2019 Nissan Kicks Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　

What's new

It's slightly less powerful than last yearPart of the first Kicks generation introduced for 2018

　　Is the 2019 Nissan Kicks a hatchback or a small crossover SUV? It's roughly the same size as a Volkswagen Golf but with extra ground clearance and a taller roof. By measurements alone, the Kicks is closer to the Golf than its sibling, the Nissan Rogue Sport (also a subcompact crossover, albeit more expensive). You can't get all-wheel drive on the Kicks either. But no matter how you view it, the Kicks is a nice alternative that has good attributes from both classes but some potential pitfalls as well.

　　To start, the Kicks is priced significantly less than other small crossovers, and even a fully loaded Kicks costs less than midtier rivals. It's also quite fuel-efficient, so both the outright purchase price and running costs will be low. We also like the Kicks' nimble handling and easy-to-maneuver size.

　　Unfortunately, the Kick's bargain price tag manifests in several noticeable ways. The seats are uncomfortable to sit in for any length of time, and the pedal location makes for an awkward driving position. We're willing to forgive the Kicks' plasticky interior at this price point, but the inclusion of rear drum brakes plays a part in the Kicks achieving one of the longest stopping distances we've seen in such a small, lightweight car.

　　Altogether, the 2019 Nissan Kicks ends up being a decent choice in the segment. We prefer it to the Rogue Sport, but there are better alternatives if you can stretch your budget.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.1 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Nissan Kicks SR (1.6-liter inline-4 | CVT automatic | FWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.1 / 10
Driving	6.5
Comfort	6.5
Interior	7.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	8.0

　　

Driving

6.5

　　Outright performance isn't the Kicks' forte, but it utilizes what little it has well. Its low weight and steering play heavily into that. And aside from lackluster braking performance, all other metrics are relatively middle-of-the-road. Bottom line: The Kicks is more fun to drive than the numbers indicate.

　　

Acceleration

6.0

　　It isn't the slowest of the pack, but the Kicks certainly isn't quick. In our testing, it took a leisurely 10.2 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill, which is a few seconds behind the segment leaders. If you're already moving, the Kicks feels a little more responsive, likely due to its lightweight nature.

　　

Braking

5.0

　　In normal day-to-day use, pedal effort is light with a slightly squishy feel, like you're stepping on a water balloon. The brakes are responsive and not grabby. But in our emergency brake test, a 60-0 mph panic stop produced a long stopping distance of 140 feet. Just about any other rival vehicle you look at will stop with more authority.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The wheel doesn't really self-center even at speed, so you may find yourself wandering on straight sections of highway unless you're paying careful attention. The feather-light steering doesn't help, but it is nice at parking-lot speeds. The steering feel and weight improve once you begin turning the wheel.

　　

Handling

7.5

　　Thanks to its low curb weight and responsive steering (as long as it's not pointing straight ahead), the Kicks is fun on a twisty road. The suspension is responsive and keeps the car on its toes, without exhibiting excessive body roll.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　The Kicks' transmission shifts smoothly and delivers adequate response in routine driving. It avoids the usual common annoyances associated with CVT automatics. If you're overly aggressive with the throttle, it can "downshift" a bit excessively, which forces the engine to rev higher and louder than normal.

　　

Comfort

6.5

　　Subcompact vehicles often have to compromise on some comfort, but you will want to kick these exceptionally poor seats to the curb. Ride comfort and cabin noise are much more palatable, as is the single-zone climate control that's simple to operate.

　　

Seat comfort

5.0

　　Depending on your seating posture, you'll either notice the Kicks' short, narrow seat bottom that lacks thigh support or a lack of upper-back support. There's minimal side bolstering, too. The rear bench is flat and hard, and the seatback is too upright. These are some of the least comfortable seats in the segment.

　　

Ride comfort

7.5

　　Another benefit of the Kicks' lightness is that the suspension has less weight to manage. The ride is compliant over smoother, rolling bumps, with only mild jittering over smaller, sharper road imperfections such as pavement seams and cracks. It's not bad overall.

　　

Noise & vibration

6.5

　　The Kicks' engine isn't loud. And unlike other CVT automatic-equipped cars, it doesn't hang at high rpm. Wind noise is adequately managed and only becomes more noticeable at highway speeds. But the Kicks is susceptible to road noise depending on the road surface, with harsher bumps getting transmitted into the cabin.

　　

Climate control

7.0

　　Simple knobs and buttons make using the single-zone climate control as refreshing as a cool breeze. While the fan is quiet, the system can't keep up with demand on hot days unless you turn down the temperature 4 to 6 degrees lower than you might normally deem comfortable.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　The Kicks' cabin is easy to climb in and out of and become familiar with. Visibility is pretty good, too. Taller drivers, and drivers with big feet, may have issues with the driving position, and rear-seat kneeroom is less generous than most in this segment of extra-small players.

　　

Ease of use

8.5

　　The steering wheel has most of the controls needed to operate the infotainment and safety features of the Kicks, including adjusting the digital instrument panel. Climate control and touchscreen functions are easy to operate, too. The Kicks still uses a hand-operated parking brake, which is rare these days.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.0

　　The large door openings, narrow sills, and a high seat bottom for both front and rear passengers equate to easy entry and exit. Rear passengers have less head clearance, but there are no funky roofline curves that might get in the way.

