Nissan Kicks (2023) Expert Review: Should You Buy This Crossover SUV?

Nissan Kicks is one of the most affordable Nissan SUVs on sale in the UAE market. The subcompact SUV beats the starting price of many of its rivals, like Hyundai Creta, Toyota Raize, and Kia Seltos. The savings don’t stop only when purchasing this Nissan SUV; the buyers also enjoy up to 37 mpg of fuel economy, limiting the fuel cost in the long run. The all-new Kicks boasts a nicely designed exterior and a well-equipped interior to attract UAE customers who regularly drive their vehicles and consider going on long trips.

The automaker has offered this crossover SUV in four trims and all in FWD options, meaning buyers don’t have the option to opt for AWD models. Additionally, it draws power from a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine coupled with CVT to deliver 118 horsepower and 149 Nm of maximum torque.

Nissan kicks (2023) Review: Brief Overview

Features

• Rear monitor view
• Six Bose speakers
• Blind spot warning
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Hill start assist function
• Automatic emergency braking
• Nissan Intelligent Mobility safety
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Pros

• Affordable pricing
• Impressive fuel economy
• Spacious cabin
• Comfortable seating

Cons

• Slow acceleration
• Interior material quality
• No all-wheel drive option

Expert Rating: 4/5

Nissan Kicks Price in UAE: Starts from AED 71,000 for entry-level, S trim, AED 76,000 for SV, AED 87,000 for SL, and AED 89,500 for SL + NIM + Brown trim.

Top Rivals: Competes with Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Honda HR-V, and Toyota Raize.

Nissan Kicks (2023) Expert Review: Should You Buy This Nissan Crossover SUV?

Powertrain

Nissan has offered its new Kicks in four trims, and all these models are powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine capable of delivering 118 HP of power output and 149 Nm of torque. The engine of this crossover has been paired with a six-speed continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that handles the shifting duties and controls the front wheels.

With the offered powertrain and transmission configuration, Kicks achieves 0-60 mph speed in around 9.7 seconds, which makes it comparatively slower than other SUVs in the segment. But that’s not all you should know about the performance of Nissan Kicks. The subcompact SUV delivers a perky performance on city roads by ensuring smooth and efficient handling. The automaker has a tuned transmission for more comfort and easy drives on traffic and twisty roads. One of the greatest advantages of buying Nissan Kicks is its fuel efficiency and ability to deliver relaxed drives on highway and urban terrains. The crossover SUV gets impressive EPA fuel-economy ratings of 31 mpg for cities and 36 mpg for highways.

Exterior

New Kicks features a daring, sporty, and sophisticated design. It gets a double V-motion front grille with a chrome accent and a Nissan badge at the center. At the front profile, Nissan has provided LED headlights that ensure long-range night vision. There is a new rear assembly design with some design tweaks to complement the overall exterior look and theme of the crossover.

The automaker has offered 17-inch (16-inch in S trim) aluminum alloy wheels, which properly match and enhance the overall style and design of the vehicle. Moreover, the Nissan crossover measures 4,295 mm in overall length, 1,760 mm in width, and 2,620 mm in wheelbase. There is a 41-liter fuel tank storage capacity.

Interior

It’s a well-built crossover SUV from Nissan, a leading automaker in UAE, with a roomy and user-friendly interior. There is an IKEY IGNITION button that starts the engine with a single press, just requiring you to put your foot on the brake and press the power button. There are space-age technology-inspired zero gravity front seats to ensure fatigue-free rides, especially on long trips. The rear seats are also of adult size and can accommodate adult passengers without any cramped feeling. Nissan has offered 25.3 cubic feet of standard cargo space, which can increase up to 53.1 cubic feet by folding the rear seat.

Discussing the technology part, Nissan Kicks gets an automatic climate control feature, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Bose premium audio system. Additionally, the Kicks S comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while the top-spec trims offer an 8-inch touchscreen display. The premium trims have a brown leather interior for more comfortable and elevated rides.

Safety

Nissa has launched its Kicks crossover SUV with several safety features, including rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot warning, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision alert. The SUV boasts an intelligent around-view monitoring system with four cameras to give a 360-degree bird-eye view of the vehicle. Moreover, four-wheel disc brakes, Nissan advanced airbag safety, intelligent trace control, and engine brakes are also given.

Conclusion

Nissan Kicks is one of the best SUV crossovers in UAE and is offered at a competitive price tag, offering best-in-class features to buyers and enabling them to enjoy most of their rides without compromising fuel efficiency or drive performance.

However, the crossover is only available in FWD trims and doesn’t have quick acceleration; still, it's one of the prominent vehicles to drive in cities regularly. There are several safety features that not only ensure drivers cover long distances safely but also protect passengers from unprecedented events.