2025 Nissan Kicks Is Winning the Automotive Awards Season

The Nissan Kicks received a significant update for the 2025 model year, giving it a completely new look, updated tech, available all-wheel drive for the first time, and more. Buyers and critics haven’t missed the changes, with people from all sides piling praise onto the new subcompact SUV. Here are some of the reasons why the new Kicks has been winning hearts since its introduction.  

Powertrain and Performance   

While the Kicks won’t be anyone’s first choice to win drag races, its four-cylinder engine is plenty for day-to-day commutes and highway cruising. It sends power to the front or all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission. Power is decent for in-town driving, but the Kicks is not an aggressive vehicle, so highway merging takes some planning. There’s also some engine noise, thanks to the CVT, but it’s not disruptive and is only really noticeable under heavy throttle. 

The Kicks is a tame, predictable daily-driver, and its handling fits that description. The light steering makes the SUV easier to maneuver in tight urban areas, and the brakes are strong and confidence-inspiring. The ride quality is solid, too, ironing out the worst road imperfections and making the Kicks a pleasure to drive in most situations. Finally, the Kicks’ fuel economy is among the best in its class, reaching 34 mpg on the highway with all-wheel drive and 35 mpg with front-wheel drive. 

Interior 

The five-seat Kicks comes standard with cloth upholstery and manual seat adjustments, but premium cloth or synthetic leather are available. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are also available. All configurations offer a good amount of space for front-seat passengers. The front buckets are wide, nicely padded, and wonderfully supportive, and the front-cabin ergonomics make it quite livable. Second-row passengers won’t see as much space, but the rear bench offers more shape and support than many competing models. Cargo space is also good, with 30 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and up to 60 cubic feet with the back seats folded flat.  

Technology

Nissan equips a 7.0-inch touchscreen and 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster as standard, but higher configurations step up to a 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch gauge cluster. The upgraded system brings wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, a ten-speaker Bose audio system, front and rear USB ports, SiriusXM, and more. Both systems are easy to use and intuitive, and the larger display offers crisp graphics and easy visibility. Nissan’s infotainment system is also easy to learn, with simple menus and responsive navigation. 

If you want to learn more about the Kicks or any other new Nissan model, come see us at Dick Smith Nissan of St. Andrews. Our knowledgeable staff would be happy to discuss the new models, help you take a test drive, or assist with ordering the new Nissan of your dreams.