2018 Nissan Kicks CUV Courts Millennials With Colorful Style

Khodrocar - 2017 has been the year of the compact crossover, and why not? The segment is positively booming and Nissan is keen to grab a piece of this pie with the all-new Kicks. Yes, we know that’s plural for kick, which will inevitably lead to bad jokes and worse puns – we’re counting the days until Nissan’s get your kicks with Kicks ad campaign begins – but one might say a strange name is better than strange styling. That wasn’t a swipe at Nissan’s current compact crossover, the love-it-or-hate-it Juke. Well, maybe just a little.

Compared to that polarizing model, there’s no denying the Kicks was styled with a more conservative pen. In fact, we’ll say it’s downright attractive with its high stance, sharp angles, and bold-ish grille that’s neither too big nor too small. Similarly, wheels are kept modest-yet-stylish with 16-inch steelies on base models, or 17-inch aluminum wheels for higher trims. The two-tone exterior treatments hits us in the feels too; Nissan says there are five such color combos available along with seven different overall shades. Clearly the automaker is targeting a younger market that craves individuality. That’s not a bad thing.

Inside, driver and front seat passenger sit behind what Nissan calls a "Gliding Wing” dash, equipped with a standard compliment of gauges and a 7-inch infotainment system. Available equipment will depend on the Kicks trim level you choose – either S, SV, or top-of-the-crop SR – with the best models getting an Intelligent Around View 360-degree Monitor, blind spot and cross traffic alerts, LED headlightsand a big booming Bose stereo system that puts speakers directly into the driver seat headrest. Regardless of the trim level, all Kicks will get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic emergency braking, and Rearview Monitor.

All models will also receive the same powertrain, which consists of a 1.6-liter DOHC naturally aspirated four cylinder engine rated at 125 horsepower (93 kW) and 115 lb-ft (156 Nm) of torque. If that sounds a bit weak, well it is. However, the power is funneled exclusively to the front wheels through Nissan’s Xtronic CVT – no all-wheel drive is offered – and it can return a combined mileage rating of 33 miles per gallon. Turning just the front wheels will certainly keep weight down, but whether or not the power level is still enough to satisfy is something to be sussed out on a test drive.

In all likelihood, the Kicks will replace the Juke in the automaker’s lineup, possibly as soon as next year. By comparison, the Kicks offers a bit more interior space and is ever-so-slightly larger overall, but is way down on horsepower, and it lacks the Juke’s available all-wheel drive. Whether or not those factors are offset by the Kicks good looks will be determined next June, when the new compact SUV goes on sale. Nissan says pricing for the Kicks will be announced closer to its launch date.