Nissan Kicks 2019 India Review - How Indian-Spec Kicks Differs From The International Kicks?

Nissan Kicks: Top models

The Nissan Kicks is available in six models.

Nissan is a prominent car brand that has made its name in the global car world. However, when embarking on the Indian market, the famed auto manufacturer has to struggle to thrive. Nissan has introduced several models in India, among which, there is only one SUV, which is the Terrano; however none of them could take off in this market. Realising this situation, Nissan will focus on what they are already good at, creating an SUV. This time, they will bring in one of the best SUV in the international stage – it’s the Kicks, hoping it could change their luck.

While the Nissan Kicks in the international market is known as a crossover, but when arriving in India, Nissan has converted it into a compact SUV, by India’s compact-SUV fever. It will compete with the popular SUVs like Hyundai Creta and Tata Nexon.

Nissan Kicks 360 View Exterior Review

Nissan Kicks will take the design cues from the global version.

Front View

You cannot mistake it with anything else but a siblings of the international Kicks with the signature chrome-finished “V-Motion” grille right at the front. The front end is well-equipped with LED projector headlight and LED daytime running lights. The headlight looks sleek while enhancing the bold overall design. The fog lamps with chrome element together with the contrasting bumper paint job even make the Kicks more recognisable.

Nissan Kicks is similar to the global version with just some slight changes

Side View

Looking at the side profile of the Indian-spec Kicks, you can notice how sport the design look with the floating roof, pronounced character body lines and large 17-inch machine-cut alloy wheels. Roofrail of the Kicks is not only a design element but also has a practical meaning behind it. In fact, Nissan claimed that the roof rail could load up to 100kg.

Toward the rear, the Kicks sports a sloping windshield, stylish boomerang tail light and an eye-catching chrome bar on the tailgate. Also, Nissan Kicks also offers the dual tone exterior paint scheme, adding to the quirky look of the Kicks. It is undeniable that the Kicks is a stunner with an appealing look.

The back of the Kicks is youthful and sporty with slanted windshield and chrome bar

Rear View

Dimension wise, Indian-spec Nissan Kicks has outgrown its global counterpart. And it is even larger than the segment-leading Hyundai Creta in terms of length, width and height. Its ground clearance is also among the best-in-class, even on par with models from the segments above. The growth in size not only gives the interior space a boost but also gains the SUV more road presence.

Nissan Kicks Dimensions: Length, Width, Height & More

The Indian auto buyers have a deep passion for SUVs or anything that looks like an SUV, thanks to their large dimensions. Refer to the table below for the Nissan Kicks's detailed dimensions to see if the SUV can satisfy this preference of the majority of the customers in the country.

Nissan Kicks Design - Interior Review

If the exterior gives you the impression of a sporty car, the interior means to tell you one word, premium. Just like the current trend, the Nissan Kicks continues to put on a dual-tone colour scheme. The brown and black combination makes the interior appeal more upmarket. Besides the interior colour, the Kicks also has a very refreshing and shiny layout.

The centre of the dashboard lies the glossy floating 8-inch touchscreen. Underneath is the climate control panel borrowed from the Captur.

The interior of the Kicks is definitely premium with leather seats and elegant design

Seating Capacity

The seats get the premium touch of leather. It is not all that the Kicks gets. With an armrest on the front row, the driver could lend his or her hands comfortably while driving. Moreover, the driver seat is adjustable and the steering wheel is tilt-adjustable, the drive will be given the whole control of their driving position and could easily find the best position that works for themselves. One problem is that the steering isn’t telescopic adjustable and the footwell is not spacious enough to rest your leg comfortably. Besides, the view from the driver seat is also broad. Together with smartly-put A-pillar and ORVMs, the blind spots are maximized.

Kicks provides enough space for both the front and rear seats

At the rear, the passengers could enjoy the roomy legroom and knee room. It can hold three passengers at ease. One minor point is the sloping roof might limits the headroom, especially with the taller folks but it is not a big problem for the average-height people.

At the back, the Kicks houses a 400-litre boot room. This could make space for four to five people’s luggage at best.

Comfort Features

Nissan has prepared the Kicks with cool features that will capture the interest of customers. Some of them are first in the segment, for example, the 360-degree camera and leather-wrapped dashboard. What’s more, the Kicks has brilliant driving assistant features like cruise control, rain sensing wipers and cornering lamp. And to enhance the comfort inside the cabin, Kicks could offer Apple Carplay and Android connectivity, leather seats and climate control. It is also the first time that a car in its class to provide rear AC vent and automatic air conditioning as standard. But it misses on some desirable techs like sunroof and auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Nissan Kicks has a fully-packed equipment list with some segment-first features

Safety & Security Features

The standard safety kit includes features like ABS, EBD, dual front airbags and hill start assist as well as traction control.

4. Nissan Kicks Engine and Performance

Nissan Kicks is available with both diesel and petrol option, including K9K 1.5-litre diesel and H4K 1.5-litre petrol motor. The former could deliver 110Pbhp and 240Nm at best, while the latter is good for 106bhp and 142Nm. Both of the engines are paired with manual gearboxes. For the oil-burner, it is a six-speed manual gearbox and a five-speed unit for petrol motor.

Nissan Kicks has the highest-in-the-segment power output

The engines confidently and smoothly run at a lower speed until it crosses the mid-range. But beyond that point, it just slacks off and feels a bit coarse. However, with the highest power output in its segment, it still ensures a decent performance at three-digit speed. About the ride quality, the Kicks is one of the best in its class. Equipped with Nissan’s Vehicle Dynamic Control, it is able to deliver a compliant and ironed-out drive. The steering weights well in highway driving, but in city driving, many would love to have a lighter unit.

To see how the Nissan Kicks performs in real conditions, have a look at this video.

Nissan Kicks Fuel Mileage: Is it fuel-efficient?

Fuel mileage is one of the top priorities when auto customers choose their cars since a car with decent fuel mileage can help the owner save a great amount of money in the long term. Refer to the table below for the detailed mileage figures of the Nissan Kicks.

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