making it a well-connected city commuter.
Affordable And Competitive Pricing Of The Nissan Kicks
One of the most important aspects of any entry-level vehicle is its pricing, and the 2022 Nissan kicks is priced very competitively. The vehicle is divided into three trims, namely the S, SV, and SR. The carmaker offers the entry-level S trim at $21,215, and the top model is priced at $23,775.
Even the base trim of the lineup includes a lot of standard driver assistance and safety features. On the other hand, the middle trim happens to be the sweet spot as it adds in an 8-inch touch screen, 17-inch alloy wheels, and adaptive cruise control, among other specs, for approximately $2000 over the base trim.
On the exterior, the SUV is styled such that all-LED headlights are available as standard. Apart from this, body cladding runs through the entire length for added protection and gives an overall rugged look. One of the key reasons predicted for the success of the kicks will be the pricing and the number of features that it offers as standard, which is difficult to match by any of its rivals in the market.
Nissan Kicks: Nimble Handling, Responsive Steering
The Nissan kicks gets just one single engine as standard across all the trims. The subcompact SUV is powered by a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder unit which can produce an output of about 122 HP. The engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission gearbox tuned towards fuel efficiency.
The vehicle boasts of remarkable fuel efficiency numbers as it is rated at 31 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway as it consumes fuel more like an economy car than a compact crossover SUV. What hampers the cruising range is the rather small 10.8-gallon fuel tank, which is not the biggest in its class.
The Japanese carmaker does not offer all-wheel drive even as an option on the Kicks. Although performance is perhaps the last thing on the list of priorities for the Kicks, if one seeks thrill and floors the pedal, the vehicle can make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in around 9.7 seconds. Besides, the driving dynamics are nimble, and the suspension setup is catered more towards comfort. Thus, the subcompact SUV delivers a well-cushioned ride over uneven road surfaces. The steering wheel is very direct and provides decent feedback on the road.
The Cabin’s Contrasting Stitching And Driver-Friendly Center Console
The interior has a much more mature and premium touch to it. Besides, its width happens to be 69.3-inches making it one of the widest in the segment, and the overall height is approximately 63.3-inches. Thus, these dimensions add to the ‘spaciousness’ of the car. The cabin can seat up to four passengers, and all the controls are exactly where one expects them to be, making it very ergonomic.
The SUV’s dual-tone texture adds a lively atmosphere, apart from the comfort aspect. Talking about the vehicle's infotainment systems, it is characterized by easily accessible menus and legible fonts. The base variant comes with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 6-speaker sound system, and Bluetooth connectivity. Upon upgrading to the higher trims, the carmaker offers access to the 8-inch touchscreen system, and the optional premium package also adds a Bose sound system.
As this is a daily driver's car, Nissan has ensured to offer incredible safety features as standard. These include Autonomous Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Detection, and Lane Departure Warning. Apart from these, the automaker also offers upgraded safety in terms of adaptive cruise control. So, naturally, the subcompact SUV scored great in the safety department.
The 2022 Nissan kicks has a long list of standard safety features and very competitive pricing making it an ideal choice. Besides, the overall refreshed styling acts as a cherry on top. Although the vehicle could do with a better touch screen infotainment system, perhaps more power under the bonnet would have been appreciated. Still, for a city commuter, this is one of the best subcompact crossover SUVs in the segment.
Sources: Nissan