First-class features, premium interiors and more! Here’s all the Nissan Kicks has to offer

To say that the Japanese know a thing or two about building a car would be an understatement. Nissan vehicles dominate the international market due to their superior build quality and reliability. But now, the Japanese giant has turned to one of India’s highly competitive segments, with the Kicks SUV. With lavish interiors and a host of tech features, here’s how the Nissan Kicks has the potential to ‘throw’ its competition out of the water.

Design – The Nissan Kicks turns heads from every angle. Up front, its V-shaped grille is flanked by LED headlights which, with its wide rectangular shape, give it a bold look. Look around and you’ll notice the same sleek design carried over to the side, with a sloped hood and steeply sloped windshield, giving it a low stance. At the rear, you meet Nissan’s boomerang tail lights, which add to the overall oomph factor.

Remove the tape measure and you’ll notice the Kicks’ 2,673mm wheelbase overtakes its South Korean competitor by around 80mm. Likewise, the Kicks is also 20mm taller, at 1,636mm compared to its French counterpart. So, theoretically, not only do you have extra room to stretch your legs, but also a great height for the head.

With generous 210mm ground clearance, the Kicks SUV can handle bumps, unpaved or rough roads with a breeze. Not to mention, the Kicks’ 17-inch two-tone alloy rims and 4384mm overall length give it the rugged appearance you expect from your SUV.

Characteristics – Nissan has packed the Kicks with a ton of features and electronic magic. Up front, it has an 8-inch touchscreen floating infotainment center with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as voice recognition. Then there’s the new 360-degree camera, the first in the segment, which is a big help when parking in tight spaces. Another impressive feature here has to be the mood lighting which can be controlled via an app. Nissan also allows you to remotely start the Kicks with two presses of the lock button, followed by one press of the RES button.

Apart from all that, the Kicks comes with handy features like automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, rear air vents, and cruise control. On the safety front, the Kicks sports up to four airbags, ABS and EBD, electronic stability control, hill start assist and automatic door unlocking with impact detection.

Powertrain – Under the hood, Nissan offers the Kicks in two different engine options. The first is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that produces 106 hp and 142 Nm, mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Then there’s the 1.3-liter turbo-petrol unit, which produces 156 hp and 254 Nm, and is mated to a 6-speed manual or CVT gearbox. During our testing, we found that on the highway, the Kicks feels right at home where the engine’s strong surge of power allows you to perform quick passing maneuvers. Even at triple-digit speeds, the Kicks is quiet and composed with minimal engine noise seeping into the cabin. And with rising fuel costs, Nissan’s idle start and stop system is proving useful in improving fuel efficiency.

Comfort and Space – Take a step inside and you will be blown away by what is on offer. Nissan has managed to outperform its competition, setting a benchmark with the Kicks. Leather is the name of the game here. It is used tastefully on the steering wheel, dashboard and door trim. The seats sport a two-tone color scheme with the black quilted sections further adding to that upscale feel.

In terms of space, the front seats are ample, spacious and supportive, with the driver’s seat also being adjustable in height. In the back, there’s plenty of room for your passengers to stretch their legs and relax on a road trip. Speaking of which, the Nissan Kicks comes with a generous 400 liters of trunk volume, enough to store all your luggage on a weekend trip.

Pricing and availability – The Nissan Kicks easily takes its competitors out of the water, offering a sporty look, a wide range of features and premium interiors. Nissan offers the Kicks in seven different variations. From Rs 9.49 lakh (ex-showroom) for the XL variant and up to Rs 14.64 lakh (ex-showroom) for the XV Premium CVT variant. Like what you see? Visit any of the 126 Nissan contact points across India and book a test drive today!