The Nissan Kicks is a subcompact sport utility vehicle that’s been on sale in America since the 2018 model year. This extra-small class of SUVs is a relatively recent segment here in the United States, and was defined by early entrants such as the Nissan Juke (which was replaced by the Kicks) and the Mini Countryman—both of which debuted as 2011 models. More recently, popular models such as the Buick Encore, the Chevrolet Trax, the Honda HR-V, the Jeep Renegade, and the Subaru Crosstrek have proven strong competitors.
The 2025 Nissan Kicks kicked off the model’s second generation here in the States, and it improves upon the already competent first-generation with a unique design and slightly larger proportions to accompany its strong value proposition. The new Nissan Kicks is available with all-wheel drive for extra traction on slippery surfaces, and a more powerful 2.0-liter engine replaces the first generation’s barely adequate 1.6-liter engine.
In a move that may seem confusing to casual shoppers, the first-generation Nissan Kicks is still available for sale in 2025, despite the fact that it’s been replaced by a new version. The 2025 Nissan Kicks Play’s MSRP sits at $22,910, is offered solely in base S trim and represents a competent option for buyers looking to spend as little money as possible on a new subcompact SUV. The second-generation 2025 Kicks is offered in multiple trim levels, starts at $23,220 and, as we explain below, is improved in every meaningful way over the model it was designed to replace.
Nissan Kicks Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Nissan Kicks Pros and Cons
- Nissan Kicks Generations
- Second Generation (2025–Present)
- First Generation (2018–2024)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Nissan Kicks years are the best?
The first-generation Nissan Kicks, offered from 2018-2024, earned a solid reputation for reliability. Repairpal.com doesn’t list any common complaints from vehicle owners, which indicates that, overall, the Nissan Kicks has been a reliable vehicle since its debut in 2018.
Buyers who consider all-wheel drive a necessity have no choice but to default to the 2025 Nissan Kicks, as the first-generation version from 2018-2024 was only offered in front-wheel drive form.
What are the worst Nissan Kicks years?
There aren’t any particularly bad years to avoid for the Nissan Kicks. Carcomplaints.com rates the 2019 model as the worst overall, but in reality, the number of complaints registered by Kicks owners is low, regardless of model year.
Some owners have complained about the Nissan Kicks’ continuously variable transmission (CVT), the design of which means it has no specifically defined gear ratios but instead constantly adjusts engine RPM based on the driver’s commands and road conditions, but the actual number of transmission failures has been minimal. Many of the Kicks’ competitors also use CVTs, including most versions of the Honda HR-V, some Kia Soul, Hyundai Kona, and Hyundai Venue models, and the Subaru Crosstrek.
Is a used Nissan Kicks a good deal?
Yes, a used Nissan Kicks is, generally speaking, a good deal. Popular competitors that also have strong reliability scores include subcompact SUVs such as the Honda HR-V and the Subaru Crosstrek, both of which command higher prices on the used market than a comparable Nissan Kicks. A used 2021-2024 Nissan Kicks in top SR trim with 50,000 miles or less on its odometer should prove to be a reliable small car with most of the options and specs today’s buyers demand, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 360-degree camera and adaptive cruise control, all for well under $20,000.
Nissan Kicks Pros and Cons
Pros
- Stylish design
- Fuel-efficient
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Pre-2025 models did not offer all-wheel drive
- Pre-2021 models had uncomfortable seats
- Sluggish performance
Nissan Kicks Generations
Second Generation (2025-Present)
Nissan redesigned the Kicks for the 2025 model year and made major improvements in the process. The new Nissan Kicks was more stylish, had more power, and benefitted from a greater degree of driving sophistication across the board. All-wheel drive was finally offered as an option.
With a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produced a modest 141 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque, the second-generation Kicks wasn’t a powerhouse, but at least it no longer felt underpowered. Although the transmission was an improvement on the first generation’s, it was still a CVT with no pre-calculated gear ratios, and that meant the engine could sometimes emit an unrefined droning sound.
The 2025 Nissan Kicks in FWD form earned EPA estimates of 28 miles per gallon in the city, 35 on the highway and 31 mpg combined. 2025 Kicks models with the optional all-wheel drive system dropped to 27 mpg city, 34 highway and 30 combined.
The second-generation Nissan Kicks was also roomier than its predecessor. The second row was noticeably larger, and both the front and rear seats were more comfortable. Cargo space was also improved, with Nissan quoting class-leading figures of 30 cubic-feet behind the second row (opting for all-wheel drive reduced that figure to 23 cubic feet) and up to 60 cubic feet with the back seat folded flat. A newly available panoramic moonroof lent an airy feeling to the cockpit of the second-generation Nissan Kicks.
