2018 Nissan Kicks

Choosing the appropriate trim might be slightly tricky as the trims are priced pretty closely. However, we would pick the mid-level SV trim that costs $1,700 more than the base S trim. Some additional features over the S trim’s standard features are 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, 7.0-inch touchscreen display with NissanConnect, SiriusXM satellite radio, Android Auto, Apple Carplay, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, intelligent key, automatic temperature control, remote engine start system, and rear cargo cover. However, if you are willing to spend just $600 more, you can get access to the top SR trim.

Standard equipment is generous in the Nissan Kicks - Autotrader

The 2018 Nissan Kicks is available in three trim configurations: S, SV and SR. The base S starts at an MSRP of $18,290, while the SV trim will cost you $19,990. The top of the line SR trim is priced at $20,950. Considering the pricing of all the trims, we can say that Nissan has been generous with the list of standard features. However, the underpowered engine might be a let down for some buyers. Nissan’s subcompact SUV offers superior gas mileage and decent practicality for its size. 

The base S trim offers multiple features like hill start assist, 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, remote keyless entry with push button start, smart auto headlamps, rearview monitor, 7.0-inch touchscreen display and automatic emergency braking. The SV trim adds 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, 7.0-inch touchscreen display with NissanConnect, SiriusXM satellite radio, Android Auto, Apple Carplay, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, intelligent key, automatic temperature control, remote engine start system, and rear cargo cover. 

The top level SR trim adds LED headlights with LED DRLs, fog lights, rear roof spoiler, dark chrome front grille, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob with chrome accents, sport seat fabric with color accents and stitching. The Premium Package is available for the SR trim only, adding Bose Personal Plus audio system with 8-speakers and integrated speaker in driver’s headrest, heated front seats, Prima-Tex appointed seats, and security system. 

With little power on tap, the 2018 Nissan Kicks is predictably thrifty at the pump- The Car Connection

With an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 31/33/36 mpg in the city/highway/combined conditions, the Nissan Kicks has an edge over its rivals. A fuel tank of 10.8 gallons can enable the Kicks to offer a maximum driving range 335 miles, 389 miles and 370 miles respectively. Owing to a smaller fuel tank size, some rivals offer better range in different driving conditions. A lower curb weight and well-tuned CVT are the main reasons behind the superior fuel economy.

The only competitor here close to the Kick's fuel economy is the Honda HR-V. it returns just 2 miles per gallon (combined) less than the Kicks. The fuel estimates of the Toyota C-HR and the Hyundai Kona are almost the same but they deliver a better range than the Kicks owing to their large fuel tanks. Keep in mind, a larger fuel tank and less efficiency means more fuel costs but less fuel stops. 

What's best about the interior, however, is that it's a very usable and roomy space for a car this small- CarAndDriver

The 2018 Nissan Kicks surely ticks the right boxes when it comes to the interior design. The functional layout is quite ergonomic and you won't find any funky design elements. Some compromises are made in terms of trim quality but they are not bad in any way and you should not worry much about them. The dashboard is well laid out and the steering wheel gets mounted controls for better convenience while driving. The outside visibility is quite good, both for the driver and the passengers.

The front seats are quite comfortable and are inspired by the "Zero Gravity" structure. Even the rear seats offer decent comfort for all the passengers but it's best suited for three kids or two normal-sized adults for better comfort. The S, SV and SR trims get Charcoal Cloth upholstery with contrast stitching. The Charcoal Prima-Tex upholstery with orange-colored contrast stitching is available for the SR trim with Premium Package. For extensive interior customization via multiple color accents and finishes, the buyers can opt for the Kicks Color Studio.

The subcompact crossover offers a cargo capacity of 25.3 cubic feet with all seats in place. For extending the trunk space, the rear 60/40-split seat back can be folded down and the cargo space extends to 32.3 cubic feet. However, the seats don't fold flat as expected and loading your luggage can be a bit of a task. Nissan offers rear passenger under-seat heater ducts, automatic temperature control, intelligent key, remote engine start system and cargo cover are offered with SV and SR trims. For storage, four cup holders, four bottle holders, and four cargo tie-down hooks are offered. 

The Honda HR-V shines in the interior section as it offers the most passenger space in the rear row. The Hyundai Kona also offers decent space at the back but it compromises on the front legroom. Meanwhile, the Toyota C-HR's rear row is cramped and is not suitable for adults. The Nissan Kicks offers the best cargo space, followed by Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona and Toyota C-HR. However, the good thing is that the cargo space can be extended in all the subcompact crossovers by folding the rear seatback. 

A 7.0-inch touchscreen display is standard across all the trims but only the SV and SR trims get access to NissanConnect features. With NissanConnect, features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth handsfree connectivity, Siri Eyes Free, AM/FM, and a 6-speaker audio system followed by SiriusXM. A premium audio system by Bose with an 8-speaker system is exclusive to the SR trim. Apart from these, three USB ports with charging facility, AUX, and steering mounted controls are standard on all models.

