Nissan Kicks | The clean copy

The Kicks, the first of its name, explored a territory which avoided direct exposure to competition. With the second generation of the Kicks, Nissan is pulling out all the stops that allow it to be a model that we choose. And not that we suffer.

Appearing six years ago, the Kicks could not indefinitely drape itself in its reputation as a “cheap” vehicle ($17,998 was its price then). To afford the latest version, you have to spend around $10,000 more…

One thing is certain, it was high time that this vehicle, distributed on several continents and whose sales curves are remarkably solid, was entitled to its first major renewal. “Our” Kicks, assembled in Mexico, has reached maturity.

The Kicks, the first of its name, promised more than honest services. It was not, far from it, his only vocation. Smart and without fuss, its generous minimalism also met the expectations expressed by consumers determined to reduce the amounts devoted to their individual mobility. Moreover, a few months ago in Quebec, the Kicks occupied third place on the sales podium, behind the Kona (Hyundai) and the Seltos (Kia).

19-inch rims, a front end “designed like armor”, two skyscrapers of lights at the front, a range of rather showy colors in two-tone mode, occupants installed in a raised position. The Nissan Kicks left nothing to chance.

He lists the winks that make the success of small SUVs, an automobile genre embodied by Hyundai's Kona or Chevrolet's Trax and towards which almost all general manufacturers are converging.

Today, it is possible to have a conversation around the shapes of the new Kicks. It features a floating wave-shaped roof line as well as more pronounced hips that allow it to catch the eye more easily than before. The front face, quite square, almost aggressive, looks more imposing. An impression confirmed by the gains in length, width and height.

There is nothing to fall back on, but the whole, quite homogeneous, can be looked at. By taking a seat behind the steering wheel that you hold with both hands, you appreciate the space available. Good news: for black and shiny materials, we have replaced gray plastics of better quality without however approaching the quality of presentation of a Mazda CX-30, the indestructible benchmark in the category.

He no longer refuses anything

A form of gentrification is evident in the interior. Ribbed plastics, foam coverings and pops of color are a pleasure to see and touch. The front seats are comfortable and have a small armrest that is not very roomy and impractical (the cup holders take up a lot of space). The instrument cluster, configurable and not always very readable, acts more like an extension of the central screen. In short, it entertains more than it informs.

Compared to the previous generation, the new one is more welcoming for the passengers who will travel behind. On the other hand, the verdict is less clear-cut for the utility volume. By opting for all-wheel drive (four-wheel drive), the trunk of the new Kicks appears less demanding than the old one (677 liters compared to 716). The explanation lies in the mechanical hardware needed to drive the rear wheels. Need space? Prefer the towed version which swallows the equivalent of 850 L of material.

In terms of amenities, the Kicks no longer denies anything. At least in its most expensive version (SR) and made available to us as part of this test. In addition to the standard four-wheel drive, the SR also receives the Pro Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system and a battalion of cameras and sensors to facilitate a parking space. Soundproofing has progressed greatly and now goes well beyond the insertion of speakers in the front headrests (offered on the SR) to deceive the sense of hearing.

Still honest, but better

To tick all the boxes that would make it the ideal modern small family car, the Kicks only needs a little more suspension comfort. This car indeed suffers from a certain stiffness, partly attributable to the large wheels (19 inches) which fitted the model under test. Likewise, it would need a little more power to mask its ever-increasing weight. While the original Kicks (now marketed as Kicks Play, see our boxes) weighs 1224 kg, the new one weighs up to 250 kg more.

On the road, the Kicks is as pleasant to drive, if not more so, than some SUVs that are better rated than it. Compared to the old Kicks, the electric power steering is more precise and filters vibrations more.

Under the hood, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that also powers the Sentra has not been reworked. Voluntary, reliable and easy to maintain, this engine struggles a little here in the acceleration and recovery phases. Brand managers assure that consumers don't care. Reducing the level of consumption of the gasoline engine would not have been too much. Apart from the CVT automatic gearbox (continuously variable transmission), an improvement compared to the previous generation, nothing very original or worth mentioning on the mechanical side.

Considering the improvements made, the Kicks is priced very competitively compared to the competition. This is relative good news, because the spartan entry-level model will probably not weigh very heavily when sales are counted. Customers, it is said, favor the best equipped versions. We sometimes wonder why.