Slated for January 2019 launch, Nissan Kicks will take on rivals such as Maruti Suzuki S-Cross, Hyundai Creta and Renault Captur. Nissan will position Kicks as a premium compact SUV, offering a wide variety of advanced features. Production of the Kicks has started today.
Commenting on the announcement, Thomas Kuehl, President, Nissan India Operations said, “We are excited to announce the start-of-production of New Nissan KICKS at our plant in Chennai. We had recently showcased the New Nissan KICKS which has created a lot of buzz and excitement amongst SUV enthusiasts across the country. Designed to appeal to the new-age urban adventure seeker, the KICKS is a testimony to our commitment to the Indian consumers and also reflects the SUV heritage of Nissan.” If you are planning to buy a compact SUV, here are five reasons why you should choose Nissan Kicks.
Head turner: With its beefy profile, Nissan Kicks has a dominating road presence. It has proportionately defined curves and character lines that look stunning. Key exterior features include signature V-motion grille, LED projector headlamps with DRL, door-mounted ORVMs with turn signals, floating roof design in contrasting colour, stylish roof rail, shark fin antenna, and R15 5-spoke machined alloy wheels.
More space: Nissan Kicks will offer more space, as it is larger than rivals such as Hyundai Creta. Indian-spec Nissan Kicks is also larger than the global-spec Kicks. Indian-spec Kicks measures 4384 mm (length), 1813 mm (width), 1656 mm (height) and 2673 mm (wheelbase).
Best-in-class/unique features: Kicks will be offering a host of premium features such as dual-tone interiors, leather wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, sophisticated instrument cluster with MID and analogue speedometer, and 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Kicks could also have Around View Monitor (AVM), which would be segment-first. AVM provides 360° view of the outside, making things a lot easier for the driver.
Advanced safety features: Safety & security features will include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist (BA), electronic stability control (ESC), hill start assist, rear parking sensors and ISOFIX child mounts. Kicks will be equipped with powerful driving aids and smart connectivity, which will ensure optimal convenience and security. Kicks has GRAPHENE Body Structure, which makes it durable and provides improved protection in case of a collision.
Powerful performance: Nissan Kicks is expected to have the petrol and diesel engines used in Renault Captur. The 1.5-litre, 4 cylinder petrol engine makes 106 PS @ 5600 rpm and 142 Nm @ 4000 rpm. Engine is mated to either a 5-speed MT or Nissan’s X-Tronic CVT unit. Diesel variant has 1.5-litre K9K dCi diesel engine that makes 110 PS @ 3850 rpm and 240 Nm @ 1750 rpm. Engine is mated to 6-speed manual or 6-speed AMT.
Competition is tough in the compact SUV segment, which will create challenges for Nissan Kicks. However, going by the specs and features, Kicks does come across as a viable option.
