OldCar.com Logo

News & Reviews

Private Party Sellers
Click here to place your ad now!

Is the Nissan Kicks the Ultimate City Commuter?

The 2018 Nissan Kicks has been living with the MotorTrend team for a year now, and weve found it to be an agreeable companion in the congested streets of Los Angeles. But is this subcompact SUV the ultimate commuter or the first vehicle in a brave new SUV world? Utilitarian Millennial Mobile Since its arrival, the Kicks immediately got my vote of approval because of how easy it is to live with. Need to haul a few things from Ikea? No problem. Got three friends who want to tag along with you on a shopping spree or food trip? Yep, theyll fit. The Kicks was a champ when it came to doing millennial things and being practical. It also helps that it comes in vibrant (and wacky) colors that keep it from blending in with the sea of SUVs. --> Although you cant get built-in navigation in the Kicks, the inclusion of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on all but the base trim more than makes up for it. Millennials are a smartphone-wielding bunch, after all. Once you have Google Maps on your 7.0-inch touchscreen, though, nothing can really challenge it, especially if you have your maps downloaded for offline use. The eight-speaker Bose Personal Plus audio system helps the Kicks stand out even more because it gives you a nice surround sound experience thats on par with or better than units found in vehicles costing double the Kicks $23,000 as-tested price. Nissan brings more tech on the safety front with automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning standard across the board. Moving up to SV and SR grades adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard, giving the Kicks a stronger safety proposition. For 2020, the Kicks has only gotten more compelling from a safety standpoint because it adds rear automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, and lane departure warning standard on all models. If youre looking for more semi-autonomous driving features, though, you may want to move to the slightly larger Rogue Sport, which is available with ProPilot Assist on SV and SL grades. The 2018 Nissan Kicks road manners were reasonably agreeable for commuting duties. It rides comfortably on most road surfaces and only gets upset over rutted-out pavement. Dont expect it to out-handle a Hyundai Kona or Mazda CX-3 , though, because the Kicks rolls a lot when you toss it around, and its steering is disconnected and has an artificial feel. What Youll Pay During its time at the MotorTrend mothership, the Kicks got three services done totaling $380.72, landing it mid-pack. Our departed long-term Honda HR-V cost us roughly $225 for the year with over 20,000 miles, and the long-term Mazda CX-3 racked up $534.45 in maintenance costs over 35,386 miles. One service bulletin was performed, which replaced a malfunctioning radar sensor for the forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems, which kept thinking something was blocking it. The only other issue we experience with our long-term 2018 Nissan Kicks was some creaking from the rear suspension every time we stopped suddenly or went through dips in the road. I brought this issue up during the Kicks last service visit, but the technician couldnt replicate it. As of this writing, the creaking remains, but its intermittent. Regardless, a creaky rear suspension on a vehicle with 22,000 miles is unacceptable. The Verdict For a vehicle that tops out under $25,000 even when loaded up, the Nissan Kicks main strength is its value. It comes packed with so many features including ones like the Around View Monitor that you cant get in its competitors at any price. The Kicks also integrates with your life seamlessly whether you have an active one or not. Theres no complication in the way it operates nor are there any learning curves when it comes to its tech features. Daily commuting is the Kicks forte, and with its tight turning circle, small dimensions, comfortable seats, and great fuel economy, sitting in weekday traffic becomes a little more bearable. Spending time in the Kicks also explains Nissans two-model approach to the subcompact SUV segment. If youre looking for value and affordability, the Kicks has your name on it. However, if you need all-wheel drive, a cushier ride, and additional driver assistance tech, you can get the Rogue Sport. Beware, though, youll have to pay more for all of that and take a hit in the fuel economy department. Overall, the 2018 Nissan Kicks proved inoffensive in a surprisingly refreshing way. Its just weird enough that it doesnt polarize opinions, and its affordable enough that its purchase price partially offsets some of the maintenance costs. Would I buy one to use as a daily driver? Definitely. Read more about our long-term Nissan Kicks SR: Arrival Update 1: That Small Button Does What? Update 2: We Take Our to the Test Track Update 3: Kicks' Sweet Audio System Makes for a Groovy Commute Update 4: Kicks Hits the Road in Search of Good Eats Update 5: Putting the Subcompact Crossovers Practicality to the Test Our Car SERVICE LIFE 13 mo / 22,098 mi BASE PRICE $21,635 OPTIONS SR Premium ($1,000: Bose audio, heated front seats, security sys), Carpeted mats ($215); Premium paint ($150) PRICE AS TESTED $23,000 AVG ECON/CO2 30.2 mpg / 0.64 lb/mi PROBLEM AREAS None MAINTENANCE COST $380.72 (4- oil change, inspection, tire rotation) NORMAL-WEAR COST $0 3-YEAR RESIDUAL VALUE* $15,400 (67%) RECALLS None *IntelliChoice data; assumes 42,000 miles at the end of 3-years 2018 Nissan Kicks SR POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD ENGINE TYPE I-4, alum block/head VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DISPLACEMENT 97.5 cu in/1,598 cc COMPRESSION RATIO 9.8:1 POWER (SAE NET) 125 hp @ 5,800 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 115 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm REDLINE 6,400 rpm WEIGHT TO POWER 21.2 lb/hp TRANSMISSION Cont variable auto AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO 3.93:1/1.80:1 SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; torsion beam, coil springs STEERING RATIO 16.8:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 3.1 BRAKES, F; R 10.2-in vented disc; 8.0-in drum, ABS WHEELS 6.5 x 17-in cast aluminum TIRES 205/55R17 91V (M+S) Firestone FT140 DIMENSIONS WHEELBASE 103.1 in TRACK, F/R 59.8/60.4 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 169.1 x 69.3 x 62.4 in GROUND CLEARANCE 7.0 in APPRCH/DEPART ANGLE 19.5/31.7 deg TURNING CIRCLE 34.1 ft CURB WEIGHT 2,655 lb WEIGHT DIST, F/R 61/39% TOWING CAPACITY Not recommended SEATING CAPACITY 5 HEADROOM, F/R 40.7/38.5 in LEGROOM, F/R 43.7/33.2 in SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 53.0/53.2 in CARGO VOLUME, BEH F/R 53.1/25.3 cu ft TEST DATA ACCELERATION TO MPH </strong 0-30 3.4 sec 0-40 5.1 0-50 7.2 0-60 9.9 0-70 13.5 0-80 18.5 0-90 0-100 PASSING, 45-65 MPH 5.5 QUARTER MILE 17.6 sec @ 78.2 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 125 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.82 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 28.4 sec @ 0.58 g (avg) TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1,800 rpm CONSUMER INFO BASE PRICE $21,635 PRICE AS TESTED $23,000 STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL Yes/Yes AIRBAGS 7: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, driver knee BASIC WARRANTY 3 yrs/36,000 miles POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 5 yrs/60,000 miles ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 3 yrs/36,000 miles FUEL CAPACITY 10.8 gal REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB 28.7/39.8/32.8 mpg EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 31/36/33 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 109/94 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.59 lb/mile RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded regular The post Is the Nissan Kicks the Ultimate City Commuter? appeared first on MotorTrend .

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/nissan/kicks/2018/2018-nissan-kicks-review-long-term-verdict/

 

Share this Article

 

Top