2022 Nissan Kicks Review - What to Expect?
The Nissan Kicks is a compact SUV that blends city-friendly practicality, a sense of fun, and a wealth of technology features. The exterior stylings are bold and characterful, marking it out as a crossover that offers something a little different, while the powertrain is highly fuel-efficient for excellent urban performance. Is this compact SUV the car for you? Read our 2022 Nissan Kicks review to find out.
2022 Nissan Kicks Trims
The 2022 Kicks lineup is relatively straightforward with only three trims on offer. Even at the entry level, the S trim is impressively specified, with a large amount of driver assist features included as standard. The mid-range SR trim upgrades the interior and infotainment tech, while the SR trim includes all the available options to top out the range.City-Friendly Powertrain and Performance
You won't buy a Kicks expecting high-end performance that leaves highway rivals trailing in the dust, but the 1.6L inline-four engine delivers more than enough power for nimble city driving, with 122 horsepower passed to front-wheel drive via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The handling is accurate and dependable, and the compact size of the Kicks means it's an easy car to drive in heavier traffic conditions.But the real plus point of this powertrain is the excellent fuel economy it delivers. City driving comes in at a miserly 7.7L / 100km, while the highway rating of 6.6L is hard to beat in any non-hybrid SUV. The Kicks is aimed firmly at everyday city driving rather than extended highway cruising, and these impressive figures mean the target is firmly hit.
Spacious Interior
For such a small SUV the Kicks boasts plenty of interior space, with up to three typical adults fitting comfortably into the rear seat. Legroom is a stretchable 110.9cm in the front and 85.1cm in the rear, figures which put some larger SUVs to shame. There's 716L of cargo space behind the second row, which increases to 914L with the rear seats folded down.Infotainment and Technology
The standard infotainment touchscreen is 7" in size, but above the entry level this increases to 8". Smartphone integration is provided by both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in every model, while audio fans will probably want to upgrade the standard six-speaker audio to the premium eight-speaker Bose system which provides excellent sound quality throughout the cabin.Advanced Active Safety and Driver Assist Systems
One of the most truly impressive aspects of the 2022 Nissan Kicks is the sheer amount of advanced safety tech it includes as standard, even on the entry-level S trim. Highlights include:- Forward collision warnings with pedestrian detection and automated emergency braking. - Rear automatic emergency braking. - Lane departure warnings. - Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts. - Automatic high beams.