The 2023 Nissan Kicks facelift is now available to buy in Japan with a more capable hybrid system and electric all-wheel drive.
The internals of the e-Power drivetrain stay stock: the car is still a range-extender hybrid based on a 1.2-liter turbocharged engine with 82 PS (81 hp / 6 kW) and 103 Nm (76 lb-ft) that only charges up the main battery and has no connection to the wheels. It is the software that gets changed, however. The engine now tries to run at constant RPM speeds, revving down at lower speeds to keep the driver and passage nice and relaxed and going noisier at highway speeds where no one is going to mind it.
The electric motor is now better off with 136 PS (134 hp / 100 kW) instead of its old 129 PS (127 hp / 95 kW). The torque is also slightly higher at 280 Nm (207 lb-ft) instead of 260 Nm (192 lb-ft). Thanks to these improvements and further software optimizations, fuel consumption fell 6.4% to a mixed-cycle average of 4.4 liters per 100 km (53.5 miles per U.S. gallon).
It is also worth noting that you can now opt for an AWD version of the Kicks. There is no traditional crankshaft, so the car uses a second electric motor at the rear axle to drive all four wheels when needed. The secondary motor makes 68 PS (67 hp / 50 kW) and 100 Nm (74 lb-ft) of torque. The new Kicks weighs 120 kg (265 lbs) more than the old one and has a smaller 35-liter gas tank (down from 41 liters).
For the interior, buyers can choose from more bi-color trim schemes mixing black with brown, orange, tan or blue. Those wanting something more exclusive may go for the Style Edition with its chocolate-hued cabin or Autech (see video) with its sleek aerodynamic kit.
The Nissan Kicks had its exterior revamped in 2020, and the latest update brings no further body modifications.