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Leith Cars Blog

First Ever Nissan Kicks. It Really is a Kick.

Nissan really knows how to move you. This car goes above and beyond the usual, filling a gap in the market. People want a small but roomy five-passenger CUV – and Nissan delivers. It’s tech-savvy, full of safety features, efficient and affordable for young, up and coming drivers as well as for more mature drivers. Or really, just about anyone looking for a nicely equipped, smaller alternative to mid-size and large SUV models.

2018 Nissan Kicks is built to stand out, not blend in.

I sampled the mid-level SV trim of the new Nissan Kicks during my test trip around Cary with Leith Nissan Sales Associate, Derek Parker providing a thorough overview of the car, uh crossover. You see, after driving the new Kicks, I can say that it really does drive and feel like an efficient economy car, not a larger CUV and from my view, that’s great. In fact, speaking of the view, there is so much glass around you that with the standard safety features Nissan includes like blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, and rearview camera (found in the 7-inch infotainment monitor), you practically have a view of everything around you.

The new Nissan Kicks is full of tech and safety features that will surprise you.

Another great feature of this under $21,000.00 car/crossover is the ability to remote start the 1.6 liter engine and cool the car’s interior, or heat it depending on the weather outside. In fact, as Derek pointed out to me, the Kicks has a surprisingly long list of standard and available features that you don’t usually see in a car this size.

For example, when it’s time to put some air in your tires, not only will the Tire Pressure Monitoring System alert you as to which tire or tires need air the most, there is also an “Easy Fill Tire Alert.” Simply put, the car’s horn will sound a “beep” when your tire reaches its correct air pressure, so no more guessing for you.

The Kicks also comes with standard “Zero Gravity Seats” which Derek explained are inspired by the United States space program. These space-age front seats are designed to reduce fatigue on long road trips. Zero Gravity seats can also be found in the all-new 2019 Nissan Altima mid-size sedan, now available at Leith Nissan.

A few more standard highlights include “Hill Start Assist” used for giving you a little extra starting help on steep hills. For tailgating and camping adventures, there’s a 12-Volt DC Power Outlet. You’ll stay connected with your tunes via the standard Streaming Audio with Bluetooth, and forget about fumbling with your keys with Nissan’s Push Button Ignition.

Got stuff to haul? The new Nissan Kicks says, “pack it in.”

Want to talk about roominess? There is plenty of passenger space in the new Nissan Kicks, even for a 6 foot, four-inch-tall guy like me. Watch our Zero To 60TV “Extra” video as I test out the rear seat legroom in the new Kicks. It has plenty of room as my knees did not touch the passenger seat in front of me. Kicks has more front row legroom than all the competitors in its class at a whopping 43.7 inches. That’s more than the 2018 Kia Soul, 2018 Ford Ecosport, and 2018 Toyota C-HR.

Front headroom at 40.7 inches in the new 2018 Nissan Kicks also beats the same list of competitors. Hop in the rear seat, like I did and you’ll find that Kicks has more rear headroom than the Ford and Toyota competitors in its segment based on their respective manufacturer’s websites for the 2018 model year.

The Nissan Color Studio is back at nissanusa.com. I designed this blue and white beauty in about thirty seconds.

Now, I’ll tell you that I do miss the quirky, fun styling of the retired Nissan Juke as the new 2018 Nissan Kicks takes its place in Nissan’s current line-up. But, like the Juke, the new Kicks offers you the chance to really personalize your car with the Nissan Color Studio. Check out the blue and white beauty I designed above and then give it a try yourself. I think you’ll see that the all-new 2018 Nissan Kicks is more than just the new kid on the block, it’s a new way of getting you from here to there in a fun, stylish, and innovative package. The Nissan Kicks is an entry-level car that feels quite premium. Just ask the folks at Leith Nissan to let you take it for a spin as I did, you’ll be glad you did.