THE SECOND-GENERATION NISSAN KICKS IS HERE WITH A BIGGER ENGINE AND NEW TECH
An all-new, second-generation Nissan Kicks has been revealed in the US, sporting bigger dimensions and a bigger engine. These changes send the Kicks into the subcompact SUV market to do battle with things like the Kia Soul, the Mazda CX-30 and the Volkswagen Taos. We could list every crossover rival there, but we're not sure the internet has enough storage space.
The old Kicks used a 1.6-litre engine that made just 113bhp, but this funky new one gets a 2.0-litre four-pot and 139bhp. The Kicks will also gain Nissan’s ‘Xtronic’ transmission and be offered with all-wheel drive.
The dimensions have grown all round and there's improved ground clearance too - now 8.4in. You’ll also spot the funkier 19in alloys sitting beneath the substantial wheel well gap, and on the whole, a much more mature, boxy exterior design than its predecessor. We’re not sure about the grey-red two-tone finish, though.
As expected, Nissan says the cabin now offers much more space than before. You also get a pair of 12.3in multimedia screens, a 10-speaker Bose audio system and a panoramic roof, so it’s nicely equipped inside despite the entry-level segment it’s aiming to compete in.
The new Nissan Kicks is confirmed to be heading for North American dealerships later this year, and while pricing will be confirmed in due course, we'd guess at a sensible starting price of around $24,000 (just under £19,000).