It’s certainly common to associate anything of exceptional quality with a matching price tag. That is to say, to get behind the wheel of a sustainable, exceptional vehicle with all of the features we want, we need to break out the checkbook and empty our bank accounts. Well, that’s the perception, not the reality. If that were the case, the 2024 Nissan Kicks would sell for a much higher price than its starting MSRP of just $20,790. This is considerably less than competing products from Mazda, Kia, Subaru, Ford, and Volkswagen.
Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at Nissan’s attractive and affordable SUV. We’ll be examining its cost-cutting qualities, the stylistic choices that Nissan has chosen to implement, and the features put in place to enhance the experience behind the wheel. By providing the average driver with capable transportation at a cost that underbids the competition, the Nissan Kicks certainly makes commuting enjoyable, and that’s what driving should be–fun, practical, and not financially draining.
The Kicks: A Brief Explanation
If you’ve never heard of the Nissan Kicks or have only heard its name mentioned without explaining anything else, we’ll take a few moments to do so. The subcompact crossover debuted on the market back in 2016. As the SUV has continued to rise in popularity, many manufacturers have taken significant steps to develop models that have the handling of sedans but the storage capabilities that are often associated with the SUV class. The Kicks offers up to 32 available cubic feet of storage, doubling a four-door sedan’s average trunk size. With its diminutive size and storage capacity, the Kicks is ideal for the city driver who needs to go on a yard sale run occasionally, and the advantages don’t end there.
A Powertrain Built for Practicality
Speaking of driving in the city limits, the Kicks has quite a few advantages for those who have stop-and-go traffic patterns to deal with and need to go farther for less. Nissan gives the Kicks with a 1.6L four-cylinder engine. With 122 hp and the capacity to generate 114 lb-ft of torque, the vehicle offers excellent fuel economy. This is partly due to the engine pairing with a continuous variable transmission (CVT).
A CVT has variable gear ratios that react to how the engine is utilized, such as on the highway or in slower-moving situations that don’t require the engine to operate at full force. What results is the 2024 Nissan Kicks achieving 31 MPG in the city, which expands to 36 MPG on the highway for a combined total average of 33 MPG. With a tank that’s almost eleven gallons, fuel costs stay remarkably low. The EPA estimates drivers can save $1,250 on fuel costs over five years.
Inexpensive Routine Repairs That Impact Cost-Effectiveness
While the low up-front costs of purchasing the Nissan Kicks are attractive, and the prospect of saving a significant amount of money on fuel costs is rewarding, the advantages of the Nissan Kicks don’t come close to ending there. Regardless of the make or model, any vehicle must be serviced regularly to ensure its longevity. Luckily, Nissan has always been known for their high-quality craftsmanship, as seen in the low repair costs accompanying the Kicks.
The necessity for maintenance depends on how often you drive and your habits behind the wheel. On average, the annual repair costs for the Kicks are less than $300 for this first year of ownership and don’t exceed the threshold of $1,000 until it’s been on the road for at least eight years. In that same amount of time, the chances of the Kicks needing a significant repair are also relatively low, with the probability remaining below the 17th percentile. So, going farther for less applies to much more than initial cost and fuel economy.
Comfort, Amenities, and Technology
Taking a quick look at the exterior design of the Kicks, one becomes confronted with a vehicle that commands style and presence. When one takes a moment to open the driver’s side door and get behind the wheel, this feeling is amplified by a considerable amount. The layout that Nissan has provided for the Knicks could easily be mistaken for a coupe or sports car, and the placement of all items makes for a user-friendly and enjoyable vehicle.
As with many modern vehicles, the interior is anchored by an infotainment screen. The base trim has a seven-inch infotainment system with three USB ports, compatibility with Apple and Android interfaces, and a six-speaker stereo system. Upper trims have an eight-inch screen, and the sound system can also be upgraded to a high-end offering from Bose.
When it comes to the safety and driving assistance features on the Nissan Kicks, there are a variety that come standard across all trims. These include front and rear automatic braking, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, and blind spot warning. These features provide additional oversight during your journey and preserve reaction time during a potential collision. Upper trims include more developed and advanced features, such as a camera system and the chance to upgrade to Nissan’s intelligent cruise control.
Warranty Coverage From Nissan
Nothing is more important than knowing we’re correctly cared for while behind the wheel. The Nissan Kicks is backed with exceptional warranty coverage from the manufacturer to allow peace of mind. Nissan equips the Kicks with a limited warranty for three years and 36,000 miles, which also includes 24/7 roadside assistance. They also cover the drivetrain and corrosion for five years, with the latter having unlimited miles and the former having a period of 60,000 miles. These are the manufacturer coverages offered by Nissan. Be sure to speak to your dealer at the time of purchase for any changes or extended packages that might be available.
An Affordable SUV Option for Budget-Minded Drivers
After looking at the 2024 Nissan Kicks, we can’t help but be impressed by the level of style and craftsmanship. Not only is the vehicle appealing to the senses and our love of style, but the fact that such a vehicle sells for such a low price that underbids the competition is worth celebrating. Quality assurance should always come with a low price tag, and Nissan has certainly stuck by this philosophy when designing their fleet. One of the things we liked most about the Kicks was its powertrain, which was designed to save the average driver some much-needed money at the pump.
Following the worldwide microchip shortage in 2020, many items and production quotas have been limited. As such, Nissan has taken to the practice of streamlining production. This usually takes the form of a single powertrain, and, as we’ve seen today, the combination of a four-cylinder engine and CVT is set to be a money-saving combination. We also loved the abundance of safety features that Nissan made standard. This comes across as a statement that a heavy price should never obscure safety. In an age where practical offerings seem in short supply, Nissan has their customers’ best needs in mind. The Kicks proves you don’t need to compromise to get behind the wheel of a great SUV.
