- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He Fr
Nissan Kicks SUV. Between the Juke and X-trail
The Nissan Kicks is a subcompact SUV produced by Nissan (Japan). The vehicle premiered at the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is sold in the markets of both Americas and Asian countries. The model is a more affordable alternative to the Nissan Juke and targeted at developing countries. Do you know why we talk about it? There are not so many subcompact SUVs on the market (the Kicks is only 4,295 mm long), its closest competitors are Ford EcoSport (4,325 mm long), Honda HR-V (4,328 mm) and Hyundai Creta (4,300 mm) SUVs. Israeli buyers can purchase the Honda HR-V, as well as the Nissan Juke (4,210 mm) and Nissan X-trail (4,690 mm long). The Nissan Kicks is right in between.
The first generation
The Nissan Kicks is based on the V-platform used for Nissan subcompact models. For comparison, the Nissan Kicks is slightly larger than the Nissan Juke: it is 4,295 mm long, 1,760 mm wide and 1,590 mm high. More importantly, the wheelbase reaches 2610 mm, and the trunk is larger. The vehicle looks humble but not boring. It has two engines: a 1.6-liter gasoline engine that produces 114 hp and is coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission or CVT and a 1.5-liter HR15DE engine with 124 hp. The model is front-wheel drive, featuring a MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a semi-independent suspension at the rear. The interior is modern and simple. For an extra charge you can install a large color screen in the dashboard, a multimedia system with a 7-inch display, a climate control unit, an engine start button and even all-round cameras that Nissan loves so much.
Released in 2019, the new Nissan Kicks for India is a completely different vehicle built on the B0 platform. The Indian version is larger. It is 4,384 mm long (89 mm longer), 1,813 mm wide and 1,656 mm high. Its wheelbase is 63 mm longer and is similar to that of the Dacia Duster in terms of the distance between the axles, the first generation of which is also based on the old B0 platform. The ground clearance reaches 210 mm. The Indian version features a 1.5-liter H4K gasoline engine (106 hp) or a 1.5-liter K9K turbocharged diesel engine (110 hp). Both gasoline and diesel engines are coupled with 5-speed and 6-speed manual transmissions, respectively.
2020 restyling
The restyled Nissan Kicks was unveiled in May 2020 in Thailand. By this time, the production of the vehicle had already been established in Mexico, Brazil, China and Taiwan. The restyled version was immediately followed by a modification with the e-Power hybrid system, tested by Nissan in Japan. The e-Power is a sequential hybrid system, which makes sure that the vehicle is powered by an electric motor connected to the front wheels. The hybrid version can produce 129 hp and a considerable torque of 260 Nm. The vehicle has a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine that develops 79 hp and 103 Nm and is designed to charge a small traction battery.
The 2020/2021 Nissan Kicks has become more attractive and more aggressive due to the radiator grille, LED headlights and taillights that have grown in size. The SUV features new bumpers and fresh design wheel rims, and a new multimedia system, which now has an 8-inch screen and more functions. The list of options has become longer, acquiring more safety assistants, including an automatic braking system and adaptive cruise control.
The manufacturer had to restyle the Indian version as well, although less than 5 thousand vehicles were sold, which is not much. The environmental requirements became stricter and forced the company to replace the diesel engine with a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine (156 hp and 254 Nm). The main engine is a modernized 1.5-liter engine (106 hp, 142 Nm). Moreover, the vehicle can also be equipped with a CVT.
