2025 Nissan Kicks review: A little SUV gets a big glow-up
You’ll get a kick out of this: Nissan has fully redesigned its Kicks SUV, and it’s a glow-up from the ground up. The 2025 Nissan Kicks brings only its name into its second generation. The rest of the car is completely new and sports an updated design, a more comfortable cabin, desirable features, and available all-wheel drive for the first time. But one thing the Kicks keeps is its fun city-car attitude.
Nissan Canada invited us to Wendake, Quebec, to be among the first to experience the 2025 Nissan Kicks on Canadian roads. Here’s a look at what we learned as we took our 2025 Nissan Kicks first drive.
Learn more about Indigenous-led experiences in Wendake, Canada’s only Huron-Wendat nation >
2025 Nissan Kicks review: Pros and cons
2025 Nissan Kicks pros:
- Now with available all-wheel drive
- Standout features like headrest speakers and a panoramic sunroof
- Even the highest trim starts below $35,000 Canadian before fees
2025 Nissan Kicks cons:
- Slightly underpowered in some situations
- Onboard navigation is not available
- Single-zone climate control is the default on all trims
What is the difference between the 2024 Kicks and 2025?
As the 2025 Nissan Kicks subcompact SUV enters its second generation, it’s a completely new vehicle that has almost nothing in common with the 2024 Nissan Kicks. In fact, since the 2025 Kicks offers available all-wheel drive and new premium features, it’s more appropriate to consider it a replacement for the Nissan Qashqai, which was discontinued in Canada after 2023. (The Qashqai was also discontinued in the United States, where it was known as the Nissan Rogue Sport.)
In 2024, the Kicks was the smallest SUV in Nissan’s line-up. With the 2025 Kicks moving slightly upmarket, Nissan Canada is keeping the previous-generation Kicks around with a new name, the 2025 Nissan Kicks Play. With its new name, the Kicks Play will continue to be Nissan’s smallest crossover, keeping the same format as the 2024 model. Size-wise, the new Kicks slots into Nissan Canada’s line-up just above the Kicks Play.
2025 Nissan Kicks size and exterior design
Thanks to its entirely new platform, the 2025 Nissan Kicks is larger in every dimension than the 2024 model. The new Kicks is 58.4 millimetres longer (4,309 mm in total), 22.9 mm taller (1,610 mm total), and 40.6 mm wider (1,760 mm total) than the previous version.
Increased ground clearance is one of the most important statistics on the 2025 Nissan Kicks. The previous-generation Kicks had 17.7 centimetres of ground clearance, which is only slightly more than the average sedan. Meanwhile, the 2025 Nissan Kicks has 21.4 centimetres of ground clearance. This is one of the better figures in the subcompact crossover class. It gives more credibility to the new Kicks being billed as an SUV.
Across its three trims, the 2025 Nissan Kicks is available in Canada in six monotone exterior colours and six two-tone colour combinations. The most interesting colours are the monotone Canyon Bronze Metallic and the two-tone Yuzu Yellow and Arctic Ice Blue paints, which each come with a black roof. There’s also a Gun Metallic paint that can be paired with a red roof and red side mirror caps. (We think this one is giving legacy Nissan Juke.)
Interior design
The test unit for our 2025 Nissan Kicks test drive is the SR Premium trim. This version comes with an attractive red and white stitching motif on dark grey. There are plenty of soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. While the carbon fibre-effect inserts on the dashboard are clearly artificial (and no one should expect differently at this price point), they’re much more desirable than piano black plastic.
The 2025 Kicks continues to offer a Bose premium 10-speaker audio system on the top SR Premium trim. It includes a pair of speakers integrated into the front-row headrests. This sound system is one of the best in the subcompact SUV segment and is very impressive for the price.
A panoramic moonroof is standard on the Kicks SR Premium and available on the SV trim. This is an unusual feature to find in a mainstream subcompact crossover. Interestingly, the forward glass panel opens and retracts into the vehicle instead of above it. Nissan says this move reduces wind noise at higher speeds.
The 2025 Nissan Kicks is available only with single-zone climate control. This is one thing worth noting for those in multi-person households who can never agree on temperature.
Seat comfort
The 2025 Nissan Kicks has a surprisingly spacious front row for its size at 1,027 millimetres of headroom and 1,111 mm of legroom. Second-row space is significantly better than the previous generation at 977 mm of headroom and 824 mm of legroom.
In its new generation, the Kicks includes Nissan’s zero-gravity seats in the front row and the outboard second row positions. These seats are designed to reduce aches and fatigue over longer drives. Front row seats come with two-stage heating starting at the SV trim, which is also where a heated steering wheel is equipped. (In other words, these features are not standard in Canada.) Ventilated front seats and heated second row seats are not available, but this isn’t unusual in the subcompact SUV segment.
