We’re generally fans of the Nissan Kicks each time we’ve driven it. It’s spacious, stylish, and impressively affordable with every trim starting at less than $30,000. Also, being a practical, affodable small vehicle, it’s no surprise that Nissan would want to offer it in some other markets, too. This week, it goes on sale in Japan. However, Nissan has changed up the powertrain and has a new trim level on the way, and we’re now feeling a little jealous of Japan’s version.
Nissan Kicks E-Power from the front three-quarter angleNissan
Japan’s Kicks Is Electrifying
While the American Kicks features a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 141-horsepower four-cylinder doing all the work, Japan’s Kicks gets a naturally aspirated 1.4-liter 97-horsepower three-cylinder. That little engine isn’t the main source of propulsion, though, as the Japanese Kicks uses Nissan’s E-Power series hybrid powertrain. The engine is just there to provide electricity for electric motors. With front-wheel-drive, the Kicks has a 141-hp front motor, and the all-wheel-drive model adds a smaller rear motor making 67 horsepower. As such, that rear motor is more for providing additional traction than substantially increasing power.
Nissan Kicks E-Power from the rear three-quarter angleNissan
This E-Power system is the latest “third-generation” system that Nissan first introduced on the Qashqai in Europe. A version will also be used in the new Nissan Rogue when it reaches the US. We’ve tried out the system in both the Qashqai and a Rogue prototype and have been impressed with its smoothness and useful low-end torque. We don’t have directly comparable fuel economy numbers, but if the Kicks E-Power could achieve better fuel economy than the American Kicks (30-31 mpg combined) while offering a more refined powertrain, that would make for a superb little crossover.
Beyond the powertrain and having the steering wheel on the other side, though, the Kicks E-Power is the same as the model we get at home. Japan also gets a high-level trim with a full leather interior and smooth, gloss black exterior trim pieces that replace the textured matte-finish standard pieces.
Wide shot of the Nissan Kicks E-Power interiorNissan
This Kicks Is Pumped Up
Later this year, Japan is getting another special version of the Kicks called the Rock Creek Edition. That name may sound familiar, since it’s used on the rugged trim levels of both the Rogue and Pathfinder in the US. As you’d expect, this Kicks Rock Creek gets similar styling changes including a grille with three distinct cavities meant to evoke the original Pathfinder SUV and Hardbody pickup, a faux skid plate under the front bumper, and unique wheels with orange accents to match the others around the vehicle. Inside, more orange accents appear to bring the whole package together.
Nissan Kicks Rock Creek EditionNissan
Oddly, the Kicks Rock Creek Edition will be available with either front- or all-wheel-drive in Japan. While two-wheel-drive vehicles can be more capable off-road than expected, it seems slightly antithetical to the trim level to offer it with front-drive. Nissan made no mention of any changes to drive modes or even the addition of all-terrain tires, so it seems like much more of a styling package than something actually functional.
Nissan Kicks Rock Creek EditionNissan
Will They Come To America?
From a practical standpoint, one of these Kicks models is a slam-dunk for America, and the other is more complicated. The slam-dunk is the Rock Creek model. It’s evident that it’s purely a trim package for an existing model, so it would be trivial to add to the American Kicks line. Additionally, the US market was the first with Rock Creek models, and rugged trim levels are still popular. Even though the Nissan representative we asked about it couldn’t comment, we strongly suspect the Rock Creek will show up in the US soon.
Nissan Kicks Rock Creek Edition from the rear three-quarter angleNissan
The E-Power is the difficult one, and the representative did provide us with a statement about it:
“We’re evaluating hybrid options for Kicks, but no decision has been made. As a compact SUV, Kicks must deliver strong affordability, and we’ll only introduce a hybrid option if it provides meaningful value for our customers.” – Nissan representative
Just adding a hybrid powertrain alone would likely add some cost to the price of a Kicks, all other things being equal, since it has motors and batteries that are more costly to produce than a simple gas engine and CVT. Then, there are other potential costs, one of the major ones being certifying the gas engine. Nissan doesn’t sell a single vehicle in America with that naturally-aspirated three-cylinder, not even the new Rogue, which will have a turbocharged cousin of it. Certifying the engine for emissions is expensive, and it would be difficult to offset that investment with a budget vehicle that has small margins and cost-conscious buyers.
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If Nissan can find a way to get the hybrid to a reasonable price point, though, it would have a compelling vehicle. Not only would it have the potential of being the nicest version of the Kicks, it would be a standout as one of only two hybrids in its segment, with the other being the Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid. That Corolla Cross has more impressive power specifications, but our experience found it to be unrefined and generally unexceptional beyond fuel efficiency.
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CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
We’re quite comfortable assuming that the Kicks Rock Creek will arrive in the US, and while we would like to see a bit more function added, we’ll be happy to see Nissan give one of its most affordable options a little love and customers some options for extra style on a budget. As for the hybrid, we think it has great potential for the US market, but affordability is the tough part. It would have to cost less than most Nissan Rogues, otherwise most customers would probably either opt for a cheaper non-hybrid Kicks or the bigger, more powerful Rogue for the same money. We hope Nissan can find a way to make it work, but we can see plenty of reasons why it might not.
