• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • Fifty Million Apartment Dwellers Need a Way to Plug In
  • Tesla Back in Court on $137M Race Discrimination Suit
  • E-Fuels Provide a Lifeline for Ferrari and Porsche
  • Upstart Fain Sworn in as UAW President on Eve of Bargaining Convention
  • Week Ahead: UAW Gets a New Leader
  • The Rearview Mirror: Ford’s High-End Failure
  • Ram Returning to Midsize Pickup Segment; Shows Dealers a Concept EV
  • Why Isn’t That EV Charger Working?
  • Ford Will Trust The Truck — The New One Built at BlueOval City
  • Cupra Could Be Headed to the U.S.
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • A Week With: 2023 Infiniti QX80
    • A Week With: 2023 Genesis GV80 Prestige 3.5 Turbo
    • First Drive: 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T
    • First Drive: 2023 Dodge Hornet GT
    • First Drive: 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70
    • First Drive: 2023 Nissan Ariya e-4orce AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Jeep Compass Limited
    • A Week With: 2023 Cadillac Escalade V-Series
    • A Week With: 2023 Volvo XC40 AWD Ultimate
    • First Drive: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > reviews > A Week With: 2023 Nissan Kicks SR

        A Week With: 2023 Nissan Kicks SR

        Good fuel economy, short overall length and a roomy cabin for its size make the Nissan Kicks an ideal city car.

        Larry Printz
        Larry Printz , Assistant Managing Editor
        Dec. 23, 2022

        Affordable economy cars are not dead, they have merely been transformed into SUVs. So yes, you can buy a Nissan Sentra, and expect 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway. But say you want an SUV, or at least the look of one, then you can opt for the Nissan Kicks.

        There’s a slight difference in fuel economy, however, at 31 mpg city, 36 mpg highway. And you’ll pay at least a grand more for what is basically a tall hatchback, rather than a real SUV. But sedans no longer hold sway with most buyers. Still, one has to wonder what type of kicks the Kicks provides. We spent a week finding out. 

        The Nissan Kicks is more of tall hatchback than true SUV.

        Overview

        The 2023 Nissan Kicks anchors the bottom of Nissan’s SUV line-up, with a price starting at $20,290. Offered in ascending S, SV and SR trim, the 2023 Nissan Kicks returns unchanged for the new model year, meaning it continues to be offered solely with front-wheel drive, despite an appearance that might suggest otherwise.

        And no matter which trim level you opt for, you’ll get the same 4-cylinder driveline, which includes a continuously variable transmission. But it admirably serves its purpose as an affordable utility vehicle. Just don’t expect to get your kicks from driving it. 

        Exterior

        Its wardrobe looks modern without seeming goofy, something you could never say about the late Nissan Juke. It wears its style well for such a small ute, with a handsome sophistication the lacks the dwarfish awkwardness that afflicts too many small SUVS. The car’s side sculpting lends the car a deceptively long look despite its short 170-inch length. It looks athletic yet refined, even though it wears the latest in Nissan design hallmarks, including the floating roof and V-Motion grille. 

        Interior

        The cabin is roomy considering its diminutive size.

        You wouldn’t expect an opulent interior in a car this inexpensive, and, well, you don’t get one. Yes, you do get acres of hard plastics, but they’re nicely grained and Nissan does try to offset it somewhat by fitting cloth armrests on the door.

        The SR trim test car benefited from a lavish list of optional equipment, most notably the $1,390 Premium Package, money that’s well spent, as it adds an eight-speaker Bose audio system, you’ll also enjoy heated front seats and steering wheel, imitation leather seats, Nissan Connected services, a Wi-Fi hotspot and keyless entry.

        The cabin appears larger than it is thanks to the supportive front seats and an elevated seating position with plenty of headroom. A crucial convenience is the padding on the center console’s sides where the front driver and passenger’s knees rest. For a car this shirt, there is a surprising amount of front legroom, while legroom is sufficient for backseat passengers. With the back row in use, there is a roomy 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

        Powertrain

        All Kicks get their power from a 122-horsepower 1.6-liter double overhead-cam 4-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission. It runs on regular unleaded gasoline at a rate of 31 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, according to the EPA. 

        Safety and Technology

        Cargo space is generous.

        Speaking of safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rates the Nissan Kicks with an overall crash safety test score of four stars. Front crash safety is four stars for the driver, three stars for the passenger. Side crash protection is rated at five stars, however. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates its crashworthiness as “Good.”

        Remarkably, it comes with an impressive array of standard driver-assist safety systems, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, rear automatic braking and high beam assist.

        With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a 7-inch touchscreen on S versions, and an 8-inch touchscreen on higher models, Kicks owners receive a respectable tech package. A USB-C port is optional; three USB-A ports are standard. Although there isn’t an inbuilt navigation system, most drivers will still utilize smartphone apps in its place. The test vehicle featured the $575 Interior Electronics Package, which adds interior ambient lighting, door pocket light, frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror and a universal remote. 

        Driving Impressions

        Legroom is more generous than you’d expect.

        Oddly enough, despite the fact that the Nissan Kicks feels lively enough around town, it feels breathless at highway speeds, where its lack of power results in a long, slow boil to get to 60 mph. But what it lacks in brute strength it makes up for in fuel economy, which is more crucial to a Kicks buyer.

        Driving in metropolitan areas doesn’t seem quite as lethargic. The Kicks excels in this situation, feeling livelier than you may anticipate. Yes, steering is lightweight and lacks road feel, but that’s far from surprising. Although the ride is exceptionally pleasant for its class, there is a noticeable body lean when cornering, as well as some tire and road noise, although that is typical for its class.

        Certainly any kicks you get from the Kicks comes from fuel economy, which came in at a hair over 34 mpg — an impressive showing for this little city crawler. That said, it’s overall bemeanor is that of a typical economy car that just happens to look like s all SUV. BUt its heart is really that of a tall hatchback.

        2023 Nissan Kicks SR Specifications

        DimensionL: 169.1 inches/W: 69.3 inches/H: 63.4 inches/Wheelbase: 103.1 inches
        Weight2,751 pounds
        Powertrain1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive
        Fuel Economy31 mpg city/36 mpg highway/33 mpg combined
        Performance Specs122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque
        PriceBase price: $22,850; As tested: $27,515 including $1,295 destination charge.
        On-Sale DateAvailable now

        Wrap Up

        The 2023 Nissan Kicks is a practical transportation widget, an ideal urban runabout that makes for a lively grocery getter that doesn’t draw attention to itself. And with a price that starts at less than $21,000 for the base S trim, it many just give an added kick to your budget, thanks to its affordability. But skip any expectations of driving thrills, for there are few to be found here — not that there’s anything wrong with that. 

        2023 Nissan Kicks ­— Frequently Asked Questions

        Are Nissan Kicks reliable vehicles?

        Consumer Reports rates the 2023 Kicks as having average reliability when compared to other new vehicles.

        Will Nissan Kicks ever be AWD?

        No. The Kicks is offered solely with front-wheel drive.

        What is a Nissan Kicks comparable to?

        Competitors include the Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona and Kia Soul.

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published

        A Week With: 2023 Genesis GV80 Prestige 3.5 Turbo

        March 23, 2023
        2024 Dodge Hornet R/T blue driving front REL

        First Drive: 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T

        March 22, 2023

        First Drive: 2023 Dodge Hornet GT

        March 22, 2023

        What Are You Looking For?

        See More
        Buying an SUV or Crossover? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Buying an SUV or Crossover? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Reviews and Resources For Car Buyers and Owners
        Reviews of SUVs and CUVs, Warranty and Insurance advice, all collected by the Editors of TheDetroitBureau.
        Collection
        SUV Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        SUV Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        Where Can You Get the Best SUV Warranty?
        Recommends

        Where Can You Get the Best SUV Warranty?
        Recommends
        Is Full Coverage Auto Insurance Right for You?
        Recommends

        Is Full Coverage Auto Insurance Right for You?
        Recommends
        Is it Cheaper to Add a Second Car to Insurance?
        Recommends

        Is it Cheaper to Add a Second Car to Insurance?
        Close
        Reviews and Resources For Car Buyers and Owners
        Reviews of SUVs and CUVs, Warranty and Insurance advice, all collected by the Editors of TheDetroitBureau.
        Collection
        SUV Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        SUV Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        Where Can You Get the Best SUV Warranty?
        Recommends

        Where Can You Get the Best SUV Warranty?
        Recommends
        Is Full Coverage Auto Insurance Right for You?
        Recommends

        Is Full Coverage Auto Insurance Right for You?
        Recommends
        Is it Cheaper to Add a Second Car to Insurance?
        Recommends

        Is it Cheaper to Add a Second Car to Insurance?
        Close
        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: