Review: The 2019 Nissan Kicks is a flawed small crossover

Be sure to read more here: www.leftlanenews.com/2018/12/...
The 2019 Kicks is Nissan's newest small utility vehicle, but it feels a step behind the competition.

[@bobby33x97]

Look at the cost of this vehicle! For the money, there are few vehicles that can touch this vehicle. It handles GREAT! Steering light and direct w/excellent feel; for the price, the cabin is very quiet, even at 70mph. The people evaluating this vehicle act as though it should feel like a $60K + car but fully loaded the Kicks is still LESS THAN $23K. Most of the folks evaluating the Kicks are just BLOWHARDS who want to hear their voices on YT!

[@kingjava7468]

Come on dude, even a million dollars car is not perfect either. I love my Kicks.

[@Stina_faye]

I’m looking to buy one. Do you still love it?

[@alz230]

@@Stina_faye I do. The guy keeps nitpicking on stupid stuff. Its a 20k car. You get what you pay for.

[@dwevors]

My daughter loves her Kicks SR! That's the only review I need!

[@TheDrewJohnsonExperience]

Totally agree! Everyone has their own opinion of things. I'm sure there I lots of cars I love that your daughter wouldn't. The good thing about cars is there are so many, you're bound to find one you like.

[@Stina_faye]

Does she still love it?

[@ljshapo2969]

Ha. Let me say this. I own a 2019 Infinity Qx50 4-cylinder turbo with the tech leading VCE power plant that is loaded to $50k+ and a 2018 SV Kicks. The "luxury" car has under 12K miles, and has lost its power steering twice, including stranding me both times. Finally had to replace the entire electronic steering box last month. In addition, warranty service has been needed on the "Pro-pilot" system, the over-head windshield display, and the power hatch back. The Kicks meanwhile has operated like a fine watch.

[@casrogue]

LOL I could disagree on the review a bit. Went from a 2017 Honda Pilot(base model) to the base version of the 2018 kicks ( the S) ...besides saving me over 200 bucks a month on payment and some $$ gas the only complain is the hard suspension ( but not by much compared to pilot) and no extra arm rest for my wife (but her Buick Encore does not have one either).Other than that ..Its very comfortable to me but I'm 5'5" (wife is about 5'1") , the trunk space is better than the Pilot (when 3rd seat is open), the digital tuner I got on the kicks was way better than the base model tuner I got on the pilot(and BT worked better on the kicks vs pilot), handling of the kicks is smother..felt like I had to do less work to steer than the Pilot (it's even better than the Encore from my wife and that thing is not base model !), Finally I got an outside temperature reader which here on south Texas is a life saver lol (Pilot had none and no compass), Sound ...well the Honda had better sound ( that base and mids where better than expected on pilot, but that can be fixed with after market speakers) , Tires !!! god ..the price tag on those Honda pilot tires are astronomical compared the these lol (going to save some future $$ there), finally ..the Kicks looks ..are way better than the pilot. Yes the Pilot is not a sub compact SUV and not even on the price range of the Kicks ..but ..some of the stuff that was included on the kicks that was missing on the 2017 Pilot made me just look at the Pilot on a different light ..specially when I got it for over $30k . Trust me when I tell you that those bucket seats on the kicks are more comfortable .. specifically the back ones ..compared to the Pilot. I feel more comfortable inside the kicks than the pilot ..the instruments are easier to read(better colors) and don't have to reach down the center console to get extra USB ports for my kids tablets. or reach under the AC controls to plug in my split USB charger. Yes it's missing an arm rest, extra middle storage but ..for me it works!! less storage less stuff !! Less cleaning lol ...3rd seat was almost never used and when I folded them down ..it was to much storage ..things would bounce around ...fold them up and it was less spacious than the Kicks. For me I'm just glad I'm saving money .. have a good amount of storage on the back ..and It just feels right not to low as a car not to high ad a mid SUV and love the interior design ..better than the simplified almost no lines of the Pilot ..for me was a Win win. Some people tell me I downgraded .I feel I upgraded on features ..and that Eco boost on the pilot ...never worked !! Never saw a huge difference on gas spending when on or off .and when on the Pilot was sluggish to accelerate ..even slower than the Kicks. Like I said for me Kicks kicked out the Pilot out of my garage !!

