Nissan Kicks

The cabin is very comfortable and likeable. The seats are very comfortable and get manual adjustments in the front. The bucket seats are done in cloth upholstery but do not look inferior by any case. The comfort of the passengers is taken care of in the best possible by adding an automatic climate control with the HVAC ducts given under the seat.

The dashboard has a clean layout with a lot of control buttons to toggle through the system. A 7-inch touchscreen display is given right in the center of the dash, but another LED screen is added to the driver’s center console. The users absolutely love the 6-speaker audio system.

The Nissan Kicks is bold and elegant in its design. It has a big hood with exhibits a thick grille, with chrome underlining and sleek headlamps. The fog lamps are placed on the bumper lower down. The roof rails are very prominent and so is the black plastic cladding along with a lower belt.

The car is driven on either 16-inch or 17-inch wheels, depending on the trim you choose. A spare tyre is also provided, albeit inside the cargo. The window glasses are lightly tinted to maintain privacy as well. The headlamps get the halogen type illumination but are of fully automatic type.

Despite lack of great power and torque at the acceleration pedal, the Nissan Kicks is quite nimble in its approach and is a lot of fun to take around as compared to any big SUV. However, the standard Strut and Torsion beam suspension is more tuned to be comfortable than sporty. Hence, it is not the best car to be taken around on the twisty roads and open highways.

The steering is on-point and very accurate on the feedback from the rack and pinion. However, as a driver, you will get very less feedback from the road, blame it on the soft suspension.

The Nissan Kicks is not the most powerful mini SUV in the segment but has a refinement to compensate for it. There is a 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder engine that can churn out a maximum power of 122 hp, which comes at 6,300 rpm, along with a peak torque of 154 Nm, which comes at just 4,000 rpm. There is a CVT (continuously variable transmission) sending the power to the front wheels.

The car is not the fastest in the segment and the 0-60 mph sprint comes in just 9.7 seconds. The competitors are decently quicker than this model, though the smoothness of the engine and refinement is the key.

The Nissan Kicks has a lot of safety features on offer. To start with, it has an anti-lock braking system and Driveline Traction Control. The ABS is operation on the disc brakes and provide optimum safety. Airbags are given all across the cabin, including window ones. The presence of autonomous emergency braking also adds to the package.

Besides these, there are many sensors, like electronic stability control, vehicle dynamic control, blind-spot warning with sensors. There is also a rear parking camera routing the display to the monitor in the front.

The Nissan Kicks is one of the most affordable small SUVs to be had in the price range. It might not be the most powerful car but manages to steal the show with its frugalness and comfortable drive. It is made for those buyers who can forego power for comfort and more bit of practicality.