Nissan's Kicks Is All Grown Up For 2025!

[@mrgurulittle7000]

This is one of the most radical redesigns from Nissan. It’s cool looking and very premium inside for sub Toyota prices. Couldn’t ask for more.

[@johnkonde1975]

Couldn’t ask for more chettiar? This new Kicks is slower than the old Kicks and significantly more expensive. I wish Nissan had just kept the old Kicks!

[@mrgurulittle7000]

@@johnkonde1975It’s still cheaper than the competition for being a much better package. And you fuss about speed like it’s a huge deal, but you wouldn’t be looking to buy this crossover if you wanted speed.😂C’mon now, don’t be irrational.

[@johnkonde1975]

@@mrgurulittle7000 you’re right

[@justinking8220]

​@@mrgurulittle7000this better than CHR?

[@pine111]

@@justinking8220 C-HR isn’t sold in the US where this is sold anymore, the Corolla Cross is the logical competitor here now, the Corolla Cross is insanely drab and boring, more so than this Kicks, but will probably be more reliable.

[@vman78vk]

Ok, maybe cooled seats are too much for this segment, but no power seats, or at least driver one ???

[@majed6956]

Nissan doesn't deserve to be called a "Japanese brand." Their sports cars are true Japanese quality. But it's been a junk throwaway brand like the American brands for a long time.

[@seanram2139]

They really thought headrest speakers are more important than rear AC vent?

[@watchreport]

Or real carpeting on the floor. I guess they are shooting for a young demographic who will find speakers in headrests cool and will overlook basic things like the vents and real carpeting.

[@LoveStallion]

Get your kicks with the Kicks!

[@dianalee7925]

Or a power driver's seat?

[@billshoe22191]

I think price will really make or break the new Kicks. I’m not a fan of the weak powertrain for this but a lot can be forgiven for an affordable car. I would be concerned though if true that there is new Android auto or Applecarplay on the lower trims. That seems almost impossible nowadays.

[@Ben-bs4od]

Wow. So another underpowered Nissan. Such rubbish.

[@alexanderkrichevsky9194]

Nissan's CVT? No, thanks.

[@FreStyle3D]

hell to the no!

[@Jorge_Magallon]

Great first look. Seems like a great option, especially for first time buyers, the style and price conscious buyer and first time buyers.

[@jec1ny]

Not a bad car. But that color scheme reminds me of a 1970s vintage bowling shoe.

[@joebledea]

Its the only real competition to the Chevy Trax. Great looking car!

[@tjs114]

Does Nissan even have a normal automatic for FWD platforms? They seemed to have gone all in on the JunkCo, sorry, Jatco, CVT years ago.

[@rachellelynn9406]

But then the trax has that 3 cylinder which is worrisome

[@joebledea]

​@@rachellelynn9406yes, most turbo engines are worrisome, but we may see an engine that will surpass the status quo. 3 cylinder engines sound great (closer to a v6 than a 4cyl), and trubo tech has advanced quite a bit. Any company can make a reliable car, but it's not profitable to do so, product obsolescence is incorporated in most manufacturers' business plans.

[@antd2733]

I do prefer the more reliable non turbo 4 cylinder but not sure about cvt

[@AlexHonger-fj3nx]

@@antd2733 Apparently the CVT's are alot better in new models, the redesigned their CVT a few years ago. I will say this, I would put WAY more faith in this 2.0L 4cyl cvt to get you to 100k miles mostly trouble free WAYYYYY before I'd put faith in a Trax... The Trax has a turbo 3 cyl that's made at their GM Mexico plant, witch is one of the worst rated factories in the industry.... Just don't drive the Nissan like it's a race car, and make the transmission fluid changes every 30k miles they your suppose to or maybe even a little sooner like every 28k or even 25k. They can last if you know how to take care of them and if you drive like a laid back mom.

[@mylexicon2]

The new Kicks features attractive styling and an impressive optional equipment list, but the Kicks also seems to have an identity crisis. The outgoing model is good because it’s wieldy, fuel efficient and low-cost with the added bonus of spacious interior layout. The 2025 Kicks is gaining inches everywhere and adding a substantial amount of complexity and weight, which requires the 2.0L engine. Nissan is eliminating a vehicle that delivered value and economic surplus to consumers, and they are replacing it with a vehicle that will likely do the opposite. It will likely cost more in real terms to buy and operate, and the outstanding option list will be used to alter perceived value and make price comparisons more opaque. The car itself looks impressive. The business model is much less impressive, in my view.

[@PaulHo]

Imagine if Nissan just stayed this track and nails affordable and AWD ala Subaru instead of eternally eyeing wallflower status against the Toyota and Honda giants. They could really easily fill the Ford and GM passenger vehicle void.

