Redesigned Nissan Kicks is zippy and easy to maneuver

From the same car manufacturer that introduced the Datsun, Nissan continues to evolve in providing fuel efficient cars.

The Nissan Kicks debuted in 2018 and replaced the Nissan Juke. Kicks is newly redesigned in 2025 to include a couple inches more room than the previous year’s model. Kicks is a subcompact SUV with a price point that buyers love. This year, it ranked the seventh best subcompact by Car And Driver Magazine (the best is the Chevrolet Trax). The base model starts at $23,325, up to $32,000 with more features. 

I test drove the top level — a 2025 Nissan Kicks SR AWD-CVT, which rings in at $32,110. The Aspen White with black trim is a popular look. Kicks also has a couple unique colors including Artic Ice Blue and The Yuzu Yellow. However, the Yuzu Yellow with black trim looks like an Iowa Hawkeye fan vehicle, so I’m guessing Cyclone fans might avoid this color combo.

The Kicks, with its two-liter engine, is a zippy little car, and it is easy to maneuver. It is an ideal size for a driver with a small family. The back seat is surprisingly roomy and holds three average-sized passengers easily. Back seat passengers get cup holders, phone plug-ins, plus a bonus — it has rear floor heater ducts. Most back seats only have the vents located a bit higher, so this feature keeps toes toasty in the winter.

As a music lover, my first task is to crank the stereo. That’s part of driving experience, right? For this model, 10 Bose speakers provide that thumping bass I crave. As I hummed along to an AC/DC song, I felt like the speaker booming next to my ear. I was right, as it was about an inch from my ear. Bose speakers are installed in both of the front seat headrests for an amazing sound experience. 

I loved the deep cupholders in the center console. I recently rode in someone’s SUV, and every time we took a hard turn, my cup wobbled in the shallow cupholder, nearly spilling out the contents each time. In the Kicks, tall cups remain secure.

The sport leatherette seat with red and black cloth is a sturdy option. Yet, inside the car it looked like an orange color surrounding the shifter. This color seemed out of place, like it was a bright orange hue so drivers can better locate the shifter.

The 12.3-inch touchscreen is embedded seamlessly in the dash. Car makers are getting better at toning down the touchscreens. Early touchscreens often appeared as an afterthought, as if they precariously perched a laptop on top of the dash.

This model includes safety features including lane departure, lane assist and emergency braking. I’ll have to assume it works, as I’ve never encountered the sonar emergency braking feature. I suppose that means my driving is decent.

The Kicks gets about 30 miles to the gallon, combined highway and city. If you are looking for a subcompact at an affordable price point with many features and decent gas mileage, kick it up a notch with a Nissan Kicks.