The new engine on the Kicks makes 19 more horsepower, at 141.Doug Firby/The Globe and Mail
Nissan has done some clever work in its rethink of the fun and affordable Kicks crossover for 2025.
It is, by most measures, noticeably better than its predecessor: more powerful, more spacious, more refined with a stronger transmission and smart new looks. Yet, cash-challenged young grads will still appreciate the playful-on-a-budget spirit that lives on from the original.
“All new” is a cliché in the automotive world, but it holds true for the 2025 Kicks, which starts at less than $30,000. Remade from the ground up, the subcompact SUV has a new engine and refined continuously variable transmission, is bigger outside, roomier inside, better looking and more powerful.
These are positive changes. Driving this five-passenger crossover utility vehicle (CUV) through the hills east of Santa Barbara, Calif., is more enjoyable now that it has an engine big enough to pull itself up a hill without losing breath. The two-litre naturally aspirated engine produces 141 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque, up 19 horsepower from the anemic 1.6-litre powerplant in the previous iteration. (No word yet on an electrified version.)
To be clear, that amount of power won’t win you many races, but the engine does at least sound less like it’s about to have heart failure in the passing lane. The minor downside is a slight decline in fuel economy, achieving a still-respectable 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 6.6 on the highway and 7.4 combined. Its all-wheel-drive version is slightly thirstier at 8.4, 6.9 and 7.7.
The 2025 Nissan Kicks with the rear seats folded down. There is 1,699 litres of space in the FWD version and 1,419 litres in AWD.Doug Firby/The Globe and Mail
Wait. All-wheel drive? Yes, among the many improvements in this Kicks is the arrival of AWD, available as an $800 option on the base S and mid-level SV models and standard on the SR Premium model, which also comes with 19-inch alloy wheels in a choice of two styles. Entry-level wheels are 16 inches and most models are equipped with 17-inch wheels.
The bigger engine is just part of the improvement to the powertrain. The Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) has been extensively reworked, with a three-way multiface lockup clutch, new control valves, twin oil pump and low-friction surfaces. This is a great leap forward for Nissan, which has taken a hammering for its problem-plagued CVTs. The refinements deliver a smoother, well-mannered acceleration experience and should – in theory, at least – extend the service life of the transmission.
Nissan claims that the larger wheels and additional carpeting contribute to reduced noise inside the cabin. Yet the Kicks is still an economy vehicle that allows more road racket into the cabin than you’ll find in higher-end cars, and makes a tinny sound when you shut the doors. It’s one of the more noteworthy compromises; others include the non-powered liftgate, the absence of powered seats and absence of stop-start ignition.
In other ways, it is remarkably refined. In particular, the addition of soft-touch materials inside make the vehicle feel fancier. In the SR Premium level, handsome red stitching on charcoal leather-look seats are attractive, and the 12.3-inch digital display is simple to navigate (the S and SV models come with seven-inch display standard). That top-line trim also introduces Nissan’s ProPilot Assist and a 360-degree bird’s-eye view around the vehicle for the first time in a Kicks. A few extra bucks will get you a Bose 10-speaker audio system and a panoramic moonroof that opens wide for passengers in the much roomier rear seating area.
The rear seats on the new Kicks are more spacious.Doug Firby/The Globe and Mail
The Kicks has slightly larger outer dimensions that pay off in roomier second-row seating. It’s 58 millimetres longer, 28 millimetres taller and nearly 41 millimetres wider. Cargo capacity is rated at 849.5 litres in the front-wheel-drive version, up by 133.09 litres from the previous generation.
Although this is a clearly not meant to be an off-road vehicle, the Kicks has a slightly taller stance, with 214 millimetres of ground clearance. Suspension is stiffer than the earlier model and the turning radius sharpened to the point that it almost feels twitchy in normal driving. Sporty touches like a flat-bottomed steering wheel feel slightly ridiculous in the absence of other sport features, such as paddle-shifters.
As crossovers go, this is one cute ute. Its eye-catching horizontal grille makes a bolder statement than the tired V-grille in the old model and almost appears to be smiling. The rear deck flips up sharply at the glass line, creating a spoiler effect. Over all, the Kicks looks sure-footed and capable, a bit like the once-hip running shoe slang that inspired its name. Thankfully, Nissan has kept the jazzy two-tone paint themes in higher trim levels, as well as adding an eye-popping electric blue colour.
There is much to admire in this likeable Kicks, which replaces the Qashqai as the lowest-priced SUV in Nissan’s stable. The well-considered updates are a good thing because Kicks is slugging it out in a competitive segment with several worthy alternatives. This remake has come at a good time for Nissan as it refreshes its entire lineup and puts the Kicks squarely in the game.
The 2025 Kicks is expected to reach Canadian dealerships this month.
Tech specs
2025 Nissan Kicks
- Price range (FWD, AWD): S $27,199, $29,199; SV $28,749, $30,749; SR Premium AWD $34,899 (plus $2,030 for freight and predelivery inspection)
- Engine: Two-litre, inline-four, naturally aspirated
- Transmission / drive: CVT, available in FWD/AWD
- Fuel consumption (litres per 100 kilometres city, highway, combined): FWD: 8.1, 6.6, 7.4; AWD: 8.4, 6.9, 7.7
- Alternatives: Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona, Kia Soul
The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.
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