Used 2020 Nissan Kicks

#6 in Best Subcompact SUVs of 2020

The 2020 Nissan Kicks is the company’s smallest SUV. Its subcompact size makes it ideal for confined urban dwellers who like the idea of riding up high but don’t need or want a large SUV. The Kicks offers a roomy and versatile interior, and is perfect for singles or couples looking for something stylish, feature-filled, safe and fuel-efficient.

This description also applies to competitors such as the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-3 and Chevrolet Trax, but the Kicks counters with a low price and good fuel economy.

The Kicks also impresses with its standard Safety Shield 360 that includes an abundant range of automated driver assists. However, without an all-wheel-drive option the Kicks pretty much cedes ground to just about every other subcompact required to tackle snow or modest off-road adventures. While not big on power, at 36-mpg highway the Kicks’ fuel economy is near best in class.

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You may get your Kicks on Route 66, but don’t expect it to set any speed records. That’s because Nissan’s little SUV offers a mere 122 horsepower from its 1.6-liter engine, and while the Kicks isn’t all that heavy on paper, add in a few passengers and some cargo, and you’ll find yourself struggling to overtake slower traffic even at normal highway speeds.

Around town and in everyday driving, the Kicks does just fine, and its nimble attitude, tight turning circle and taut suspension make quick work of twisting turns. One minor complaint centers around the Kicks’ short 103.1-inch wheelbase that, along with the stiff suspension, translates to a somewhat jittery ride that could get bothersome on long trips.

The CVT (continuously variable transmission) is annoyingly loud and makes the engine sound rather coarse when pushed hard, but it does a great job of maximizing the engine’s torque and horsepower and returns impressive fuel-economy figures. We only wish Nissan had given the Kicks paddle shifters so we could shift for ourselves.

The 5-passenger Kicks has a comfortable and roomy interior. As with other vehicles in Nissan’s lineup, the Kicks is fitted with NASA-inspired “zero-gravity” seats that are comfortable. The Kicks also has a built-in armrest on the right-hand side of the driver’s seat, a rarity in vehicles at this affordable price-point. All models come with a central 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system, with logically arranged controls for the climate control right below.

While there isn’t a lot of storage space up front for smaller items like phones or purses, there’s plenty of room in back for sports gear or a small stroller. With the rear seats up, there is 25.3 cubic feet of storage; folding them creates over 53 cubic feet. That second capacity figure puts the Kicks near the top in its class, but without the unrivaled flexibility of Honda’s HR-V. At 33.2 inches, rear-seat legroom is also notably less than the Honda’s 39.3 inches.

We still feel the Nissan Kicks is one of the better-looking subcompact SUVs. It’s handsome, but it manages to have some visual flair without going overboard. All Kicks models have what Nissan calls a “floating-roof” design, courtesy of blacked-out window pillars. On SV and SR models, the 2020 Nissan Kicks can be ordered with a white or black roof for $250, an increase of $50 over last year but still a good deal.

While base Kicks models ride on 16-inch steel wheels with covers, SV and SR models boast much better-looking 17-inch aluminum alloys. Roof rails are standard equipment on the Kicks for added practicality. Only the SR gets a rear roof spoiler.

BOSE AUDIO SYSTEM
If you’re going for the top-line Kicks SR trim, go all the way and treat yourself to the available Bose Personal Plus sound system. This system is specially designed for small vehicles and has eight speakers including two “Ultranearfield” speakers located inside the driver’s-seat head restraint.

SAFETY SHIELD 360
Standard on every 2020 Nissan Kicks SUV, this suite of driver assists is one of the most comprehensive in the class. Along with automatic emergency braking going both forward and backward is a radar-based blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert system plus automatic high beams.

The 2020 Nissan Kicks is available in three levels: S, SV and SR. The S, the most affordable, is equipped with the Safety Shield 360 system (see Favorite Features), air conditioning and cruise control, along with roof rails, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, Easy Fill tire-pressure system, integrated key with push-button start, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, USB connectivity and stereo controls on the steering wheel.

The SV ups the ante with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and automatic climate control, plus 17-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, NissanConnect infotainment, Sirius satellite radio and remote start. The SR tops the Kicks lineup with a dark satin chrome grille, roof spoiler and 360-degree around-view monitor, plus fog lights and LED headlights.

The base S doesn’t offer much in the way of color options or packages. For an additional $1,630, the SV opens the door to more color choices, as well as brings in more standard features. Choose the SR trim and you can opt for the $1,000 SR Premium package that adds the Bose audio system, Prima-Tex faux-leather seating with orange accents, heated front seats and a vehicle security system.

The Nissan Kicks uses a small 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a CVT automatic transmission. Unlike the Hyundai Kona and Kia Soul, no optional upgraded engine is available. Like the Toyota CH-R, the Nissan Kicks is available only with front-wheel drive (FWD). If you live in areas with inclement weather and need all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction, you might want to take a look at the slightly larger Rogue Sport or Rogue. Although the Kicks’ 122-horsepower engine is not all that thrilling, it gives Nissan’s smallest SUV an EPA highway fuel-economy rating of 36 mpg, which is excellent.

1.6-liter inline-4
122 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
114 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 31/36 mpg