NISSAN’S ALL-NEW KICKS – BIGGER KICKS

NISSAN’S ALL-NEW KICKS

BIGGER KICKS

As you’d know, most things evolve – hell, now into my eighth decade I’m still evolving, although that evolution is mostly downward. In the automotive industry product and brands can go from hot to cold in but a few short years, and that hot/cold cycle would seem to have hit the team at Nissan. They continue to offer attractive, competitive product, but since the departure of Carlos Ghosn there seems a distinct lack of corporate direction, a real need to right the ship. The newly redesigned Kicks, a subcompact hatch at its initial launch, has in this model year morphed into a subcompact crossover…and that seems an entirely reasonable start.

When my son Sean went shopping last fall to replace his 2011 Subaru Forester – which he had owned for a decade – he considered both Toyota’s Corolla Cross and a mid-level Nissan Kicks. Had he been able to rationalize the $30K-plus window sticker of the mid-level Corolla Cross he might have pulled that trigger, but he was most comfortable with a window sticker under $25,000 – and the Kicks fits that budget perfectly. Additionally, it was more fun to drive than the Toyota, with a point-and-shoot personality that fits his driving environment almost perfectly. That ’24 Kicks could use more power – more ‘kick’, if you will – and the availability of all-wheel drive would have been a plus, but Sean remains happy with his decision.

For 2025 Nissan gives Kicks prospects the previous iteration, now known as the Kicks Play (really), and an all-new, upsized Kicks – which I would have labeled ‘Bigger Kicks’. It’s bumped up in every direction, with almost two inches of added wheelbase, 1.6 inches of added width and – most tellingly – almost 600 pounds of added curb weight. Admittedly, the increased fat tissue is partially attributable to the optional all-wheel drive, but if the ’25 doesn’t have the point-and-shoot feel of the ’24, it’s because the new one is dragging the weight of a small family around…without the small family in it!

Stylistically, we liked the old one and we like the new one, although in adapting the crossover footprint the new Kicks strikes me as more ‘Rogue Sport’ than a bigger Kicks. There is a faint reminder of the long-discontinued Juke in the sheetmetal, and I like the way this new Kicks sits back on its chassis, but am not a fan of how the cladding around the fenders seems to accentuate the SR trim’s 45-series rubber. The Kicks looks under-tired, and while it isn’t the only one in its category (most of these small crossovers could use taller rubber), the 19-inchers on the SR seems to accentuate it.

Inside, the additional shoulder room of this new one is appreciated, and the Kicks’ rear seat seems better tailored to adult dimensions. The dash is clearly laid out, and while the infotainment screen could be more intuitive…it could also be more confusing. The base ‘S’ trim gets but seven inches of screen, while the upmarket SV and SR offer 12.3 inches.

On the road the bump in displacement to a full 2.0 liters certainly doesn’t hurt, but the 0-60 of 9.0 seconds – according to the test team at Car and Driver – will still feel leisurely. Once you get going, however, highway cruising is relaxed, and you’ll have the ability to safely pass without excessive damage to your hearing; that’s if, of course, you’re wearing ear plugs. And while 141 horsepower is adequate in about 3,200 pounds, the 2.0 liter hooked to a CVT screams (literally) for a turbo or hybrid assist. 

Dynamically, you’ll find the steering well connected, but the suspension is soft. That’s perfect for my immediate neighborhood, where the main roadway is under reconstruction – and feels as if it’s been visited (daily!) by Russian drones. You won’t be using a Kicks for track days, anyway – you’ll be using it getting the kids to school and you to work. And if life comes up with bumps, the new Kicks will smooth them.

At the end of the day, I’m sure a bigger Kicks is a kickstart in the right direction. But stick with the mid-level SV trim in the mid-$20s, ‘cause with the SR AWD you’re passing $30,000. At that level of investment you have what I think are more compelling choices, including Mazda’s CX-30, VW’s Taos and Nissan’s own Rogue. As with most things, you’ll get what you pay for…and I’d pay no more than about $25K.