By: Joshua Lee
January 10, 2023
Purchasing a vehicle is exciting but it can be challenging to find the right one when prices have been increasing. Some people just want the basics while others look for fully loaded models with lower price tags that have higher mileage. Finding a middle ground can take some time but if you do a little more digging, you might just get what you’re looking for.
Nissan Canada has lent us their 2022 Nissan Kicks SR Premium for the week. Their entry-level crossover is powered by a 122 horsepower 1.6L four-cylinder engine with 114 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM that’s paired with a CVT. It’s not the most powerful engine in this segment as it lacks power in passing other vehicles, but it does perfectly well in city driving.
The Kicks is only available in FWD to maximize fuel efficiency and to keep costs down. If you’re looking for something sporty, the Kicks isn’t that. It’s easy to drive and agile when you take a quick turn, but it is catered towards comfort with a refined ride that’s also quiet. Steering is responsive, but we would like a little more feedback from it.
Our top-of-the-line SR Premium SUV looks stunning with its optional Monarch Orange Metallic paint with a Super Black contrast roof, rear spoiler, black 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels on 205/55R17 Firestone FT140 all season tires, LED headlights, and the new dark Double V-motion grille. For a small crossover, Nissan has given it the right amount of styling for a premium feel.
The Kicks has a simple interior but it’s well-built and comfortable to be in. We were pleased to find that a remote engine start system, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel are standard on all trims but the S.
The infotainment system is user friendly with an eight-inch touchscreen and a seven-inch driver’s display. Scrolling through the menus with the steering wheel controls are quick and easy to read. The SR Premium comes with charcoal Prima-Tex synthetic leather seats and dash with orange contrast stitching, Intelligent Around View Monitor, and the Bose Personal Plus audio system with eight speakers. This sound system also has Bose UltraNearfield speakers embedded in the driver’s headrest for a better immersive experience, but we felt no noticeable difference in quality with or without it enabled.
The Kicks comes with one USB-C port, three USB-A ports, one 12-volt power outlet, and smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The rear seats are usable without feeling cramped and provide 716.4L of cargo space with them up and 914.6L with them down although they don’t completely fold flat.
Nissan Safety Shield 360 includes features like: automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking with rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, rear parking sensors, and hill start assist; which is standard on all trims. The SR Premium gives you adaptive cruise control and a vehicle security system.
Fuel economy ratings for the Kicks are 7.7L/100KM city, 6.6L/100KM highway, for a combined 7.2L/100KM. We were close to 7.5L100KM for our test.
The Kicks starts at $20,998 for the S, $23,998 for the SV, $24,798 for the SV Special Edition, $25,598 for the SR, and $26,498 for the SR Premium. Ours came in at $27,128 with the optional exterior paint.
For a vehicle to cost under $30K, we were expecting something extremely bland and undesirable. The Nissan Kicks defies that notion entirely and we’ve enjoyed having it for the week. This subcompact crossover doesn’t feel like you are compromising a lot. The Kicks is fitted with so many standard features that we would recommend the SV if you don’t care for the upgraded sound system or the 360-degree camera view (rear parking sensors and a back-up camera are standard). This vehicle is perfect for budget buyers as it’s practical, fuel efficient, and aesthetically pleasing for a small SUV. It is possible to have the best of both worlds.
