As enthusiasts, we love the cars that really get your heart pumping. Unfortunately for us, that kind of stuff costs money. A lot of money. The vast majority of car buyers, on the other hand, just want something decent to get them from point A to point B, and the cheaper it is, the better. Sadly, there are no new cars available for less than $20,000, but with an MSRP of $21,980, the 2025 Nissan Kicks looks temptingly affordable by new car standards. And the good news is that while it may not be the sportiest subcompact crossover that you can buy, Nissan did a good job of focusing on what’s going to matter the most to buyers. This time around, that means finally adding all-wheel drive as an option.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Nissan didn’t turn the Kicks into some sort of off-roader. You’re never going to see one on the Rubicon, but apparently people really didn’t like not being able to get all-wheel drive on the first-generation Kicks, so Nissan decided to give them the option. It’s not exactly a groundbreaking addition, but at the same time, it should help boost sales. What about the rest of the car, though? Is it really a bargain, or did Nissan cheap out and cut corners? After several hours behind the wheel, I’d argue the 2025 Nissan Kicks really is a great affordable car.
(Full Disclosure: Nissan wanted me to drive the 2025 Nissan Kicks so badly, it bought me a flight to Santa Barbara, California, put me up in a fancy hotel, bought my drinks and fed me.)
On the outside, the new Kicks looks boxier and more rugged than the car it replaces, and overall, it’s a good design. I especially like what Nissan has done with the taillights, which really help the Kicks stand out. As someone who just wants a hot hatch at the end of the day, I prefer the Mazda CX-30’s more athletic look, but the general public likes more squared-off styling, so it was probably a smart decision on Nissan’s part. And perhaps most importantly, it doesn’t look like a car that was built to an extremely low price point.
Inside, the cabin is relatively simple, but it’s nicely laid out. You get a traditional PRNDL shift lever, as well as quite a few other physical controls including a volume knob. In a world where functions are regularly buried in menus on touchscreens, it was nice to be able to hop into the Kicks and just drive without needing a tutorial first. As for the screens the Kicks does have, the base model comes with a 7.0-inch driver display and a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. Higher-end models have a 12.3-inch center screen, and the top trim that we drove adds a 12.3-inch driver display as well. The Kicks also includes support for wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay on the SR and SV versions and has wireless charging.
The SR also comes with Nissan’s latest advanced driver-assistance features, which is always great to see, although it would be nice if they were standard across the board. Toyota figured out a way to make all the driver-assist tech standard on every Corolla and Corolla Cross, after all. Still, Nissan’s far from the only offender in that regard, and the systems do work really well. You can’t drive hands-free, but as long as you keep your hand on the wheel, the Kicks does a solid job of lane centering instead of ping-ponging between the lines. There are limits to how far it can turn the wheel on its own, so you’ll have to handle the steering in the canyons, but you shouldn’t be canyon carving with adaptive cruise control on in the first place, and I have a hard time seeing anyone actually trying that.
Now I know I was driving a fully loaded Kicks, and those are naturally going to feel nicer than the base model. That’s the point of the more expensive versions, after all. But I have to say, I was legitimately surprised by how nice the cabin materials felt. You’re not going to confuse a Kicks for an Infiniti any time soon, but the old Kicks had a fairly cheap-feeling interior, and the new one is a significant step up in terms of quality. That’s even more important when you realize a Kicks SR with all-wheel drive is nearly $30,000 with destination, and that’s before you start adding options. That would be a whole lot of money to spend on a car filled with cheap plastics.
Nissan generally does well with seats, and the ones in the new Kicks are no exception. It’s hard to know how much more drained I would have been by the end of my drive in another car, but I was surprised how refreshed I felt after a couple of hours. When you show up to review one of the least expensive vehicles in the U.S., you expect there to be some compromises, but there really weren’t. Rear passengers also get an extra inch of legroom, which they’ll definitely appreciate. The last Kicks wasn’t exactly known for its spacious back seat.
Under the hood, there’s a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough for daily duty and also 19 more horsepower than the previous Kicks. There really isn’t a whole lot to say about the engine. It gets the job done. It is kind of loud, though, and doesn’t sound the best. Wind and road noise are also noticeable, but it’s not distractingly bad, and it’s still quieter than I expected. The continuously variable transmission is also fine, and handling proved better than expected. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s fun to drive, but it also wasn’t unpleasant or completely out of place when the roads got twisty. It’s also pretty good on gas, coming in at 28/35/31 mpg (city/highway/combined) according to the EPA.
And while you’ll probably mostly see white and black paint on the new Kicks, I want to commend Nissan for offering Yuzu Yellow Metallic as an option. A lot of automakers are afraid to make their cars available in Good Colors because people don’t buy them, but not Nissan. If you want a yellow Kicks, you can get a yellow Kicks. You’ll have to get the SR to do so, but the SV comes in Monarch Orange Metallic, and even the S can be ordered in a very good Electric Blue Metallic. Come on, other automakers, give us more fun colors!
The new Nissan Kicks definitely isn’t an enthusiast’s car, but not all cars need to be. As a practical daily driver at an affordable price, Nissan has basically nailed it. It’s more grown-up. It’s nicer inside. It has more power. It’s more spacious. It offers all-wheel drive. And it’s still one of the least expensive cars you can buy right now.
