Nissan Kicks

Nissan Kicks generations at a glance

The name first appeared on a concept car at the São Paulo motor show in 2014, which Nissan said was inspired by the streets of Brazil. The production model followed in mid-2016 and was used to promote the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, for which Nissan was a lead sponsor.

First generation (P15): engines and versions

The P15 sits on the V platform introduced with the 2010 Micra, with MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. It was designed as a simpler and cheaper alternative to the Juke, and in North America it replaced the Juke in 2018 after a debut at the Los Angeles show in November 2017.

The 1.6 runs on petrol or ethanol in Brazil, where flex-fuel engines are the norm. The 1.5 was used for China and Taiwan, built by Dongfeng Nissan in Guangzhou and in Miaoli, Taiwan.

How e-Power works in the Kicks

e-Power is a series hybrid: the wheels are always driven by the electric motor, and the 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine (58 kW) only charges a small 1.57 kWh battery under the front seats. It drives like an electric car without needing a plug. The Kicks e-Power went on sale in Thailand on 15 May 2020, where it is built at Samut Prakan, and in Japan on 30 June 2020. Japan received a stronger 100 kW motor, and from June 2022 an all-wheel-drive version with a 50 kW rear motor. Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam followed.

By our calculation, the e-Power's 95 kW motor gives the Kicks about 2 per cent more power than the US 1.6 petrol, but 68 per cent more torque from a standstill (260 against 155 Nm), which is why it feels quicker in town.

The 2021 facelift and later updates

Nissan revealed an updated P15 in December 2020, using the front design of the e-Power version with a larger V-motion grille and LED headlamps. The cabin gained a centre armrest, a larger touchscreen and an electronic parking brake, and North American sales started in February 2021. In the US, the facelift added standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking and lane departure warning; the top SR trim could have a Bose Personal audio system with headrest speakers.

The first generation did not disappear when the P16 arrived. It continued in Mexico and Canada as the Kicks Play from August 2024 and in the US for the 2025 model year. Brazil gave it a new face and the name Kait in December 2025, and Thailand launched a facelifted Kicks e-Power with a digital instrument display and ProPilot Assist in March 2026.

Second generation (P16, 2024–)

The new Kicks made its US debut on 22 March 2024 as a 2025 model. It is 71 mm longer, 41 mm wider and 20 mm taller than the P15, and its wheelbase grew by about 50 mm to 2,657 mm (2,664 mm with all-wheel drive). Production for North America moved to Aguascalientes, Mexico; the start was delayed from December 2023 to June 2024 after crash-test issues and the theft of tooling at a supplier.

Inside, the P16 has two 7-inch screens as standard, or two 12.3-inch screens on higher trims, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an optional 10-speaker Bose system. Trims in the US are S, SV and SR.

Safety ratings

In 2018 a Mexican magazine ran a moose test on a Kicks Fan Edition without electronic stability control, and the car almost rolled over at 65 km/h. If you buy a used P15, check that the car has ESC.

Sales and markets

The Kicks became one of Nissan's most important cars in the Americas. US sales rose from 23,312 in 2018 to 82,960 in 2021 and reached 103,575 in 2025. Brazil took 60,444 in 2024, and Canada 40,956 in 2025. In China the model faded, from 47,785 sales in 2019 to 3,556 in 2025. India had a separate Kicks (D15) from January 2019, based on the Renault Duster's B0 platform, which was dropped in 2023 because of poor sales and stricter emission rules.

Kicks against its rivals

For European buyers, the closest Nissan is the Juke, and the larger Qashqai offers e-Power too. Our page on the Honda HR-V covers a key rival, the size comparison tool sets the Kicks against other crossovers, and the fuel cost calculator shows how a petrol Kicks compares with a hybrid over a year.