[@dharvell]

Your point about the armrest is completely rendered invalid due to the fact that if you are driving down the road with your driver's seat nearly entirely reclined, you are an idiot and should have your license revoked, immediately. Put the seat at an angle that facilitates proper driving and... look at that - the armrest is right where it should be. Not to mention, I don't know a single person who is so completely lazy and incapable of keeping one's self upright that they HAVE to have something to flop themselves over. I have survived in a car that doesn't even have an armrest, for years. I may, or may not even need to use the included, driver's side armrest. I'd be more interested in the driver's side Bose nearfield speakers, as it will likely be just me in the car, anyway. As a resident of Michigan (A.K.A. The Icebox of the North), we get a lot of snow - especially along the Lake Michigan shoreline, where I live. I have never had an AWD vehicle and have survived, just fine. You just have to know how to drive in snow. Once you have mastered that, AWD becomes almost an unnecessary waste of money. It helps, also, if you are not too lazy to pick up a shovel, once in awhile.

[@TheDrewJohnsonExperience]

Dan Harvell Incorrect. I was at an extreme angle for the video but even at a reasonable recline the two armrests are way out of sync. Can I really lose my license for pointing out that flaw?

[@dharvell]

@@TheDrewJohnsonExperience I don't quite see how a greater-than-45-degree angle back is a "reasonable recline" amount, when driving, as you wouldn't be able to see over the steering wheel. My guess is that you don't like being called out for the ridiculous. If that is an incorrect assumption, just remind me to give you plenty of road space since looking at the sky seems to be a priority over actually seeing where the road is.

[@TheDrewJohnsonExperience]

Dan Harvell Anything other than a 90 degree seat angle puts your arms at different angles. Very annoying. And also ridiculous. So I pointed it out. Just out of curiosity, do you own a Kicks?

[@dharvell]

@@TheDrewJohnsonExperience Nope. Not yet, anyway. I'm looking through reviews for some comparison shopping. Most reviews are pretty consistent, but yours stands apart in that it appears that you came into the review extremely biased. Typically, when a reviewer seems to have a bias going into the interview, it's because they are paid (by the competition) to give poor reviews. Your video certainly comes across as such a review. Pointing out the armrest thing at such an extreme angle just looks silly. Now, if the point was made at a more believable angle, sure. I can see that as a valid criticism. But going to extremes to make a point such as that one seems like it is a point that can only be made by exaggeration, making it seem less valid. The carpet criticism is another such example. I do not believe anybody is going to stick their eyes an inch-and-a-half away from the carpet to look at the fibers. If the point was made at a more natural point-of-view and the problem still existed, that seems much more valid of a critique. Presentation is important, when giving a review - especially a negative one. If the issues still persist within natural/normal perspectives, it's worth a mention. If you have to get within an inch to notice, or push the seat back at an odd angle to get the effect... not so much. One critique that seems consistent among other reviews is the fact that it takes about 10 seconds to go from 0 to 60 MPH. That is a verifiable complaint. Comparing the OPTIONAL, two-toned paint job to the car having an identity crisis? Not really.

[@TheDrewJohnsonExperience]

"Typically, when a reviewer seems to have a bias going into the interview, it's because they are paid (by the competition) to give poor reviews." Wow, you actually have evidence of reviewers getting paid by car brands? Please send me any documents you have and I promise I will do a thorough report on it. [e-mail]

[@x19chris]

Did he think this was a 50K car or something??

[@FCS_Panda]

Chris Smith that’s what I’m saying too

[@rekall76]

as a shorter driver (i'm a 4'11" scoliosis survivor), i experienced Considerable difficulty identifying a vehicle in which i felt comfortable and could see well above the dashboard... after sitting in a dozen cars in this price range, i fell in love with a 2019 nissan kicks sv and safely drove it home the same night... did over 100 miles of highway driving the next day and i felt in control throughout.

