The Kick in new Nissan Kicks

Indians love to try new things and the concept of accepting the new is on its peak in the urban sphere. Companies find it lucrative and thus always try new and unique products. The new Nissan Kicks is one such product that has been placed very well between the Hatchback and SUV segment. Now, this segment is highly competitive and offers a lot of good options to choose from i.e. the Hyundai Creta, the best selling crossover of India, and host of other cars like the Renault Captur, Tata Harrier, and Renault Duster. Nissan is hoping to kick start the demand for its cars among the young Indian and to grab a significant chunk of sales in this segment. So, what’s new in this Nissan Hatchback cum SUV, Let’s find out.

Outside

This car is the bigger version of Kicks hatchback sold internationally and for the purpose of low cost, it uses the same platform as of Terrano. Undoubtedly Nissan has used this M0 platform in a whip-smart way and created a unique design which uplifts the kick’s styling very well. The design isn’t boxy at all has a more crossover feel to it. Seeing it in a photo and in reality is a totally different experience because it really is a big car. Lines are smooth and the trending sloping roof-line perfectly matches with the C pillar.

Side cladding makes it look rugged and those 17 inches diamond cut alloys ideally match with the overall outlay of car. Similarly, the front end is mostly covered by the big V-motion grille which is surrounding the big Nissan badge. The big LED headlamps are nicely sweeping back to the front fender to make it look more aggressive. Needless to say, they have managed to use the chrome work perfectly all around the car and those titanium styled skirts at both front and rear give it a feel of an all-terrain vehicle. Tail lamps are not LED like the front so it doesn’t make a much difference in night.

Inside

Interior of kicks might give Nissan an edge over its competition in a much significant way. As you step inside, the first thing you notice is the smart use of soft touch faux leather around the dashboard and door panels. Secondly, you will see the eight-inch floating touchscreen which comes equipped with Apple car play and Android Auto. And after that, you might look at all the good quality plastic in the Kicks interior. What surprises me the most is that the steering mounted knobs are for cruise control and the audio control knobs are placed behind the steering wheel which is unusual.

Overall this car feels strong and very well put together. Nissan could’ve also looked into some areas like space for a dead paddle which isn’t there. Also, there’s no flat storage near the gear knob where you can keep your phone or other needful stuff. Moreover, the seating position is also very high at its lowest setting which can create a problem for people above 6 foot. But that's not the case with the back seat because it is excellently placed with plenty of headroom and legroom despite the sloping roofline.

Tech

Technology wise this car is loaded with features and got the segment first 360 degrees surround view camera which really helps the drivers in tight spots. Then comes the Nissan Connect which is proving to be the selling point for Nissan cars. It is an app which is connected with your car and provides you useful insights like time for servicing, alerting you if your car is getting towed away. Interestingly if someone else is using your car then you can check on certain things as well like if the car is crossing a particular speed limit set by you or if the car is driven rashly by putting some strain on its parts or going beyond a certain specified area.

The key you get with its top-spec model is like a card (smart -key) which is easy to carry and store. Well, this top model has also got four Airbags, Hill start assist, ABS with EBD and traction control, rain sensing wipers and automatic headlamps.

Driving Experience

Driving Nissan kicks is a totally unique experience. Firstly you get a sense that it’s not a small car to handle and thus steering feels heavy. Along with that you also find yourself sitting at a high position and this might be a problem for all those tall guys out there. Well, the A-pillars are not that bulky and rarely creates any blind spot. Now talking about the shifting, this car manages to change gears smoothly and does not feel lagging at all when you accelerate from a low speed in high gears. It comes alive after crossing the 2000 rpm mark and slides away flawlessly into the traffic. I drove the 1.5 liter turbo diesel which produces the 110 PS or 108 BHP at 240 NM of torque which gives power to Duster and Captur as well. Moreover, the breaks feel totally agile when you try to stop the car instantly as its Electronic stability Program works accurately. Again you will not get the automatic option which is offered by Creta and covers almost 30% of sales in this segment.

Specifications

Variants:

Petrol: XL and XV /1498cc – 106bhp@142 Nm – 5 Gears

Diesel: XL, XV, XV Premium and XV Premium+ / 1461 cc – 110bhp@240 Nm – 6 Gears

Fuel Capacity: 50 Liters

Drive Train: 2WD

Boot Space: 400 Liters

LxWxH: 4384x1813x1656mm

Wheelbase: 2673mm