Pros/ Cute design, lightweight and fun to drive, stellar fuel economy
Cons/ Low power, no AWD, can get noisy on highways
Bottom Line/ The Nissan Kicks is a cute, happy-go-lucky crossover in a world full of serious, joyless appliances.
Table of contents
2021 Nissan Kicks Review: Rebranding the Modern City Car
“If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.”
Mad Men’s Don Draper is not a role model by any stretch, but this quote of his is sage advice. If the car-buying public is running away from small cars in favor of crossovers, well, turn the former into the latter. That’s what Nissan did when it debuted the Kicks a few years ago, and now the brand has freshened up its smallest offering for the 2021 model year.
Comfortable, practical, and affordable, this latest Kicks makes a strong case for itself as a first car for younger folks. Beyond that, it’s well enough equipped to appeal to the pragmatist: the Kicks has everything you need in a new car, and nothing you don’t.
Detailed Specs
| Price / | $20,290 - $22,850 |
| Engine / | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder |
| Power / | 122 hp |
| Torque / | 114 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain / | FWD |
| Transmission / | CVT |
| Fuel Economy (city/hwy) / | 31 mpg / 36 mpg |
| Cargo Capacity / | 25.3 cu ft |
Our Final Verdict
Nissan Kicks
3.8| Performance | 7.0 |
| Features | 7.0 |
| Comfort | 8.0 |
| Quality and Styling | 7.0 |
| Value | 9.0 |