2021 Nissan Kicks Review

　　

2021 Nissan Kicks Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　Looking to buy a small and inexpensive crossover SUV? The 2021 Nissan Kicks might be worth checking out. This is Nissan's smallest SUV and takes its place alongside its bigger and pricier siblings, the Rogue Sport and Rogue. Like many extra-small SUVs, the Kicks is a lot like a budget hatchback (think Volkswagen Golf) but with a slightly taller stance. It doesn't offer traction-enhancing all-wheel drive or the outdoorsy vibe you might otherwise expect from a traditional SUV, but you still get a higher ride height and extra cargo capacity compared to a sedan.

　　The Kicks gets a few updates for 2021. Nissan has updated the exterior styling, improved some interior materials, and added standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. You definitely get a lot of features for your money with the Kicks, but there are some drawbacks to the way it drives. Check our Expert Rating below to get our full report and help you decide whether you should get a Kicks or go with an alternative such as the Hyundai Kona, Kia Soul or Mazda CX-30.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Kicks drive? Performance isn't the Kicks' forte. Acceleration is leisurely — we measured a 0-60 mph time of 10.7 seconds, which is among the slowest you'll find in this class. The brakes are easy to control so you can stop smoothly, but the pedal action feels a bit squishy and unnatural. In our tests for emergency braking, the Kicks performed adequately.

　　The Kicks, though, has a couple of things going for it. The suspension is responsive and keeps the vehicle composed, so it's kind of fun to drive on a twisty road. We also like the transmission's smooth and responsive gear ratio adjustments in routine driving. It avoids the annoyances commonly associated with continuously variable transmissions.

　　

Comfort

6.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Kicks? It's not unusual for an inexpensive subcompact vehicle to compromise a bit on comfort, but you will want to kick these poor seats — especially the rear bench — to the curb. Depending on your seating position, you'll likely notice the front seats' lack of upper-back support. The rear seatbacks are too upright, and the bench is flat and hard. These are among the least comfortable seats we've encountered.

　　The Kicks can be a little noisy too. Wind noise isn't too bad and only becomes more noticeable at highway speeds. But the Kicks is susceptible to lots of road noise. About the only good thing in this category is the Kicks' compliant ride quality — it smooths out a lot of bumps in the road without being overly floaty.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Kicks' cabin is easy to climb in and out of and become familiar with. The climate control and touchscreen menus are simple and user-friendly. It's easy to see out of the front and the sides thanks to large windows and a low hoodline. The thick rear roof pillars compromise rear visibility somewhat, but it isn't terrible.

　　On the downside, taller drivers or drivers with big feet might have issues with the driving position. The accelerator pedal is crowded up against the side of the footwell, and the low, upright seating position can be uncomfortable. We've also found the Kicks' rear seating to be cramped compared to the back seats in other extra-small SUVs.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The Kicks has nearly everything a modern smartphone-using driver needs. A quartet of USB ports is standard, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. A 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen is also standard depending on the trim level. But we've found the touchscreen prone to glare, which makes it difficult to see in direct sunlight.

　　The Kicks comes standard with a pleasing number of advanced driving aids. They generally work well, but the traffic-adaptive cruise control is a bit overly cautious in the distance between the Kicks and the vehicle ahead. The optional surround-view parking camera system is a rare feature at this price point, and it's a big help for parking in tight spots. Overall, there's a lot of cool tech for such an inexpensive car.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The Kicks offers more cargo space (25.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats) than a lot of subcompact SUVs. But cargo-carrying versatility is a little lacking. The rear seats don't fold down completely flat, and there's no center pass-through that would otherwise allow you to load longer items without folding down the seats. Small storage areas for your personal items are decent. There's a nicely sized pocket in front of the gear shifter and a configurable cupholder area that can be turned into a medium-size storage cubby if you need it. The center console storage and door pockets are shallow.

　　Got small children and need to install child safety seats? The Kicks has three top tether anchors and four lower seat anchors that are clearly marked and accessible. However, fitting rear-facing seats will be tight because of the Kicks' lack of rear legroom.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Kicks' fuel economy varies wildly based on driving style, but it doesn't take much to keep the average above 30 mpg. We recorded a high of 37.4 mpg from one fill-up with our test car and averaged 33.4 mpg during our test. The EPA says to expect 33 mpg combined (31 city/36 highway). Overall this is a pretty frugal extra-small SUV.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the Kicks a good value? Value is the name of the game for this segment, and the Kicks is ahead of the class thanks to its low entry price and relatively inexpensive upgrades to higher, fully loaded trims. We don't like the acres of plastic used on the door panels and dash area, but there are enough premium materials in other areas of the cabin to create a more pleasant experience.

　　Warranty coverage is pretty standard for the segment at three years/36,000 miles for the basic warranty and five years/60,000 miles for the powertrain. Roadside assistance is offered for three years/36,000 miles.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　There's no shortage of subcompact SUVs in the market so a vehicle needs to make an impression to stand out. The Kicks makes a case for itself with a stylish exterior design and an updated interior that includes a respectably large touchscreen. It feels good to maneuver through a curvy section of road even if you aren't ultimately going very fast. Quicker acceleration and less excessive use of plastic interior surfacing would go a long way in making the Kicks a more desirable option.

　　

Which Kicks does zzdcar recommend?

Pricing for the 2021 Nissan Kicks is relatively affordable throughout the trim lineup. As such, consider going for the top-level SR trim. It comes standard with nearly everything and gets you a few worthwhile extras over the SV trim.

　　

2021 Nissan Kicks models

The 2021 Nissan Kicks is an extra-small crossover SUV that's offered in three trim levels: S, SV and SR. They primarily differ in the number of features you get. Highlights include:

　　S

　　Starts you off with:

　　122-horsepower four-cylinder engine Continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive Steel wheels with plastic wheel covers Keyless ignition Air conditioning Cloth upholstery 7-inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integrationEvery Kicks also comes with:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Reverse automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)SV

　　The midrange SV trim adds some convenience with features that include:

　　Alloy wheels Heated mirrors Roof rails Rear disc brakes (can enhance braking performance) Keyless entry with remote ignition Center armrest console between the front seats Automatic climate control 8-inch touchscreen Satellite radio Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Kicks and the car in front) Drowsy driver monitor (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)SR

　　The top-of-the-line SR model adds a handful of items as well as unique sport seats for front passengers.

　　LED headlights Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob Surround-view monitor (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Sport front seatsThe SR trim is also eligible for the SR Premium package that adds:

　　Remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app Wi-Fi hotspot Simulated leather upholstery trim Heated front seats and steering wheel Cargo cover Bose premium audio

　　

2021 Kicks Highlights

Trim: SSVSRS

　　

Base MSRP	$19,600
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