The subcompact SUV category is growing by leaps and bounds, and the Nissan Kicks is a strong pick. It gets redesigned for 2025 and is bigger, more refined, and comes with more features, all at an affordable price that’s about the same as the 2024 model. But a drawback is the Kicks isn’t as much fun to drive as some rivals.
Base Price: $27,680
As Tested: $31,710
Horsepower: 141
Mileage: 27 mpg city/34 mpg highway/30 mpg combined
The Kicks was first available in the U.S. in 2018 after being available a couple years earlier in Brazil. It gets fully redesigned for 2025 and starts its second generation.
The 2025 Kicks comes in three trims: S, SV and SR. Starting prices range from $21,830 to $27,680. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on all trims.
There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating, although the second row is best suited to two passengers, especially if they’re adults.
It’s worth noting that the base S trim does not have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay functionality.
There’s one engine: a four-cylinder that makes 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a continuously variable automatic.
The Kicks is easy to drive but not much fun. There’s usually enough power for most daily driving scenarios, especially if you’re driving around town. But you’ll probably need to floor the accelerator when you want to merge and pass at highway speeds, and plan ahead because it can take a while to get up to speed. The CVT can be unrefined and will drone at times. On the plus side, the Kicks has pleasant driving dynamics, especially in the city. Its small size makes it easy to navigate busy city streets and tight parking spaces. Steering is light but accurate and brakes are responsive. The ride is mostly smooth but you will feel some bumps on rough roads.
AWD models have a “snow” driving mode that adjusts the all-wheel-drive and vehicle dynamic control systems with tuning specifically intended for slippery surfaces. I had a chance to try this setting as we got some snow in the Willamette Valley during my week with the Kicks and it performed great on snowy streets. Nissan points out that the Kicks has a segment-leading ground clearance of 8.4 inches, which is also nice when traveling on snow or rough roads.
Fuel economy is great for a subcompact SUV. EPA mileage estimates for my AWD tester are 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with a combined rating of 30. I got 32 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. The front-wheel drive models do a bit better at 28 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined.
The cabin is much nicer than the outgoing model. Sure, there are some hard plastics but that’s to be expected at this price point. There are also appealing soft-touch surfaces. My test vehicle has sport leatherette seats with stylish red and black cloth inserts and contrast stitching. Front seats are supportive and comfortable, even on long drives. There’s also plenty of leg- and headroom for those up front. The second row is tighter but doable for two adults, especially on shorter trips. The cabin can be noisy with noticeable engine and wind noise.
Standard features include keyless entry, push-button start, rearview camera, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, seven-inch digital gauge cluster, infotainment system with seven-inch touchscreen, four-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, one USB port in the front, voice recognition, 12-volt outlet, and automatic high-beam headlights.
Available features include a digital key (lets you use your smartphone to lock, unlock and start the vehicle), proximity remote start, keyless entry, surround-view camera system, dashcam, auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic climate control, premium cloth upholstery, cloth and synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, infotainment system with 12.3-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, 10-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, another front USB port, two second-row USB ports, rear seat armrest, wireless device charging, ambient LED interior lighting, universal garage door opener, rain-sensing windshield wipers, roof rails, and a panoramic moonroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse collision warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, and driver-attention monitoring.
Available driver assistance technologies include lane-keep assist, ProPilot Assist (Nissan’s stop-and-go adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist), traffic-sign recognition and front parking sensors.
The infotainment system is user-friendly with sensible menus whether you get the standard seven-inch screen or the larger 12.3-inch screen. The bigger screen looks good with crisp graphics and the system responds quickly to commands. Physical controls make it easy to adjust audio and climate settings.
Cargo space is good for a subcompact SUV. Models with AWD have 23.9 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place and 50.1 cubes with the second row folded down. Front-wheel drive models have 30 cubes behind the second row and 60 cubes with the second row folded. The second row split-folds 60/40, providing flexibility in hauling passengers and cargo. If you like large beverages, you’ll be glad to know that bottle holders in the doors are big enough to accommodate a 32-ounce Yeti tumbler.
The good:
Affordable price
Smooth ride
Many standard features and tech for the money
Good gas mileage
Comfortable, attractive cabin
User-friendly infotainment system
The not-so-good:
Meh performance
No Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the base trim
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $27,680. The SR AWD Premium Package is $1,950 and includes a panoramic moonroof, Bose 10-speaker audio system with driver and front passenger headrest speakers, heated mirrors, rear floor heater ducts, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, remote engine start, and rain-sensing wipers. Splash guards are $250. Carpeted floor mats are $190. Two-tone paint is $250. The destination fee is $1,390, bringing the grand total to $31,710.
Bottom line:
The 2025 Nissan Kicks has a lot going for it. It has stylish looks, comes well-equipped at an affordable price, has a comfortable cabin, gets good gas mileage, and is available with all-wheel drive. But it’s not the best performer in the segment – if you want something fun to drive, you may want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, the re-designed Kicks is worth a look.
