It’s been close to six months since the 2018 Nissan Kicks joined the MotorTrend long-term fleet, and it’s proven to be a great daily driver in the mean streets of Los Angeles. Since then, we’ve found plenty to like about the smallest vehicle in the MT Garage. Here are seven key details that make the Kicks stylish yet familiar.
Small Footprint, Big Interior
The Nissan Kicks’ interior packaging wins it plenty of brownie points. Five passengers can easily fit without feeling snug, and generous cargo capacity gives it the flexibility to haul big items like check-in bags and Ikea furniture. For those with plenty of small items or mobile devices, there are cubbies galore.
Tech-Savvy Urbanite
All Nissan Kicks trims come standard with a 7.0-inch touchscreen and three USB ports, ensuring your devices never die on long road trips. Moving up to the SV or SR grade gets you a 7.0-inch instrument cluster display and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, turning your mobile device into your infotainment system.
Bangin’ Audio System
The available Bose Personal Plus audio system is one of the highlights of the 2018 Kicks, featuring two speakers on the driver’s headrest for a sweet soundscape. You can also adjust the sound output to focus on the driver, making it seem like you’re wearing headphones, or expand it into a cool surround sound experience.
Safety First
Despite its sub-$20,000 starting price, the Nissan Kicks puts safety at the forefront with standard automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning. The SV and SR trims build on that with standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Powertrain and Braking Trickery
Range-topping SR models like our long-termer feature subtle electronic wizardry to improve the Kicks’ driving dynamics. Nissan’s Integrated Dynamic-control Module (IDM), which bundles Active Engine Braking, Active Trace Control, and Active Ride Control, uses the engine to help slow the car; it can also apply the brakes ever so slightly to minimize understeer while cornering.
Familiar Underpinnings and Powertrain
Like the Versa and Sentra, the Kicks rides on Nissan’s V platform, which was optimized for compact and subcompact vehicle applications. The familiarity continues under the hood, where you’ll find a CVT and an updated 1.6-liter I-4 that first appeared in the Versa; this time, it’s up 16 hp and 8 lb-ft of torque to 125 hp and 115 lb-ft. The engine’s output may feel meager if you have a lead foot, but a hidden sport mode button helps out a little.
Pops Out in a Crowd
When targeting millennials, make sure you’ve got eye-catching style to accompany your tech. The Nissan Kicks delivers on that front with available two-color exteriors that give the little crossover some attitude, perfect for young drivers looking to ensure their car doesn’t get lost in a parking lot. Nissan’s Color Studio customization program lets you turn up the style on the Kicks. Colored alloy wheel inserts, interior trim, and side sill accents allow you to personalize the Kicks to truly make it yours.
Read more about our long-term Nissan Kicks SR:
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