Nissan Kicks trim levels started with a base S model, saddled with a small seven-inch infotainment screen that offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but requires a wired connection. All 2025 Kicks have push-button ignition, and the Nissan Kicks SV gained Intelligent Key with approach unlock and walk away lock. Nissan Kicks SV models also had a much larger 12.3-inch touch-screen display and wireless smartphone connectivity through the standard NissanConnect package, while top-shelf Nissan Kicks SR models got a second 12.3-inch screen that sits directly in front of the driver and acts as a digital gauge cluster. An optional Premium Package replaced the standard six-speaker sound system with an upgraded 10-speaker audio setup from Bose, including speakers mounted in the front-seat headrests. The SR Premium also gets a panoramic moonroof and Remote Engine Start with Intelligent Climate Control.
A solid safety package was standard, including brake assist, Blind Spot Warning and Intelligent Cruise Control. The automaker’s Safety Shield 360 package was included with all trims, and comprised key features such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. The Nissan Kicks SR benefitted from ProPilot Assist, which boasted predictive forward collision warning, blind-spot intervention, lane-departure prevention, emergency lane-keep assist, intersection assist, traffic-sign recognition, and front parking sensors. The Nissan Kicks SR also got Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention, Intelligent Around View Monitor, an Intelligent Lane Intervention that replaced the basic Lane Departure Warning, and Intelligent Cruise Control with traffic stop-go.
At the time of writing, the 2025 Nissan Kicks started at $23,220 (including destination) in its base S trim with cloth seats, $25,070 in mid-level SV trim with upgraded cloth seats, and $27,570 in top-shelf SR trim with leatherette and sport cloth seats along with aluminum-alloy wheels. All-wheel drive added a reasonable $1,500 to the tally. For those keeping track, the Kicks S with its optional AWD drivetrain was the least-expensive vehicle with power to all four wheels for the 2025 model year.
Savvy buyers looking to save money can search for a very gently used second-generation 2025 Nissan Kicks with AWD for sale near them with very low miles for around the same price as a brand-new 2025 Kicks Play, which, as we explained at the outset, is a continuation of the first-generation Kicks that’s still in Nissan dealerships alongside the improved second-generation model.
First Generation (2018-2024)
The first-generation Nissan Kicks hit the American market for the 2018 model year. In an odd twist, it was still on sale at the time of writing, despite having been replaced by the second-generation Kicks. Confusingly, both the Nissan Kicks Play (that’s the continuation of the first-generation) and the redesigned Nissan Kicks (without the Play appended to its name) both wear 2025 window stickers.
The 2018 Kicks replaced the Nissan Juke in American dealerships. The Juke—a pioneer of the subcompact SUV market—was fun and funky, with unique stacked headlights and daytime running lights. The Juke boasted a potent turbocharged powertrain and optional all-wheel drive. The Kicks, by comparison, was a more mundane crossover in both appearance and in the way it drove. It was designed to appeal to drivers looking for safe, reliable, and no-frills transportation. Reinforcing the value proposition was the fact that, with an MSRP of $17,990, the Kicks was the least-expensive subcompact SUV in America when it was introduced in 2018. The 2018-2024 Nissan Kicks were front-wheel drive cars with no AWD option.
Power for all first-generation Nissan Kicks trim levels was provided by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. With just 125hp and 115 lb-ft of torque sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission, the first-generation Kicks wasn’t fast, but it did offer excellent fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 31 miles per gallon in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined. Those estimates remained the same for the 2025 Nissan Kicks Play—which makes sense, since it was pretty much the same basic car that first hit the scene in 2018 and powered by an identical 1.6-liter engine.
The first-generation Nissan Kicks base S model wore steel wheels and offered very few standard features, but it did have Bluetooth connectivity and a seven-inch infotainment screen. The mid-level SV gained aluminum wheels, push-button start and a digital information screen in the gauge cluster. The range-topping Nissan Kicks SR brought LED headlights, additional exterior trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, along with a 360-degree intelligent around view monitor camera. A Premium Package for the SR added smarter interior furnishings, heated front seats and an upgraded Bose Personal Plus Audio System.
The Kicks got a refresh for the 2021 model year, with updated exterior styling that featured a new grille and upgraded interior materials. Key features included standard safety and driver assistance equipment such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The 2024 Nissan Kicks in SV and SR grade gained NissanConnect, which included Automatic Collision Notification, Connection to Roadside Assistance, a Stolen Vehicle Locator and more.
A used first-generation Nissan Kicks starts at around the $10,000 mark for a 2018 or 2019 model with less than 100,000 miles. A first-generation Nissan Kicks in top SR trim with between 30,000 and 60,000 miles should land in the $15,000 to $17,500 range, depending on the year. While the first-generation Kicks is quite small, it still represents a solid deal for drivers who don’t need all-wheel drive and want a reliable car with reasonable room for a driver and a front passenger for daily driving.
