CG Report Card


Room and Consolation	B
Energy and Efficiency	B-
Match and End	B+
Gasoline Financial system	B+
Worth	A-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and should not mirror Client Information’s impressions of your complete mannequin lineup.

Massive & Tall Consolation

Massive Man	B+
Tall Man	B+

Massive & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Massive” ranking primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	122-hp 1.6-liter
Engine Sort	4-cyl
Transmission	CVT automated
Drive Wheels	Entrance-wheel drive

Actual-world gasoline economic system: 30.7 mpg

Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway

EPA-estimated gasoline economic system: 31/36/33 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)

Gasoline kind: Regular Gasoline

Base value: $21,550 (not together with $1175 destination charge)

Choices on take a look at automobile: 2-Tone Paint ($595), carpeted ground mats with cargo mat ($225), 17-inch black alloy wheels ($495)

Worth as examined: $24,040

Fast Hits

The good: Worth pricing, normal security options

The great: Good gasoline economic system with first rate efficiency

The not so good: All-wheel drive isn’t supplied, rear seats don’t fold flat with the cargo ground

More Kicks price and availability information

CG Says:

Subcompact crossover SUVs have primarily grow to be America’s entry-level autos of alternative. Whereas the subcompact-car class is all however lifeless on our shores—the Chevrolet Spark and Hyundai Accent are each being discontinued for the 2023 mannequin 12 months, and the way forward for the Kia Rio and Mitsubishi Mirage appears shaky at greatest—the subcompact SUV class has proliferated lately.

On the low finish of the category are the Hyundai Venue, Kia Soul, and Nissan Kicks—particularly small, inexpensive fashions that don’t provide all-wheel drive like the remainder of the group does (save for the quirky, FWD-only Toyota C-HR, whose future additionally appears questionable). The dearth of accessible AWD is one motive these autos are so inexpensive; the Venue and Soul each begin a bit above the $20K mark, and the Kicks begins a bit above $21K. That’s nonetheless a great bit pricier than the bottom MSRP of a Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback ($16,125) or Nissan Versa sedan ($16,675), however a substantial variety of consumers apparently worth the SUVs’ increased physique construct, improved passenger/cargo versatility, and spunkier angle sufficient to cough up the additional dough.

The Kicks debuted for the 2018 model year and underwent a mild freshening for 2021. It rolls into 2022 with only one minor tweak—it now wears Nissan’s just lately revamped company emblem on its entrance grille (and elsewhere). As such, you’ll be able to try our earlier Test Drive and Test Drive Gallery experiences for more information and impressions. Not like our earlier Kicks take a look at autos, our 2022 tester was a midline SV mannequin as an alternative of the topline SR trim. The SV comes with a really respectable stage of normal gear, together with 17-inch alloy wheels, rear disc brakes as an alternative of drum brakes, local weather management, keyless entry and beginning, driver-attention monitor, adaptive cruise management, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen.

Nonetheless, options corresponding to LED headlights and fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a 360-degree surround-view monitor are reserved for the SR mannequin, which can be outfitted with an SR Premium Package deal that provides “Prima-Tex” simulated-leather upholstery as an alternative of fabric, NissanConnect remote-access companies and a Wi-Fi hotspot, heated entrance seats and steering wheel, and an 8-speaker Bose-brand stereo system. No matter which trim stage you select, the Kicks comes with a great stage of options for the cash.

A few our earlier Kicks take a look at autos carried out surprisingly nicely when it comes to gasoline economic system—with a majority of freeway driving, we exceeded the freeway EPA-estimate quantity by a pair MPG. Nonetheless, with a slight majority of metropolis driving, we didn’t do as nicely with our 2022 tester—we averaged 30.7 mpg, a shade beneath the EPA metropolis estimate of 31 mpg.

Nonetheless, a non-hybrid automobile that achieves 30-mpg-plus in largely metropolis driving qualifies as fuel-efficient lately, and never a lot of these could be had comparatively nicely geared up for lower than $25K. The Nissan Kicks can, and it affords a likable character in addition.

See more Nissan reviews