Nissan’s original Kicks won us over pretty quickly. It was deceptively roomy, deceptively fun-to-drive, and best of all, it was a bargain. This second-generation 2025 Nissan Kicks follows up by giving us more of literally everything: more space, more power, more all-wheel-drive—and yes, more money, meaning it isn’t quite the runaway value proposition it once was. But from the moment you hop in, you can see where the money went. And as long as you shop the right trim level, the extra coin may actually be worth it.
What’s new for 2025?
Obviously, the biggest change for 2025 is right in front of you. The Kicks adapts a whole new look inside and out; it’s a big change, literally, growing in every single dimension. It needed to, not just because of key competitors like the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona having grown considerably themselves, but also because the Qashqai is now discontinued. Naturally, the grown-up Kicks needs to fill those shoes.
This second-generation Kicks is about three inches longer, and inch and a half wider, and about an inch taller than the old one. Nissan says the new look is inspired by sneakers; judging by our tester’s colourway, someone on the design team probably had a pair of black-and-yellow Jordans they cherished for a long time. The new Kicks definitely has more presence than the old one, tying in neatly with a strong familial resemblance to the also-redesigned-for-2025 Murano.
How does the 2025 Nissan Kicks drive?
The next biggest change to the 2025 Kicks is its new engine. Gone is the 1.6-litre normally aspirated four-cylinder, replaced with a larger 2.0L engine. It puts out 140 horsepower and 141 pound-feet of torque, a sizable bump over the 122 hp and 115 lb-ft of its predecessor. It’s still paired to a CVT, and while we still wouldn’t call the Kicks fast, we welcome this newfound spring in its step. The CVT is one of the better-tuned units out there, limiting the moaning-and-groaning endemic to them under hard acceleration, and it’s complemented by an overall ride well-isolated from bumps, potholes, wind, and road noise.
Where the previous Kicks was front-drive only, this second-gen model can be had with all-wheel-drive. It’s optional on the two entry-level trims—the S and SV—and standard across the rest of the lineup, including our top-of-the-line SR Premium tester. This now gives Kicks a sense of four-season confidence, even though realistically, you’ll be fine with a front-driver as long as you’re running proper winter tires. Fuel economy doesn’t take much of a hit, either, rated at 8.4 L/100 kilometres in the city, 6.9 highway, and 7.7 combined. Our real-world figures averaged out to 9.5 L/100 km, on account of the frequent use of the standard remote start necessitated by the bitter winter temps we dealt with at the same time.
Interior comfort and practicality
Those upsized dimensions outside pay dividends inside. The previous Kicks felt roomy enough up front, but rear-seat passengers were pinched for legroom, and cargo space definitely felt pinched. Not anymore—there’s plenty of headroom up front and out back and I could comfortably sit behind my completely average five-foot-nine frame. Front-drive Kicks offer a very generous 800 litres of cargo space with the seats up, growing to 1,700 L when stowed. Opting for AWD does cut those figures down to 677 and 1,419 litres, respectively, but it’s still competitive for the segment and much roomier than the outgoing Kicks.
Beyond that, the new Kicks sees a new layout, adapting the whole two-screens-under-one-piece-of-glass setup we’ve seen pretty much everywhere else in Nissan’s lineup. Our SR Premium tester uses two 12.3-inch displays; they’re responsive, intuitive, and actually match in terms of sharpness and vividness, which is more than we could say for the similar setup in the much pricier Ariya. Materials feel great considering the Kicks’ price tag, Nissan’s so-called Zero Gravity seats are some of the comfiest chairs in the business, everything is where it needs to be layout-wise, and there’s plenty of storage throughout.
Is the 2025 Kicks worth it?
Price-wise, the 2025 Kicks ranges from $27,199 for the base, front-wheel-drive S, all the way up to $35,694 as-tested for the SR Premium we’re driving here. It’s a way’s off from the outgoing Kicks, but you can see where the money went—and don’t forget, this second-gen Kicks replaces the Qashqai, which covered a similar price braket. The new Kicks is literally more car in every way and everything you could possibly need—adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, heated seats, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto—is standard across the lineup. We’d argue the SV Premium is the sweet spot, which throws in niceties like a panoramic moonroof, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, automatic climate control, and factory-installed remote start that doesn’t require a subscription, for a hair over $30,000 before fees, taxes, and all that fun stuff. And if you’re really sticking to a tight budget, Nissan is selling the outgoing Kicks—now called the Kicks Play—alongside the new one.
Closing remarks
There was a lot to like about the original Kicks, but its small footprint and front-drive-only configuration worked against it. This redesigned model addresses all of those qualms, adding four-wheel traction and a much roomier interior to go along with its upsized engine, freshened styling, and bold colour palette. Sure, it’s a good bit pricier than the old one, but the 2025 Nissan Kicks still remains a great value in the segment as long as you shop the right trim level. Sometimes, you actually do get what you pay for.