[@jessemartens7147]

I feel like I lost brain cells listening to this review

[@akeithwill33088]

He is so whiney.

[@TriniGamerGirl7]

I’m only here for the car color. Already love it. No amount of bashing will turn me off. It’s good for someone with one baby or a college graduate gift. It’s a cheap car, I won’t try to make a BMW or Porsche out of it.

[@nicedubs8163]

In terms of breaks, the kicks is light weight and sits high, so disc breaks on the rear are unnecessary. On my Altima, people drive the heck out of them and they sit low, so rear break are needed to compensate for safety. Nissan is currently in their 7th generation CVT and they have improved it greatly on each rendition. My Altima has a gen 5 CVT as of 2010, and the CVT has been so successful and reliable that it has become their standard for cars, SUVs, and crossovers. Once you know how to drive variable transmissions, it's hard to get away from them. Last, all of the other issues you bring up are just subjective. They mean nothing for a review video, and many people already have to finance their car on short notice or with urgency for another vehicle. We love the radio and display, it works great with both iPhone and Android operating systems, and it syncs up beautifully with either. For cars under $25k, the Nissan Kicks measures up to its expectations and reliability. I will say though, it was a little annoying that the driver seat doesn't come with a power seat. We asked about it and just couldn't find anything with Nissan about getting power seats. The Nissan Kicks is a small car with a big-car attitude. The learning curve to drive it is quick, the car is roomy, and price is right for anyone.

[@parkerburgio]

You didn’t get the point of what this car is. This is supposed to be cheaper but still offer good features for the price. These aren’t luxury vehicles but plenty of people will buy them because of their practicality and good features for the price. Completely biased review 🙄 (ALSO YOU ARE VERY NIT-PICKY. WHO COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SOUND OF THE SEATHEATER BUTTONS?!?!)

[@TheDrewJohnsonExperience]

How long have you owned your Kicks?

[@parkerburgio]

The Drew Johnson Experience I don’t actually own a kicks but I have done extensive research and talked to people around me. From some of your replies on other comments I can see that you can never be wrong, so I won’t waste my time arguing with you.

[@TheDrewJohnsonExperience]

Maybe you could show me some of that extensive research to change my mind!

[@FCS_Panda]

The Drew Johnson Experience y r u such a asshole

[@leeh9520]

Bought a 2019 kicks I think it is very sharp looking beautiful interior and smooth comfortable drive very happy with it

[@carlimoore1897]

lee Haynee how are you still liking your kicks? Any issues?

[@leeh9520]

@@carlimoore1897 Hi Yes I really like it! Smooth sailing great on gas nice compact car I'm starting to see more on the road they look pretty great too no issues I've spoken to a # of people I've seen driving nissans and asked if they have had any transmission problems ( that's what I was worried about) and not one person has had a problem Guess every car brand has some sort of problem how about you?

[@carlimoore1897]

lee Haynee thanks for getting back with me! I currently drive a Versa note for three years and have had no problems. I love it. I really like the look and features of the kicks so I’ve been considering one. I like seeing people review the car that have had it for awhile because you can usually get an honest review. Thanks!

[@BoopSnoot]

2:10 As a black person, I can assure you that even we don't lean that far back while driving.... cmon. That's a lunch quick-nap position only.

[@Opie-bi8re]

You must really want a sunroof.

[@FCS_Panda]

Tanner Webb I don’t understand what the big deal about sunroofs are

[@HLMAX]

What a crummy glossed over review. This is the lowest price CUV/SUV on the market; yet complaints about the lack of adaptive cruise and lane keep assist, then turns around and beef about other the high-end features. I'll take the premium audio over the low rent carpet any day of the week. For a few thousand more you can get the Rouge Sport, which is comparable in price to the competitors you mentioned. You can add all the options you want to the Rouge Sport. Probably just wing the review in a day without much research, and didn't even bother to check for the factory over inflated tires either.

[@TheDrewJohnsonExperience]

It doesn’t just feel inexpensive, it feels cheap. As I mentioned in my review, the Fit is a better product (with adaptive cruise control) at a lower price, so it can be done. I'm glad you'd have fake leather on the dash over a center console, but I just wouldn't. Like all my reviews, I spent a good chunk of time crafting and researching this one. And I guess your suggestion about tire pressure is an excuse for the terrible ride? If so, you are really grasping for something to defend this car.

[@HLMAX]

@@TheDrewJohnsonExperience Not defending the car. Credit where credit is due. You are forgetting people buying the Kicks is exactly cross shopping with the Fit, Versa, Soul, etc. I have cross shop them all recently, and find the ride of the Kicks to be smoother than the Fit. A fully loaded Fit EX-L is the same price as the fully loaded Kicks SR. The Kicks SR has better ground clearance, 17" wheels, more interior space, more air bags, LED auto headlights, roof rails, 360 surround cam, blind spot alert, 7" LCD gauge & premium Bose stereo. All which the Fit does not have. Fit's adaptive cruise and lane keep assist option for a compact urban/city commuter? Love to see those features operate in city driving. Makes no sense. The Kicks' 360 surround cam, bind spot warning, and premium Bose stereo does make sense.

[@TheDrewJohnsonExperience]

I believe I gave credit where credit was due. I also gave criticism where criticism was due. The ride is uncomfortable, a comparable Fit is actually 2 grand less than a Kicks (at any trim level) and adaptive cruise control is great for city driving. The Kicks has some stuff going for it, but there is also some nasty cost cutting.

[@HLMAX]

@@TheDrewJohnsonExperience May be the Honda dealer I went to don't want to sell. There is no $2K difference to be had. Fail to see where the cost cutting exist that is not the same as all others in the class. Fit has beam rear suspends and drum brakes. Same hard plastics all over the usual places. I know the Soul has the same carpet material. All as expected in the class of inexpensive cars. Yes, it is definitely far from a Land Cruiser. Got to compare apples to apples.

[@FCS_Panda]

HLMAX I love how he didnt respond after you said this, dude just wants to be right so badly 😂😂

[@ashleylopez7212]

my kicks is a lemon straight from the dealer when driving it starts to swerve on its own ive dealt with it for a year. filed a lemon claim nissan refused to help and my claim was dropped post covid. dont recommendthese cars go with toyota

[@tmo6517]

What year did you purchase? What happened with your claim??

[@mb1636]

I cannot count the number of BUTs...

[@tjj5337]

I love my Kicks❤️❤️.. I get a lot of compliments too… ha ha …. You dolt

[@rolandrivera3790]

No comment on this unprofessional review says it all, this guy should get a new job because he cannot provide an unbiased review.

[@johnsmith-gt3po]

That's no perfect car/suv. Can't please everybody.

[@TheDrewJohnsonExperience]

So true!

[@prodigymanny9839]

Lost me at cvt

[@Bb-df4ys]

He is just upset cause he cant afford it. His bad credit would not pass so his mom needs to co-sign and fork over the money down. His type of vehicle that would suit him well would be the city bus. Plenty of room with multiple rows for you and your passengers...practically drives itself too. No fake rat hair on that bus its all 100% real.

[@TheDrewJohnsonExperience]

What's wrong with taking the bus?

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

Rat hair! 🤣

[@Bensnsnajebe]

*JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU AND CARES FOR YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY EVERYONE*

[@alz230]

This is one of the worst review I've ever witness

[@vettestuff6373]

Stick to your day job

[@teddysliftworld]

Yet people will still buy this because it's an "SUV" in their eyes. Anything marketed as an "SUV" is good in millennials eyes.

[@whatevernevermind5960]

Yep even though it's not very good. would've been fun with a manual though.

[@Jan96106]

It has more room than any other car in its class. Give it whatever classification you like. I'll enjoy all the space I have and the gas dollars I save.

[@JQin931]

😂 cheap as rat hair car 😂