Some of the key 2018 Nissan Kicks interior features are:

• Remote engine start
• Automatic climate control
• Proximity keyless entry
• Push-button start
• 7-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (SV and SR)
• 8-speaker Bose Premium audio system (Premium Package)

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To our eye, the new Nissan Kicks is among the best looking subcompact SUVs- Kelly Blue Book

The exterior design of the Nissan Kicks is not as polarizing as the Juke but it certainly has a bold look. Upfront, you can see there's a lot going on with the soft U-shaped grille and oversized headlights. The top-end SR trim gets darkened chrome on the grille and most importantly, halogen headlamps are changed out for more modern-looking LED ones. Along the bottom, you have a back bumper except on the SR trim where you get body-colored accents and fog lights. The high ground clearance of the Kicks doesn't mean it's an off-roader. 

The Kick's wheelbase is mostly on par with some of its rivals. On the side, the blacked-out C-pillars make for a floating roof effect. If you want to stand out from the crowd, Nissan will paint the roof a totally different color for a small extra charge. The base S trim sits on 16-inch steel wheels while the other two trims get 17-inch alloy wheels. Around the back, there is an interesting shaped tailgate with a large window and the typical Nissan boomerang taillights. Just like the front end, the rear black bumper will have body-colored accents only on the SR trim. The overall exterior dimensions of the Kicks are favorable for interior space. 

Nissan offers multiple single-tone and dual-tone color options. The single tone exterior color options are Aspen White, Fresh Powder, Silver Metallic, Gun Metallic, Cayenne Red, Deep Blue, and Super Black. The two-tone color options are paired with black contrasting roof and Aspen White, Monarch Orange, and Cayenne Red. The two-tone color choice also includes Orange roof paired with Gun Metallic and Fresh Powder roof paired with Deep Blue Pearl. With Nissan Kicks Color Studio buyers can customize their own car with respect to unique colors of wheel caps, inserts, mirrors, and interior vents to complement the interio 

Due to its heavy curb weight, the Toyota C-HR has slower acceleration. The short height of the Hyundai Kona impacts the headroom in the front row. The Honda HR-V's ground clearance is just 0.3 inches lower than the Kicks. Therefore, getting in and out of the vehicle would be easy. A higher ground clearance helps with easier run over road undulations and a longer wheelbase helps with stability at higher speeds. 

Some of the key exterior features of the 2018 Nissan Kicks are:

• LED headlamps (SR)
• LED DRLs (SR)
• Heated exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals (SR)
• Aluminum body side moldings
• Black fender lip moldings
• Black grille with chrome accents 
• Rear roofline spoiler
• 16 & 17-inch wheels

Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking is standard, which is a nice touch- Edmunds

Only IIHS has conducted crash tests on the Nissan Kicks. It was honored with the Top Safety Pick award, which is considered the agency's second-highest accolade. That's because the SUV has scored 'Good' ratings in almost all crash tests, an 'Acceptable' rating for the passenger's side crash test, and a 'Superior' rating for the front crash prevention. 

The SR trim was given an 'Acceptable' rating regarding headlights while the S and SV trims were rated 'Poor'. When it comes to driver assistance features, the Kicks comes with a decently loaded. Also, a suite of seven airbags is packed inside the SUV to reduce the severity of injuries in the event of an accident.

Some of the key safety features of the 2018 Kicks are: 

• Rearview Camera
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Rear Parking Sensors
• Surround-View Camera
• Forward Collision Warning
• Automatic Emergency Braking

2018 Nissan Kicks vs 2018 Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V develops more power than the Kicks but its performance is not appreciable. However, it is more fun to drive than the  Kicks. The HR-V is not as efficient as the Kicks but it offers spacious rear seats. The HR-V lacks behind the Kicks in terms of technological features but excels in cargo space. Moreover, the HR-V is short on driver aids and only offers a blind spot camera.

2018 Nissan Kicks vs 2018 Toyota C-HR

The Kicks is higher-ranking than the Toyota C-HR in almost all factors. Although it is powerful, it delivers weak acceleration and is less fuel-efficient than the Kicks. It is also less engaging to drive. Moving to the interior, the C-HR's rear row is cramped while its cargo space is the least in this segment. The main winning points of this SUV are more standard safety features and good reliability. 

2018 Nissan Kicks vs 2018 Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona is the most powerful SUV in this competition and yet, it is on par with the Kick in terms of performance. Its fuel efficiency is also less. Inside, the Kona offers more rear legroom and an array of standard features. However, its cargo volume is poor. The Kona is superior to the Kicks with regards to driver-assist features as it offers a lot of them. Its warranty coverage is also longer than the Kicks. 

 The 2018 Nissan Kicks is a really good example of clever engineering, design, and marketing teams all sitting down in the same room and absolutely nailing the brief. Even when fully loaded, the Kicks is pretty affordable. It offers superior fuel economy, decent interior space, class-leading cargo space and a favorable list of standard features. Even reliability is not much of an issue with the Kicks and its definitely worth it for the asking price. The Kicks is a crossover for people who know they don't need a car to ever go off-road or even be that sporty.