2025 Nissan Kicks Revealed With More Style and Space, AWD Option
The second-generation Nissan Kicks debuting today is big news for small crossover shoppers. Now offering more style and more space along with an AWD option for the first time, it’s bound to draw a lot more attention than it already does—especially with the Qashqai not coming back.
The vehicle was revealed on Friday morning ahead of the New York Auto Show that’s set to kick off next week. The Car Guide will be on hand at the event.
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The 2025 Nissan Kicks lineup consists of the same three trim levels—S, SV, SR—plus a pair of Premium packages. AWD is available with the first two and standard in top trim. It also comes with a Snow mode ensuring more stability on slippery surfaces.
Another good news is the elimination of the meager 1.6-litre engine (122 hp, 114 lb-ft). Nissan has replaced it with the same 2.0-litre mill that was found in the Qashqai. In the new Kicks, output and torque are rated at 141 hp and 140 lb-ft, respectively. A continuously variable Xtronic transmission is mated to the engine.
Larger and Roomier
With its big brother gone, the 2025 Nissan Kicks had to grow up—literally. For example, front shoulder room has increased by a 43.1 mm, while rear-seat passengers enjoy an additional 22.9 mm of knee room and 38.1 mm more shoulder room.
When it comes to the trunk, cargo capacity is up from 716 litres to 849 litres, nearly match a compac SUV like the Mazda CX-5. With the rear seats folded, cargo room expands to 1,700 litres instead of 1,504 litres previously, putting the Kicks just shy of the segment-leading Kia Soul. A small, hidden storage compartment is available below the trunk floor, while a flexible luggage board is found on SV and SR models.
More SUV-Like and More Sophisticated
A lot of people are attracted to the Nissan Kicks due to its stylish, colourful exterior, and that won’t change with the second generation, even though the latter is more SUV-like and sporting a wildly different front fascia. Sharp-looking wheels and an intricate, three-dimensional shape accenting the rocker panels highlight the sides, while full-width LED taillights top the rear end.
Inside, designers aimed for a cocoon-like environment. Drivers face a redesigned, flat-bottom steering wheel and a 7- or 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (depending on the model) with two display modes: a more traditional Classic and a more feature-rich Enhanced view. The centre touchscreen is 12.3 inches in size in every Kicks model and complete with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
The centre console is more versatile now, and for the first time, both rows of seats use Nissan’s Zero Gravity seating design, helping distribute weight and pressure across the occupants’ bodies for a more comfortable seating position.
Other desirable features available with the new Kicks include a panoramic sunroof, 10-speaker Bose Personal Plus sound system and Nissan Safety Shield 360. Intelligent cruise control is included as standard, while the Kicks SR debuts ProPILOT Assist with steering assistance to make highway driving simpler.
Pricing for the 2025 Nissan Kicks will be announced closer to launch this summer, but expect the vehicle to be more expensive than its predecessor. Will it remove the Kia Soul from the top spot in the urban crossover segment and earn our Best Buy award? Actually, we’ll probably need to put it in the same class as other small SUVs with available all-wheel drive.