[@BigHeadClan]

Why not both? If this sells well it gives Nissan a budget to do those things. As a company they should be trying to compete at multiple levels. If they don’t they will fade into obscurity and mediocrity just like Buick or Mitsubishi. Besides it’s not like Ford/Chevy sold a lot of sedans anyhow, Nissan and Hyundai/Kia have long since filled that void and why those companies don’t play in that market anymore.

[@mwwhatever]

I wish they would just start making cars with fully rubber floor liners. Carpet is just nasty and a pain to clean

[@BigHeadClan]

At this price range? No chance. It also means water can pool up in areas and it does a worse job keeping the cabin warm. Besides it’s not like it’s hard or all that expensive to install rubber matts after the fact for the areas that need it.

[@mwwhatever]

@@BigHeadClan ok

[@paul8956]

Nice fresh look, but with the added weight and only a 2.0L this is going to perform like a sleepy turtle. The new Honda HR-V has the same problem. Powertrains are too small.

[@colderbeer]

And you can thank LEFT WING politicians for the weak engines that give you decent fuel economy but poor performance.

[@Warbeaver]

Really like the design. Less sure about the long term durability of the CVT ... wish auto makers would move away from them. I think it will start at 28k Canadian.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

I think CVT has more pros than cons, especially in an application designed to be affordable. -Travis

[@bepowerful2160]

What do you think about dual clutch transmissions, such as Kia Niro?

[@ivaharryjohnson6970]

how much is that in real money

[@BigHeadClan]

CVT issues were more or less resolved as of 2017. Change their fluid every 2-3 years are they are good to go. That said I don’t fault someone for being cautious Nissan did earn that negativity. But Travis is right a CVT only costs about 2K to manufacture, a modern 8-9sp automatic is closer to 6-7K these cars can stay affordable because they have a CVT.

[@BTC909]

Should have went with a regular automatic like the Trax.

[@rachellelynn9406]

And Trax should of went with a reg 4 cylinder

[@BTC909]

@@rachellelynn9406 A NA Hybrid.

[@rachellelynn9406]

I guess if that’s your thing, sure

[@AlexHonger-fj3nx]

It's turbo 3 cyl will start drinking coolant before 100k miles. I would put way more faith in a well maintained CVT scooting to 100k miles then any of these new turbo 3 cyl's. If anything the Subaru Crosstreck the the best option in the segment, it got a non turbo 4cyl 2.0L boxer or optional 2.5L boxer. It's CVT is chain driven instead of belt driven like Nissan, Honda, Toyota and Hyundai/Kia use. The belt driven CVT's tend to fail alot when the transmission fluid isn't changed when it should be and/or people drive them with a lead foot, Even Honda and Toyota's CVT's are found to fail often if you speed all the time and abuse them... The Subaru chain driven one's are rock solid tho, even with abuse and tuning on their performance models they don't really break often outside of someone turbo swapping their WRX and adding 200+ extra HP to their car.

[@BTC909]

@@AlexHonger-fj3nx You especially need to change the CVT fluid at 1/2 of the manufactured recommended mileage. I agree constant 'rabbit starts' are not good for a belt driven CVT.

[@bradyb9929]

Every model of every car should have CarPlay and AA in 2024. That’s unacceptable. But overall nice for money.

[@johnneilson377]

Alex I wish at some point in the Nissan conversation you would address what, if anything Nissan has done over the past decade to improve the reliability of their CVT line. Jatco CVT Anxiety is a real thing for anyone considering the purchase of a new Nissan.

[@jeffreyfurtado3681]

Nissan just updated the jatco cvt for the second time, reporting fewer issues. Nissan large SUVs, armada, Pathfinder, trucks frontier, titan all have normal transmissions non CVT. Nissan is also revamping its line up soon.

[@tjs114]

I doubt we'll ever hear Alex chime in on that hot button issue. He skirts around the problem with DCTs used by Kia/Hyundai and the Nissan CVT has such a long history of problems that several auto insurance companies charge more to insure Nissan products because of it. I think that's why most of Nissan's sales are fleet sales and leases because no one in their right mind is going to own a JunkCo CVT equipped vehicle when it nears 60k miles when they all seem to fail.

[@robertsn6584]

Ive owned many rogues. They ironed out the kinks in there cvts years ago .

[@morgan98801]

I work as a mechanic at a Nissan dealership. The CVTs appear to have improved. But all new vehicles are not as well made anymore.

[@zachf355]

You just need to replace the fluid regularly

[@heresteven]

base model between 22500 to 23000. They could do a nismo version and put the turbo 3 cylinder in.

[@theglowcloud2215]

All the other kids with the pumped-up Kicks Better run, better run, outrun my Hyundai

[@wendysharpe9277]

I’m glad I got a 24 Kicks. So don’t like this design. I love the interior of my car.

[@Omnis2]

Nissan: because people with no credit sometimes need to drive, too.

