Is the 2018 Nissan Kicks the Ultimate City Commuter?

The 2018 Nissan Kicks has been living with the MotorTrend team for a year now, and we’ve 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?

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, they’ll 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 can’t 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 that’s 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 you’re 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. Don’t 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.

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 couldn’t replicate it. As of this writing, the creaking remains, but it’s intermittent. Regardless, a creaky rear suspension on a vehicle with 22,000 miles is unacceptable.

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 can’t get in its competitors at any price. The Kicks also integrates with your life seamlessly whether you have an active one or not. There’s 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 Nissan’s two-model approach to the subcompact SUV segment. If you’re 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, you’ll 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. It’s just weird enough that it doesn’t polarize opinions, and it’s affordable enough that its purchase price partially offsets some of the maintenance costs. Would I buy one to use as a daily driver? Definitely.

Show All

Show All