While the Nissan Micra subcompact hatch was a much loved way of getting into your first new car or adding a second car to your fleet, even it wasn’t able to fend off the attack on small hatches by small crossover and as a result, the Micra had to bow out to the Kicks in 2020. Which, in the end, is no bad thing because there’s lots to like about the Kicks for those looking for an affordable, efficient vehicle. For many first-time buyers, affordable and efficient are at the top of the list of criteria when it comes to narrowing their list of potential models. On the other hand, versatility is often compromised as it can be difficult to find an affordable, fuel-efficient sport utility vehicle with a lot of space. The 2023 Nissan Kicks is the exception and with that in mind, we look at three reasons why the Kicks is the perfect vehicle for first-time buyers.
Interior Space
While it is part of the subcompact crossover segment, Nissan has done a lot with the space they have. The roof is quite tall, meaning front and rear headroom measures 977 mm and 1,027 mm, respectively. That means there’s plenty of room in the back even for taller passengers. It also means there’s less chance the driver’s view out the rear window gets obstructed by passengers’ heads, and more gear can be loaded in the back. Speaking of which: the rear seats fold nice and flat, for even more storage room. Overall, the Nissan Kicks delivers over 700 litres of space behind the rear seats, an impressive number for such a compact SUV that is agile and easy to drive and park around the city.
Styling
Thanks to neat touches like a contrast colour roof option, optional dark wheels, bright colour choices and an aggressive “V-Motion” grille, the Kicks is also a small runabout that will turn heads while doing so.
The fun continues inside, with a partially-digitized gauge cluster, flat-bottomed steering wheel and standard 7-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. That display increases to 8” on the SV and SR models, with the latter adding the option to have a Bose speaker mounted directly into the driver’s headrest. If you want your first SUV to stand out on the road, the Kicks delivers.
Performance and Efficiency
Power comes courtesy of a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine good for 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, fed to the front wheels via a standard continuously-variable automatic transmission. That leads to smooth acceleration no matter the speed, but also to a combined fuel economy rating of just 7.2 L/100 km.
While the powertrain is perfectly capable, it’s the handling that really shines. The steering rack has a direct and sporty feeling, while the suspension has been tuned for a slightly sportier feel as well. It helps the Kicks drive like a small hatchback, even though it isn’t one…really.
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