The Nissan Kicks subcompact SUV premiered in South American countries four years ago and had since become available in China, United States, India and Thailand. Today, Japan finally gets it, too.
Like in most countries (except India), the car utilizes the chassis design called V, which is the second generation of the B platform by Renault-Nissan. It comes in at 4,290 mm (14.07 feet) long with 2,615 mm (8.58 feet) of wheelbase.
The facelift left the Kicks with an enlarged radiator grille, narrow-slit LED headlights, a redesigned front bumper and new brake lights. Customers in Japan are free to choose from 13 paintjobs, including four dual-tone ones.
The cabin features six airbags, an eight-inch central display coming to replace the old seven-inch model, a new gear selector, and a seven-inch digital dash screen present in all trim levels. The top trim introduces all-around cameras, adaptive cruise control, blind zone monitoring, automatic emergency brake, and collision prevention.
The Nissan Kicks ships with IC engines in other regions, but in Japan, hybrid is the only way to go. The e-Power hybrid system it uses is identical to that of the Serena and Note models. A 1.2-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 82 hp (60 kW) and 103 Nm (76 lb-ft) provides power for the 1.57-kWh lithium-ion battery located beneath the front seats. An electric motor rated at 129 hp (99 kW) and 260 Nm (192 lb-ft) of torque occupies the place usually reserved for the transmission.
The drive stays on the front axle, although the abovementioned Nissan Note ships with optional AWD and the same basic powertrain. There are four selectable drive modes, and you can accelerate and brake using the same gas pedal (identical to the One Pedal feature of the Nissan Leaf).
Pre-orders in Japan have already started.