2024 Nissan Kicks – usa.nissannews.com | Shop 2024 Nissan Kicks on Carsforsale.com
The 2024 Nissan Kicks is likely the last of the first generation for this model. It comes in three trim levels and is only available with a 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable transmission, and front-wheel drive. Only a year away from a major update, the 2024 Kicks is unchanged based on last year’s model.
Spacious interior
Great fuel economy
Inexpensive base model
No AWD
No other engine choices
Dated interior
We can’t wait for an all-new Kicks
Nissan keeps the price of the Kicks low in part due to a very simple lineup. Every Kicks comes with a 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable transmission, and front-wheel drive. No matter how much one spends, that’s what they’ll end up with in the Kicks. All-wheel drive, a hybrid, or a more sporty powertrain are all off of the menu.
Frankly, it’s still good enough to do the job it’s intended for. The Kicks manages to achieve up to 31 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway according to the EPA. While a hybrid would do even better, it would also bump up the lowly $22,730 base price of the Kicks. As it stands, this pint-sized Nissan smashes the fuel economy figures of the Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, and beats the city mpg ratings of the VW Taos too.
Keeping it in the city is the real key though as 122 horsepower makes for a lower powered drivetrain. Built for a busy urban environment, the Kicks drivetrain moves at a reasonable pace. The highways are a different story: overtaking other vehicles requires a lot of time compared to other subcompact SUVs. The CVT can be noisy under long acceleration too. Hopefully, Nissan will provide a drivetrain update in the 2025 updates.
The Kicks SUV-ish dimensions make it an easy car to live with day in and day out. The cabin is spacious, visibility is good, and the seating is comfortable for most. The control stack is logically laid out and though the infotainment system looks dated, it’s also intuitive to use. As always, we’re grateful that Nissan kept physical controls for the climate settings. The center tunnel and dash design also hint at the age of this model.
In any car at this price, there are compromises though. For the Kicks, that comes in a few forms. The seating for example is adequate but not especially adjustable, leaving taller drivers without a lot of support. The pedal box is tight too which can make the entire cabin feel smaller than it really is. Rear occupants have to make do with just 33-inches of legroom, which is fine given this car’s small size, but others in the segment offer more legroom.
The rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split but they don’t fold flat which can be a challenge when hauling certain items. Despite that, cargo space is good with 25.3 cubic feet dedicated to gear and storage. Fold down the rear seats expands the cargo space to 32.3 cubic feet.
Nissan did a decent job with its tech package in the Kicks. It won’t stand up against much newer rivals like the Chevy Trax but listen to this feature list. A 7-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is standard. An 8-inch unit is also available. Every Kicks comes with six speakers which is as many as you’ll find in a brand new 2024 Toyota Camry. Each Kicks also gets four USB power ports too.
Those who crave high-end driver safety aids can get them too. Standard on every Kicks is automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and pedestrian detection. The SV trim automatically adds adaptive cruise control too. A surround-view monitor and something Nissan calls Intelligent Dynamics Control, which uses the braking system to smooth out bumps and to improve cornering.
The Kicks hasn’t won any safety awards for 2024. The NHTSA gave it a four-star crash test rating and it only scored “acceptable” in the IIHS’ structure and safety cage testing.
The base Kicks comes with 16-inch steel wheels, drum brakes in the rear, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, a 7-inch infotainment system, six speakers, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and cruise control.
The SV includes 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, rear disc brakes, heated mirrors, keyless entry, remote start, automatic climate control, an 8-inch infotainment system, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, adaptive cruise control, and a drowsy driver monitor.
Finally, the SR includes LED headlights, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, upgraded cloth upholstery, and a surround-view monitor.
On its own merit, the Kicks is a city dweller that is a perfectly adequate runabout. In the proverbial sea of other compact crossovers though it’s a tiny fish in a big pond. That’s not too shocking considering that it’s over half a decade old and that it’ll get an all-new generation next year. For 2024 we’d suggest skipping it in lieu of another more value-oriented choice like the Mazda CX-30 or the Chevrolet Trax.
2024 Nissan Kicks – usa.nissannews.com | Shop 2024 Nissan Kicks on Carsforsale.com
The Kicks suffers from having just a single powertrain and drivetrain. Other options in this segment offer more. It’s possible that Nissan could bolster value by adding a more competitive warranty, higher-end tech, or even some bolder styling. We expect to see all of that when the next generation arrives later this year.
No, it’s front-wheel drive and it’s not available with AWD.
Yes, the Nissan Kicks is a direct replacement for the Juke.
The Nissan Kicks comes with a 3-year/36,000 mile limited warranty, and a 5-year limited powertrain warranty