Used 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Nissan Kicks is the company’s smallest SUV, and it gets both a styling refresh and new equipment this year. The Nissan Kicks’ 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 10 airbags and standard Safety Shield 360 that includes an abundant range of automated driver assists. In fact, previous versions of the car have earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

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.

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 2021 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 (a type of automatic transmission) works well and doesn’t make the engine annoyingly loud as some CVTs do. That automatic transmission doesn’t have the traditional and noticeable shift points by nature of the way it’s designed. However, when you really step on the gas, the feel of those points are added which gives a reassuring and more precise feel.  Good news? Press the tiny sport button on the shifter, and the CVT does become more responsive.

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. For the 2021 Kicks, those seats have new materials with a more saturated color palette. The base “S” model Kicks have a built-in armrest on the right-hand side of the driver’s seat, a rarity in vehicles at this affordable price-point. But the more expensive SV and SR models gain a more useful center console with a built-in armrest. Base models come with a central 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, but SV and SR Kicks gain a new 8-inch unit. All models have 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.

The new Kicks received a mini makeover for 2021 with a deeper “V” shaped grill and freshly sculpted headlights (LEDs on upper-level models), and front bumper. The look is a bit more upscale and maintains the Kicks’ status as one of the more attractive subcompact SUVs. It’s handsome, and 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. In the rear, the ’21 Kicks have a new bumper as well as a nicely integrated black trim piece that runs along the middle of the tailgate. There are three new colors for the year: Electric Blue Metallic, Boulder Gray Pearl, and our favorite — Scarlet Ember Tintcoat, which resembles a ruby red. And like before, a 2-tone design (body and roof) is optional.

While base Kicks models ride on 16-inch wheels, SV and SR models boast 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 2021 Nissan Kicks SUV, this suite of driver assists is one of the most comprehensive in the class. Along with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, this Nissan has rear automatic braking, a radar-based blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning, and a rear cross-traffic alert system, plus automatic high beams.

The 2021 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. There’s also standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The SV ups the ante with automatic climate control, plus 17-inch alloy wheels, disc brakes at all four corners, NissanConnect Services, intelligent key, an 8-inch touchscreen, a center console with armrest, intelligent cruise control, and an electronic parking brake with hill-hold function.

The SR tops the Kicks lineup with an intelligent 360-degree around-view monitor (which can stitch together a composite overhead view of the car), LED headlamps, taillamps and fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, painted roof rails, dark chrome accents, roof spoiler, and new seat fabric.

The Premium Package adds a bit of luxury and tech to the already solid equipment list on the flagship Kicks SR. This option package includes new heated front seats wrapped in Prima-Tex, a type of faux leather. There’s also a Wi-Fi hotspot, an 8-speaker Bose Personal Plus Audio system, a new security system, and a heated steering wheel.

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