What's New: 2018 Nissan Kicks
Exterior
The Kicks bears a close resemblance to the Rogue; it looks like one that was blasted with a mild shrink ray. Up front is Nissan’s V-Motion grille with a chrome dip that drops under the circular Nissan logo in the middle. Black lower-body cladding all around gives the Kicks a more rugged look.
Toward the rear, the C-pillar has been blacked out, which contributes to the floating roof aesthetic that has become ubiquitous among new vehicles lately. The Kicks will be offered in seven color combinations (plus five that are two-tone), and while the contrasting color schemes won’t be for everyone, some will get a kick out of them (sorry).
Available exterior features include LED low-beam headlights with signature LED accents, foglights, heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and a roof spoiler.
Interior
Inside, the Kicks will come with a lot of new technology for this segment, including an available 7-inch driver information display and a 7-inch display audio system with three USB ports. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will both be available, as well. Also available will be a Bose audio system that includes a pair of speakers in the driver’s head restraint for those who really want to feel the sound system.
Under the Hood
The Kicks features a 125-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder that makes 115 pounds-feet of torque. It’s mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission, and only front-wheel drive will be available. The sportier Kicks SR will add a few features that improve dynamics, including an Integrated Dynamic-Control Module, featuring active engine brake, active trace control and active ride control, all to “help provide a higher level of driving enjoyment,” Nissan says.
Safety
Standard safety features include an automatic emergency braking system with forward collision warning and a backup camera. The Kicks SV and Kicks SR both add blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, and the SR gains a 360-degree camera system on top of that.