How many car seats fit in the 2025 Nissan Kicks?
In the 2025 Nissan Kicks, owners can install one car seat in the centre position of the second row or two car seats in the outboard rear positions. Due to the subcompact dimensions of the Kicks, installing three car seats in the second row is not recommended.
How much cargo space is there in the 2025 Nissan Kicks?
The 2025 Nissan Kicks has 849.5 litres of cargo capacity behind the second row. With those seatbacks dropped, cargo space expands to 1,699.6 litres. This seats-up figure is very good for the subcompact SUV class. For context, the previous-generation Kicks had 716 and 914 litres of space respectively. The Hyundai Kona has 723/1,803 litres, the Kia Seltos has 752/1,778 litres, and the Toyota Corolla Cross has 680/1,750 litres.
Infotainment and technology features
In Canada, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard equipment in the 2025 Nissan Kicks. In the SR Premium trim, it’s paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while a smaller 7-inch screen is equipped in lower trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is also standard. Because of this, Nissan has opted not to equip built-in navigation in the 2025 Kicks since most drivers will prefer to use smartphone apps. This could deter potential buyers in some parts of Canada where mobile service is spotty. But this decision tracks with the intended market since the Kicks sells as a city car.
On the safety side, Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assistance technologies is standard. This includes features such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. The SR Premium trim includes Nissan’s ProPilot Assist, which is a highway driving assist feature. This model also includes a 360-degree camera, which Nissan claims as a class-exclusive. However, the Kicks is a relatively easy vehicle to get around, so most drivers can consider this a nice-to-have rather than an essential feature.
How much power does the 2025 Nissan Kicks have?
From its new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, the 2025 Nissan Kicks produces 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. This is an improvement of 19 hp and 26 lb-ft of torque versus the 1.6-litre four-cylinder in the 2024 Kicks.
Power is routed through an updated continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a more natural drive feel than the previous version. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard on the S and SV trims, while all-wheel drive (AWD) is available on both and standard on the SR Premium.
In the Nissan Qashqai’s AWD system, power was sent to the rear axle only when wheel slip was detected at the front wheels. In the new Kicks, AWD activates when it detects demand for more power, such as under heavy throttle.
Currently, this gas-only powertrain is the only one available for the Nissan Kicks. Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric versions are not available.
How does the 2025 Nissan Kicks drive?
While the Kicks does receive a power upgrade for 2025, it’s also a fair bit heavier than it was in 2024 thanks to its larger size and features like the panoramic sunroof and AWD mechanism. As a result, the power increase ends up being a wash, and the new Kicks doesn’t feel especially more powerful than the previous generation.
We don’t see this as a bad thing, though. The Kicks is designed to be a city car, and it’s still easy and fun to get around in traffic and tight spaces. We do find this version of the Kicks to be slightly underpowered in specific situations like steep hills and short highway on-ramps. However, this is more or less on par with other gas-only vehicles in the subcompact SUV class.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Nissan Kicks?
When equipped with front-wheel drive (FWD), the 2025 Nissan Kicks has fuel economy figures of 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 6.6 on the highway, and 7.4 combined. The 2025 Nissan Kicks AWD consumes 8.4 L/100 km city, 6.9 highway, and 7.7 combined. This is on par with or better than its non-electrified competitors.
Interestingly, though, Nissan defeats itself in this category. The 2024 Nissan Rogue’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder VC-Turbo engine is more powerful and averages 7.6 L/100 km combined. This is a more sophisticated engine that’s too expensive for the more budget-oriented Kicks. However, if you’re interested in the Nissan brand, need slightly more space, and have a higher budget to work with, the Rogue may be worth considering.
How much will the 2025 Nissan Kicks be in Canada?
Pricing on the 2025 Nissan Kicks in Canada starts at $27,199 for the S trim with FWD. (Dealer fees and the $2,030 destination charge are not included in this price. These bring the total cost up to $30,078.) The 2025 Kicks SV FWD starts at $28,749 before fees. Adding AWD to each of these trims costs $2,000 more. The top 2025 Nissan Kicks SR Premium AWD is priced at $34,899 before fees. This means that even the most expensive version of the 2025 Kicks has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of less than $35,000 in Canada.
Is the 2025 Nissan Kicks worth buying?
The 2025 Nissan Kicks is a well-equipped entry-level SUV that feels more mature than its predecessor while maintaining a fun and youthful attitude. While it doesn’t have the lowest starting price in its class, the SV trim offers a good balance between cost and features. Plus, the SR Premium trim is exceptionally well-appointed for its sub-$35,000 price point. From Canada’s northernmost cities of Yellowknife and Whitehorse all the way south to Windsor’s Ambassador Bridge, the 2025 Nissan Kicks is worth considering as a spunky city runabout.
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