[@naveenthemachine]

I should remind you that nissan would have long gone out of business if they were so unreliable

[@philsalley3278]

Total bullshit! Until the arrival of the Chevy Trax, the Kicks was the best affordable subcompact SUV. This will put it back on top,

[@gaivoron]

​@@naveenthemachine Who said they were unreliable?

[@dtay8913]

​@@gaivoronowners

[@gaivoron]

@@dtay8913 not any less reliable that domestic shit.

[@bigdoggy6650]

Looking good

[@1975augusto]

That CVT makes it a no go.

[@TheMarcelitto]

Looking good

[@Snafu2346]

is it still using a jatco. Also the NY autoshow looks immensely higher scale and nicer than the Houston one was. The Houston autoshow is tiny in scale, and had to share floorspace with a bunch of boats....... Its barely an autoshow.

[@BigHeadClan]

Jatco prior to CVTs had a fine reputation for reliability and still do. Also the CVT issues were solved years ago, people just aren’t quick to forget or forgive. Which is fine it’s just not objectively the case anymore.

[@124thDragoon]

I feel like the front and the rear were designed by completely different teams. I really wish the rear end wasn’t so pseudo-car-like. The result is so goofy, which I know is a hallmark of the Kicks and its Juke precursor, but still. Just simplify the styling, and if you’re going to square-up the front end, do the same to the rest of the car’s shape language.

[@jc20100]

Sorry, don’t like it

[@fighter835]

What a fun, funky design, I love it. Thank you Alex for covering the auto show.

[@fawbz]

Great review Alex. Hopefully there's an option for rear a/c vents, preferably in the roof or door columns and amber led turn signals in the rear.

[@GlitterGuru]

Tucson vibes going on up front

[@Edyth_Hedd]

Actually, it reminds me of the Kia Telluride/Hyundai Palisade.

[@jasonbutt7199]

I'll take a red one with the black roof the SR FWD with the new 10 speaker Bose Stereo System

[@Rioichi4]

Love the multicolor exterior. And that trunk liner carpet has got to be easier to clean, no??

[@joshuawang5859]

Potential buys don't care how the top trim looks like

[@inmelancholy90.1]

It looks like a modernized first gen Jeep Compass

[@garrettyamada9821]

If only it had fog lights, even if it was only available as an option.

[@bradley7506]

Yay, the V Motion grille lives no more!

[@JackSmith-qi7dr]

Alex- is this a CVT or an eCVT?

[@johnkonde1975]

CVT, eCVT is only on hybrids

[@JackSmith-qi7dr]

@@johnkonde1975 Thank you.

[@MistSoalar]

This is kinda bold design change for this price range.

[@Sacto1654]

We may be looking at the replacement for the Qashqai/Rogue Sport model sold out side North America.

[@Edyth_Hedd]

Absolutely. Which is a shame, because the 2025 Qashqai is really nice.

[@Daywalker222]

This or CX-30?🤔

[@Chris.laughton]

Give me this refresh with a PHEV on the Pathfinder and I'll regret my CX-90 lease.

[@allanzylbert1306]

There will never be a day when a Nissan drives as well as a Mazda and reliability with the Mazda is way better as well.

[@Chris.laughton]

@@allanzylbert1306more reliable? Lol, someone doesn't know about the CX-90...

[@TalismanPHX]

Needs a rear center armrest, a/c vents, and a fold flat passenger front seat, especially in the SR trim

[@watchreport]

It does look like it has a rear center armrest, but Alex had limited time and forgot to show it. I see pull tabs in the center.

[@2thumbsup247]

That's a hell of a header on that thumbnail.

[@Vin-fu1rm]

Take it for ride on basic off road.

[@BigHeadClan]

It’s a city crawler designed for space and road clearance like most SUVs today. I’m sure with the right set of tires and AWD it would manage but that’s not what this is designed for. The Pathfinder is Nissans offering for that, but even that is more a jack of all trades work horse.

[@vikvc]

The larger engine and AWD are nice improvement, but at the cost of mechanical temperature controls and a worse driver cluster display. I actually like how our cluster looks in our 2021 Kicks.

[@Sklounst_Actual]

Where was this video filmed?

[@Eiran423]

He mentions at the very tail end of the video he's at the NY auto show.

[@Sklounst_Actual]

@@Eiran423 Ah, thank you!

[@heresteven]

Did the designers who did the goofy nissan cars quit? I think they loved bug or frog looking ugly cars. Fix the Z next. And bring in more hybrids to the USA market. And introduce a maverick competitor. Nissan knows how to build small affordable trucks. Give the staff the opportunity to make it happen.

[@ronniewilliams3691]

Cvt and high price will kill the deal! Same old crap CVT! Then pay high price for dying transmission.

[@rblbatb]

Good looking car at a cheap price.

[@jimiginnis2488]

How do you know it's a cheap price...They haven't released the pricing yet.