2025 Nissan Kicks: Starting From Scratch, Sort Of
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Santa Barbara, California—Competition is fierce among small crossovers. These vehicles are the next best thing for drivers who can’t afford a larger SUV or hesitate to go all-electric. Then again, like so many, they’re definitely not as cheap as they used to be a few years ago.
For 2025, the Nissan Kicks is thoroughly transformed and tasked with filling the void left by the discontinuation of the Qashqai. Bigger, roomier and available with all-wheel drive for the first time, it’s gunning for the likes of the Subaru Crosstrek, Honda HR-V, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Toyota Corolla Cross.
Size Matters, So Does Styling
Nissan’s redesigned entry-level crossover arrives with a fresh face and looks nothing like its predecessor. The signature V-Motion fascia is replaced by a squared-up and blacked-out grille and headlight combo complete with LED daytime running lights. Don’t laugh, but we kind of think it has the boxy features of a pickup truck.
The rear section gets a similar treatment, with taillights that are completely different from the old ones. The fenders are cut short by these taillights, while the sculpted liftgate incorporates a sloping rear window beneath a roof-mounted spoiler.
Standing 58.4 mm longer, 40.6 mm wider and 22.9 mm taller, the new 2025 Kicks rides on larger wheels including available 19-inch alloys in SR Premium trim (as tested). The mid-grade SV features 17-inch wheels, while the base S has to settle for 16-inch steelies with hubcaps. The passenger compartment and cargo area have grown in size, too.
A Hint of Ariya Inside
The most advanced and futuristic-looking Nissan model right now is arguably the Ariya electric crossover. With an aero-focused exterior and minimalist cabin, it manages to attract sophisticated, tech-savvy drivers. What’s the connection with the Kicks? Just look at the dashboard, with a wide digital interface that pretty much grabs all the attention.
To be clear, you can only find the dual 12.3-inch displays in the top-line Kicks SR Premium. Lower models combine a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with a 7-inch driver information cluster in front of the nice, flat-bottom steering wheel.
The touch-based HVAC controls below the centre air vents are relatively easy to reach, but they still require you to take your eyes off the road to make sure you hit the right button. Elsewhere, the new shifter is conveniently located in the middle of the redesigned and taller centre console.
The front seats and rear outboard seats benefit from the automaker’s Zero Gravity technology like those in more expensive Nissan vehicles. We spent around three hours behind the wheel and found them generally comfortable except for the lack of thigh support. No matter where you sit, space is commendable when compared with similar crossovers.
More impressive, though, is the expanded trunk, which can now fit 849.5 litres of cargo in FWD configuration—an increase of 133 litres from the outgoing Kicks. Want AWD? We’re sorry to tell you that cargo capacity is amputated by a whopping 172.7 litres.
A Kicks With More Kick
The second-generation Kicks is blessed with a new engine, as well. Gone is the 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit. Motivation now comes from a larger 2.0-litre mill shared with the Sentra sedan. Output and torque are rated at 141 horsepower and 140 lb-ft, respectively.
We weren’t surprised to learn that the continuously variable transmission has been carried over, although it must be said that Nissan engineers have found ways to enhance it for smoother daily operation. The real difference maker, of course, is the available AWD system. Remember, the previous Kicks was a FWD-only crossover. The system is optional on S and SV models and standard in SR Premium trim.
The Drive
While we were in Santa Barbara, California for the media test drive, the 2025 Nissan Kicks quickly made a statement with a solid chassis and agile handling. Smartly tuned steering and oversized wheels give it a sporty feel that just wasn’t there before.
When driving around town, the 2.0L-CVT combo is more than up to the task. It’s a different story on the highway, mind you, especially under hard acceleration. The raspy sound of the engine is not unpleasant, just like the simulated gear shifts performed by the transmission, but the new Kicks is simply too slow to pick up speed. Blame the extra weight and the addition of AWD? Maybe. We’d even go so far as to say that the larger tires take some of the liveliness away from the Kicks.
Unfortunately, no FWD testers were available for us to review during the event. Just so you know, the independent multi-link rear suspension is replaced by a torsion beam on those models. Surely the ride and handling are affected, but we’ll have to do another test drive back home to find out for sure.
S, SV or SR Premium?
Priced from $27,199 plus $2,030 freight and PDI, the base 2025 Nissan Kicks S FWD will please shoppers after a cheap crossover. Standard content includes a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, intelligent cruise control and more. AWD requires an extra $2,000.
The mid-grade Kicks SV offers the best value. This one adds a wireless smartphone charger, remote start, heated steering wheel and 17-inch alloy wheels instead of the steelies in S trim. The SV FWD starts at $28,749, and once again AWD will cost you another $2,000. It’s one of the rare crossovers in the segment to offer an available panoramic moonroof, by the way.
Finally, there’s the Kicks SR Premium at $34,899. If you do the math, with all applicable fees and tax, you need to spend well over 40 grand to drive off the lot with the most upscale member of the Kicks lineup. On the bright side, you get dual 12.3-inch screens, a 10-speaker Bose audio system, ProPILOT Assist and Intelligent Around View Monitor for a 360-degree bird's-eye view around the vehicle. The SR Premium Sport Wheel Package, with the aforementioned 19-inch alloys, costs $800.
In our opinion, the Kicks SV is good enough to meet the needs of most customers without forcing them to empty their piggy bank.
