Cheap cars are in peril right now. With America’s subcompact car market nearly barren, a handful of entry-level subcompact crossovers have attempted to pick up the slack, and one of the better picks is the Nissan Kicks. The 2024 model isn’t quite as good as the new Chevrolet Trax, but it’s more refined than the Hyundai Venue and offers a shedload of features for the money. However, there’s a new 2025 Nissan Kicks on the horizon, and with the demise of the Rogue Sport, it may have to play two roles. Will Nissan be able to keep it cheap? Perhaps, but before we get to that question, let’s take a look at the crossover itself.
The big news is that for the first time, the Nissan Kicks is available with all-wheel-drive. Not only does this get you torque to the rear axle, it also replaces the front-wheel-drive model’s twist beam rear suspension with a more sophisticated multi-link setup. No matter how many driven wheels you choose, you’ll get a 141-horsepower two-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine mated to a CVT. Not the most inspiring mix, but for basic transportation, it should do the job just fine. While the outgoing model had a 122-horsepower 1.6-liter naturally-aspirated engine, the new car’s curb weight balloons by 358 pounds to 2,987 pounds, so don’t expect drastic improvements in acceleration.
On the outside, the new 2025 Nissan Kicks looks more upscale and more futuristic than before, with distinctive horizontal daytime running lights, the cheeky touch of an available red roof, funky textured cladding, and a high-up stance. That last one isn’t an optical illusion, as every Kicks sports 8.4 inches of ground clearance, which should be more than enough for trudging through the snow.
Around back, horizontal taillight elements echo the daytime running lights at the front, while a blunt kammtail makes the 2025 Nissan Kicks interesting from a rear three-quarter view. While the execution of the floating C-pillar isn’t the most elegant we’ve ever seen, it’s worth keeping in mind that this is Nissan’s entry-level crossover. Considering the Kicks should feature a dirt cheap starting price, Nissan seems to have hit upon the right mix of visual intrigue and cost. Oh, and if you look up top, you’ll spot an available panoramic moonroof. Highly unusual in the subcompact crossover segment, isn’t it?
The unexpected niceness continues on the inside, although it shouldn’t be that unusual considering the outgoing Kicks was known for offering a ton of equipment for the money. The top trim of this new model gets a standard 360-degree parking camera system, an optional 10-speaker Bose audio system, rear USB-C ports, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. However, even the mid-range trim gets LED interior lighting, double-stitched trim on the dashboard and door cards, a wireless smartphone charging pad, available heated seats, an available heated steering wheel, and the option of that aforementioned panoramic moonroof.
The big question in all this is whether or not Nissan can keep the Kicks cheap. With the Rogue Sport disappearing, this new model steps up power and equipment levels to handle both roles, and while that might come with higher pricing, there are early signs that the starting price may still be affordable. The base S trim is a proper base model. It features hubcaps, unpainted mirrors, black door handles, a urethane steering wheel, and a four-speaker audio system. Based on the equipment list alone, Nissan has found ways to trim costs, meaning we don’t expect this little crossover to be vastly more expensive than the 2024 model. One weird omission? Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You’ll have to go up to the mid-range SV trim for that, which strikes us as an oversight on Nissan’s part.
However, due in part to that omission, I suspect most shoppers won’t be looking at the base model, and then it becomes a case of how much the new Kicks really costs with a good mix of equipment. If Nissan can keep the mid-range SV trim under $25,000 including freight, the 2025 Nissan Kicks might make a good case for itself. However, if a reasonably equipped model ends up in Honda HR-V territory, the Kicks will cede ground to the new Chevrolet Trax. In any case, we should know pricing closer to this entry-level crossover’s on-sale date this summer. Fingers crossed that it stays a bargain.
(Photo credits: Nissan)
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Nice cheap car. Perfect for a teen driver or fresh out of college type. This just screams teenage girl to me for some reason. Fun, fresh and some funk. Missing car play though, kills that entire market as no high schooler/college aged person is going to buy this simply because of that. They won’t even date someone without those features, let alone get in a car without them. Weird choice, but I guess bluetooth? Or is it like putting candy in the check out isle? Make the kids scream for that mid-upper trim and get nissan some extra money?
Like the interior, the screen pops just a little but it looks even across the top with the drivers screen matching, so it doesn’t make me crazy like the economy cars from every other car manufacturer.
Calm down the exterior accessories/colors a bit with other trims and I think you have a great car for an adult that doesn’t want/can’t spend 50k on a commuter car. And its a nissan, so they won’t sell well and you can probably pick up a lease or purchase for a song if you wait a few months.
The model changeover must have really reduced inventory, because these just keep getting harder to find.
You might have luck at the Nissan dealer In Tulsa
route66nissan.com
Looks good. However, they clearly have a relationship with ZF since they provide the Pathfinder transmission. Couldn’t they get a real transmission for this?
This needs a hybrid!
You know what, I like it. I think with a lowered ride height it would honestly do a decent job cosplaying as a sporty hatchback. Also you can get it in yellow! Bright blue! Dark blue! A solid red! This interesting Red on Grey combo! Powertrain is a snoozefest but the competition isn’t any better unless you pony up for the turbo Seltos/Kona or the Corolla Cross with its hybrid. Speaking of hybrid, I’d say that is the only thing missing from this thing. Hybrid all the things!
No CarPlay/AA on the base one is a little surprising but not unusual for Nissan, the Versa is the same way. Some of the other option packaging gets more of an eye roll from me. Want heated seats? Hope you want the pano roof too!
I wish Nissan would spent more effort to tidy up their quality/durability. It would really help their brand long-term.
The missing Android Auto and Carplay is a huge mistake IMO, as it effectively increases the base price of the vehicle to get an arguably critical feature. Will rental car companies be willing to buy a vehicle without it nowadays?
That grille looks like it belongs on a Silverado, and I do not say that as a compliment to either vehicle.
Booooo Jatco CVT boooooooooo
Driving a car with a CVT is like eating Italian food that was cooked by a German chef.
Psh, still not as interesting as the Juke it replaced. Bring back your weird design, Nissan! Sales numbers be damned! And no I still won’t buy one.
I know one thing I wish they WOULDN’T keep: the “floating roof”. The 2010’s called and they want their dead design language back.
I hate to say it, but this is now the 3rd sight I’ve seen use “Glow Up” to describe this. Is this all an inside joke or something?
These are pretty much exclusively marketed to Gen Z, and the parents who will be buying these for them, so I guess the age-appropriate slang is targeted at them intentionally.
And yet, by my own observations, I think the primary purchases are made by older-Gen-X / younger Boomers who just want a high-riding simple A-to-B vehicle and who’s kids have either their own car (when living at home) or have moved out.
I think that’s definitely a big portion of the sales as well, my view is definitely skewed since I live in a college town and of all the relatively new cars I see, a LOT are Kicks, Venues, and the other sub-compacts I see, but the cheap, small and high-riding cars are definitely popular for older people.
Automakers are probably happy to market more expensive cars to those folks in hopes they’ll spend more coin.
A Kia saleswoman I met once said “the Soul is driven by two groups of people – 17 year old girls and 71 year old women” and I keep thinking about that when I see a high-riding subcompact.
Maybe something to do with the more prominent front lighting elements?
I wonder if there is a Nissan dealer on Route 66 where people can get their Kicks.
Turns out, there is (if you didn’t know previous):
route66nissan.com