　　

Driving position

6.5

　　You sit upright and low in the car. The seat has fore-aft, recline and tilt adjustability. The wheel is sized well and tilts and telescopes, though not enough for tall drivers. Some drivers might rub their right foot against the transmission tunnel due to the accelerator pedal location.

　　

Roominess

6.5

　　The upper half of the Kicks is very roomy, with excellent head and shoulder space front and rear. The lower half is less expansive for the driver due to pedal placement, but it's good for the other passengers. Rear-seat width feels generous as a four-seater, but kneeroom is lacking.

　　

Visibility

7.5

　　A large greenhouse and low hoodline make an excellent view out front and to the side. Rear visibility is more challenging due to thick rear pillars and backseat headrests. An available surround-view system may seem unnecessary for such a small car, but it makes parking a breeze.

　　

Quality

6.0

　　The Kicks is constructed as well as can be expected at this price, but we don't like the acres of plastic used on the door panels. Our test car made a light clunking noise that went away when the rear seatback was put down. Otherwise, enough premium materials are used to keep the interior somewhat interesting.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　As a compact crossover, the Kicks shouldn't be expected to carry everything and the kitchen sink, but there are a few areas that we found lacking. The seatback is split 60/40, but it would be even better if it had a center pass-through for longer items. Most of the small storage areas could stand to be more functional.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　The pocket in front of the shifter is deep and can hold phablets. The area in between the front seats, including the small cupholders, is recessed beneath the seat bottoms. Accessing the area makes it feel like you're playing a crane game. The door pockets are narrow and short, bordering on small.

　　

Cargo space

7.5

　　The Kicks' trunk area holds 25.3 cubic feet of cargo, which is above average for the class. The rear seatbacks fold for more space, though the pivot is above the floor of the trunk, so the cargo area isn't flat. The load height is nice and low, and there are bag hooks toward the back of the cargo area.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

　　There are three upper LATCH tethers located in the middle of the seatbacks, and four seat anchors are located at the seat pivot. Access to all points is easy. We don't recommend putting a car seat in the narrow middle position unless you don't plan on having anyone else sitting in the back.

　　

Technology

8.0

　　While it doesn't have an available built-in navigation system, the Kicks has everything else a modern smartphone-using driver needs. The screen is large, but sun glare can be a problem. Aside from the analog speedometer, the instrument panel is digital and configurable. Cool tech for an inexpensive car.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.0

　　The speakers in the driver's headrest are there to give the feeling of being in a larger soundstage, but frankly we think it's a gimmick. The rest of the audio system is easy to use, though it sounds tinny. Navigation duties are handled by either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

　　

Smartphone integration

9.0

　　A USB port, auxiliary input and 12-volt power jack sit up front. Two more charge-only USB ports are located toward the rear on the center console. Bluetooth pairing is easy. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay function through the infotainment screen. All modern economy cars should have this level of smartphone integration.

　　

Driver aids

8.0

　　The Kicks SR comes with blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert and front collision mitigation. A surround-view camera system and remote start are also included and handy. The driver aids work well and are adjustable, and the surround-view system is a luxury at this price point.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　The infotainment is fairly simple, so the voice commands are limited to phone and audio system capability. It's fairly forgiving for syntax and accents, with average response time. Accessing your Apple or Android device's voice controls is also available on both Bluetooth and wired connections.

　　

Which Kicks does zzdcar recommend?

　　For our money, the SR is the way to go. The base S and the SV are fine, but the SR doesn't cost a whole lot more and adds nicer interior appointments and LED headlights, which come in handy on moonless nights. It also paves the way to the SR Premium package, should you also want heated front seats and a banging Bose audio system.

　　

2019 Nissan Kicks models

　　The 2019 Nissan Kicks is available in three trim levels: S, SV and SR. The S trim is very basic as are the upper trims compared to other subcompact crossovers. All models receive a 1.6-liter four-cylinder (122 horsepower, 114 pound-feet of torque) that is paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission that drives the front wheels. All-wheel drive is not available.

　　Standard equipment for the S trim includes 16-inch steel wheels, roof rails, automatic headlights, hill start assist, forward collision warning with automatic braking, cruise control, air conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, Siri Eyes Free integration, three USB ports, a rearview camera, and a six-speaker audio system.

　　The SV adds 17-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, body-painted mirrors and handles, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, keyless entry and ignition, remote start, a driver information display, interior chrome accents, padded front door armrests, automatic climate control with rear heater ducts, a cargo cover, satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

　　The range-topping SR comes with LED headlights, foglights, black-painted mirrors, a rear roof spoiler, a surround-view parking camera system, upgraded cloth upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

　　The optional SR Premium package adds an eight-speaker Bose audio system, simulated-leather upholstery and heated front seats. Both the SV and the SR trims are eligible for a two-tone paint scheme.

　　

2019 Kicks Highlights

Trim: SSVSRS

　　

Base MSRP	$18,640
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	33 MPG
Cost to Drive	$114/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	25.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles