The 2019 model of Nissan Kicks is offered in 3 trims, the S, SR, and SV, all powered by a 1.6L inline-4 engine that propels the front wheels. The S comes packed with a generous amount of features, which include 16” steel wheels, Hill Start Assist, Brake Assist, Power locks for windows and doors, 6-speaker audio system, fog lights, FCS, and many others. As you go higher, the SV packs bigger 17” aluminum alloys, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, Automatic Temperature Control, and Heated Front Seats, while the SR packs LED headlights, Premium Bose speakers, leather upholstery, and many crucial safety features.

Which trim should you buy?

Acknowledging all the features the different trims come packed with, it's practical to buy the Kicks SR as it comes equipped with a better sound system, better lighting, leather seats that are heated, and most crucially, the best in class safety features. Consider getting the Exterior Electronics package to add rear parking sensors and exterior ground lighting.

The 2019 Nissan Kicks comes powered with a standard 1.6L inline-4 engine with Xtronic CVT combined with an FWD system that generates 122 horsepower and 114 foot-pounds of torque. The inline-4 engine helps the SUV reach 60 mph in 9.9 seconds and can reach a quarter-mile at 17.4 seconds. The maximum speed of the car is 115 mph.

If you happen to drive the Kicks, you’ll notice that the engine feels feeble and underpowered, and it struggles to gain momentum. However, if you keep your expectations aside about the engine churning out good performance, the engine is smooth and responsive. Priced competitively in the market, the engine does just fine with coping with the daily needs and being a price-friendly SUV, which is great for families and individuals alike.

The Nissan Kicks offers the least power and torque out of all the SUVs here, whereas the Mazda is the most powerful. However, the Hyundai is not too far behind either. However, the same cannot be said for Honda as it's the slowest of the group even though it boasts better power figures than the underpowered Mazda. When comparing the price range, the Honda HR-V is the most expensive option in the segment.

How does the 2019 Nissan Kicks handle?

The Kicks does a good job when it comes to handling. The steering is responsive, precise, and smooth. Being an SUV that weighs as light as 2,639 pounds, it is an easy-to-maneuver SUV and has negligible amounts of body roll on curves and twisty roads. It comes with a longer wheelbase than its rivals, but the compact dimensions give it an advantage in not only efficient steering but also having civilized behavior in the city. 

Braking Performance

All the models of the SUV come equipped with disc brakes that offer adequate stopping power. The Kicks is priced very competitively, however, that doesn’t hamper the brakes fitted by the automaker. It comes with 10.2” of discs on the front and 8” inches discs on the rear, which is further programmed with ABS, EBD, and Automatic Emergency Braking. The SUV comes to a stop from 60 mph at 133 feet, which is on par with the segment.

The Nissan is the lightest SUV in the competition, while Honda is on the heavier side. However, Honda stays ahead of the Nissan with the aid of bigger brake rotors. The Kona also does a great job of braking, taking only 129 feet to come to a halt. When comparing the braking distance from 60 mph of all the SUVs in the competition, the Mazda CX-3 takes the most distance at 136 feet.

The Kicks may feel underpowered, but to compensate, it offers exceptional fuel efficiency. In fact, it's the most frugal in its segment, thus making it not only an affordable SUV to buy but an affordable SUV to run. It offers 31/36/33 mpg in city/highway/combined and comes with a 10.8-gallon fuel tank, which is smaller as compared to the rivals. The range offered by the SUV is 334/388/356 miles for city/highway/combined, respectively. 

The Nissan offers the best efficiency figures in the class, however, its range is on the shorter side because of the smaller tank. The HR-V does the best in range due to its bigger tank. The 2019 Mazda CX-3 follows Nissan with a combined mileage of 31 mpg. The other two rivals in the competition offer the least mileage at 30 mpg combined.

The 2019 Nissan Kicks comes built with a very traditional, spacious, and well-built cabin which can accommodate a total of 5 people with enough room on offer. On the S and SV trim, the seats come wrapped with premium black cloth, however, in the SR trim, the seats come with leather upholstery. The seats comprise a 6/4-way manually adjusted driver and front passenger seats which are further heated along with the driver's armrest. The steering wheel and gear shift knob are wrapped in leather. In the back, the seats are wide, comfortable, and well-cushioned, equipped with heating ducts, and can further be folded in a 60/40 split for additional cargo space.

The interior is covered in soft-touch materials which feel premium. The dashboard is built with good-quality hard plastics which house the AC with Automatic Temperature Control with an inbuilt cabin micro-filter. A 12V power outlet at the back and 2-cup holders and 4-bottle holders are equipped in the central part of the cabin too. One of the best attributes of the SUV is the standard cargo space on offer. The SUV comes built with a generous 25.3 cubic feet of cargo volume, which can be further expanded by folding the rear seats to 32.3 cubic feet of space.

The Nissan offers the best passenger volume with adequate head/shoulder/leg room, followed by the Honda HR-V, Kona, and the CX-3. On the other hand, the CX-3 offers the largest cargo volume of a massive 30.9 cubic feet, followed by the Kicks, HR-V, and Kona. All the cars in the competition offer a seating capacity of 5. Standout interior features include:

• 6/4-way manual driver/ front passenger seats
• Heated driver/passenger seats
• Leather-wrapped steering and gear shift knob
• Air conditioning
• Automatic Temperature Control
• In-cabin microfilter
• Rear passenger heating ducts
• Overhead map lights

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2019 model of the Kicks gets equipped with an infotainment system that packs a heap of features. All the models of the SUV come equipped with a 7” touch LCD which has crisp resolution and touch response and comes programmed with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth Handsfree, Siri Eyes Free, AM/FM, and a 6-speaker audio system followed by SiriusXM. A premium audio system by Bose with an 8-speaker system is exclusive to the SR trim. Apart from these, Bluetooth Audio Streaming, 3 USB ports with charging facility, Aux, and steering mount controls are standard on all models. Standout infotainment features include:

• 7” high-resolution touch LCD
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Siri Eyes Free
• 6-Speaker Audio System
• Wireless Audio Streaming with Bluetooth
• SiriusXM HD Radio service
• Bose Personal Plus Sound System with 8-speakers and headrest speakers (only in SR)

In terms of looks, the SUV has a traditional design that looks appealing. The V-shaped grille in between the headlamps looks catchy and gives it a subtle spice. The roof can be optioned with a two-tone color which gives a distinct look, and the 16-inch alloy wheel that comes standard suits the overall design quite well. You get bigger 17-inch wheels on the SV and SR trims.

The 2019 model comes equipped with Halogen/LED Headlights with signature accents, intelligent auto headlights, and integrated fog lights. The front fascia is further decorated with a dark chrome front grille along with body-color door handles and power ORVMs. A body-color front and rear bumper, silver exterior door trims, and roof rails are exclusive to the SR model.

The Kicks is the lightest car in the group and also happens to have the highest ground clearance and longest wheelbase, which translates to great performance in bad road conditions. It also manages to perform well in rougher terrains. In terms of dimensions, the HR-V leads, which makes it the largest SUV in the competition. Standout exterior features include:

• 17" Aluminum-alloy wheels (SV and above)
• LED headlights with LED signature accents (SR only)
• Fog lights
• Body-color inserts on front and rear bumpers
• Silver exterior door trim and roof rails

The 2019 Nissan Kicks comes equipped with all the necessary safety features and driver assistance programs that are available on the market. Moreover, both the NHTSA and IIHS have crash-tested the SUV. The NHTSA has given 4 out 5 stars to the SUV with a mere 1 recall, while the IIHS has rated it “GOOD” and awarded it with Top Safety Pick for the 2019 Model Year. The kicks offers all the basic safety aids like ABS, EBD, and Automatic Emergency Braking. Apart from these, plenty of safety and driver-assist features are offered that work as active safety features and help in the mitigation of any unwanted situations such as:

• Hill-start assist
• Intelligent Emergency Braking
• Forward Collision Warning
• Blind Spot Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Intelligent Around View Monitor
• Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System
• Vehicle Security System

2019 Nissan Kicks vs 2019 Honda HR-V

There are attributes where both SUVs shine. Let’s talk about the Kicks first. It is priced lower than the HR-V and is built with a spacious and practical cabin that doesn’t miss out on features. In terms of exterior, though both of them are similarly sized, Nissan offers the SUV with better ground clearance and a larger wheelbase, and it's also the lightest in the segment. Above all, it has a highly efficient engine that can feel underpowered, but it offers exemplary mileage. While the Honda HR-V justifies itself with a comparatively better performing engine, better handling, and a wide option list with additional packages.

2019 Nissan Kicks vs. 2019 Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona comes with a better engine that generates higher power figures that aid in better performance. Hyundai also offers several engine options along with AWD configuration and better driving dynamics, and most significantly, offers an updated design silhouette that looks the most modern in its segment. The Kicks fights back though with an engine that offers efficient mileage, spacious cabin, larger cargo space with additional storage spaces, and most importantly, affordability.

2019 Nissan Kicks vs 2019 Mazda CX-3

The Mazda CX-3 comes with a larger 2L engine which churns out the best power figure out of all the rivals here, and that too without sacrificing much on efficiency. It also offers a choice between FWD and AWD with engine choices and additional packages. While the Kicks is priced significantly lower than the CX-3 and offers slightly better fuel efficiency. If daily use is your priority, the Kicks will do just fine, but if you want your SUV to have some character and a fun-to-drive nature, the CX-3 is the way to go.

The 2019 Nissan Kicks shines for a million reasons and justifies its presence in the sensitive SUV market. The SUV is priced very competitively compared to its rivals. The engine generates a satisfactory power that eases everyday tasks and is adequate for basic needs, and in turn, offers laudable mileage numbers. The cabin is spacious, comfortable, well-built, and most importantly, practical. The features packed are on the generous side, as the automaker offers almost every essential feature that a modern SUV should possess. Being priced below $19,000 for the base S trim, it’s a no-brainer if all you want is a no-frills daily commuter.