First Drive: 2025 Nissan Kicks

Millions of American motorists have been priced out of the new vehicle market. So, what do you do if you don’t want to settle for something used? The Nissan Kicks is one of a handful of affordable options currently available. And the complete makeover it’s getting for 2025 makes it far more appealing than many of the alternative entry-level options now on the market. Headlight.News has this review.

Like so many other “affordable” options, the original Nissan Kicks, launched back in 2019, might have been reasonably cheap but it also required buyers to make lots of sacrifices. It was slow, cramped and anything but exciting to drive.

That’s why I was in for a shock when I got my first chance to slip behind the wheel of the second-generation crossover. Notably bigger than the outgoing model, the 2025 Nissan Kicks is roomier, more visually appealing and loaded with more desirable features and technology. And while it’s far from what you’d call “sporty,” it’s a lot more pleasant to drive, especially if you opt for the all-wheel-drive package available for the first time.

I spent some time wandering around the Detroit suburbs in the new Kicks late last month and here’s what I learned.

What’s new for 2025?

To start with, the 2025 Nissan Kicks has grown bigger in every key dimension, adding 2.3 inches in total length and 1.5 inches to its wheelbase. It’s 1.6 inches wider and 0.9 inches taller. It also adds another inch in ground clearance which now stands at 8.4 inches.

Now, before anyone gets too excited, let’s take a deep breath. This is still a subcompact crossover and while front passengers have plenty of room – along with Nissan’s extremely comfy “Zero Gravity” seats,” the reality is that the second row remains a bit of a cramped penalty box. It’ll be fine for kids but, like everything else in this segment, you’ll have to think twice if you plan to use Kicks for carpooling or long trips with another pair of adults.

That said, there’s a surprising amount of cargo space: a  segment leading 30 cubic feet with the back row up, 60 with them folded over.

New design

The original Kicks was largely forgettable, at least from a design perspective. The 2025 crossover is a lot more appealing to look at, with a more upright front end, distinctive grille and new headlight design. The overall look is more solid and boxy, in line with what’s becoming the latest crossover design trend.

One of the nicer moves by Nissan was to offer an unusually wide palette of color choices. Better yet, all trim levels can be ordered with an optional two-tone paint scheme. There’s also a new power-operated panoramic roof, depending upon the trim package.

What really impressed me, though, was the way the new cabin has been outfitted. I’ve come to expect plenty of hard plastic in entry-level models like Kicks. Surprisingly, even the base S package has lots of soft-touch material, and the top-line SR adds still more, while also upgrading the refinement of its materials to the point where you might think it’s a much more expensive vehicle.

More Reviews

• First Look: 2025 Ford Expedition
• Chrysler Introduces Budget-Friendly Voyager Minivan
• First Drive; 2025 Polestar 3

Powertrain

One of the big changes for 2025 sees Nissan swap out the old 1.6-liter inline-four for a peppier 2.0-liter engine. It makes about 15% more power, at 141 hp and 140 lb-ft. As I already noted, however, this is no sports model. The added dimensions of the 2025 Kicks means it’s also about 300 pounds heavier. So, my preliminary estimate is that the new model is barely a second faster than the Gen-1 crossover’s 10-second 0-60 time.

And fuel economy takes a slight hit. From an apples-to-apples comparison, the 2025 Nissan Kicks delivers up to 28 mpg city, 35 highway and 31 combined with the front-drive package, about 1 mpg less than before.

But there are other reasons to appreciate the new powertrain: starting with its updated Xtronic CVT. The big news is the addition of a first-ever Kicks all-wheel-drive package. It should prove to be a big hit with buyers in snowier parts of the country, such as Detroit. And that’s all the better with the slight rise in ground clearance. There’s only a slight, 1 mpg penalty in fuel economy with the AWD system.

Driving impressions

My first drive was limited. I hope to offer more insights when I can land the 2025 Nissan Kicks for a full week. That said, I was impressed by what Nissan has accomplished.

While only a slight bit quicker than the outgoing crossover, the driving experience is far more pleasant. There’s better throttle response. And that new CVT is a lot smoother than before, with far less of that unpleasant rubber-banding under hard acceleration.

The brakes are surefooted and provide nicely linear deceleration, especially in stop-and-go driving. Steering is predictable and reasonably precise, the platform agile and the suspension stable, even when blasting through aggressive corners.

The overall experience is a lot more pleasant than some competing entry crossovers, such as the Chevrolet Trax.

Technology

One reason young buyers consider a vehicle like Kicks is to get the latest in technology. Kicks comes through with a lot of value for the money. All versions come with a reasonable range of advanced driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, as well as an Around-View Monitor that gives the driver a birds-eye view of the vehicle’s surroundings.

All versions now use digital display technology, the Kicks S offering a pair of 7-inch screens. The mid-level SV upgrades to a 12.3-inch touchscreen. On my SR tester, the digital gauges also grow to 12.3 inches. The infotainment system is offered with “available” wireless” Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Look for a reasonable number of USB plugs on all trims. On the SR Nissan has packaged in an upgraded, 8-speaker Bose audio system.

The 2025 Kicks now is available with the Nissan ProPilot Assist system. As the name implies, it’s meant to help you handle basic driving chores, like staying centered in your lane. It’s not a hands-free system. I question how many buyers will find that feature worth the added money, though it could prove appealing on longer trips and extended commutes. I found the version in Kicks to be markedly better than the version of ProPilot Assist I drove in the past on several more expensive Nissan crossovers.

Pricing and availability

In the competitive entry-crossover segment, the 2025 Nissan Kicks remains a good value, offering a number of features its competitors don’t, and at a lower price. Neither the Trax nor the Kia Soul offer AWD, for example, and you’ll pay as much as $2,500 more to get that feature on a Hyundai Kona.

The base, front-wheel-drive 2025 Nissan Kicks S package starts at $23,220 – including $1,390 in destination fees. All-wheel-drive adds $1,500 – except for the mid-range SV where it’s a $1,650 option. Fully loaded, with all the option boxes checked, an AWD Kicks SR will set you back around $35,000.

You should be able to find the second-generation Nissan Kicks in U.S. dealer showrooms by now. Do expect you might have to order ahead of time for some two-tone paint combinations.