For far too long, premium safety features were available only to consumers who could afford luxury vehicles. However, demand for these features is so high that many automakers are finally offering them on affordably priced vehicles. Nissan decided to include automatic emergency braking on its Kicks subcompact SUV, according to U.S. News. And many consumers are thrilled with the low price.

The Nissan Kicks is loaded

The Nissan Kicks isn’t rolling in awards, but it offers some great features you shouldn’t overlook. If you have a growing family or want an affordable SUV that doesn’t require you to get a second job, the Kicks might meet all of your needs.

The Nissan Kicks comes equipped with a four-cylinder engine that produces 125 hp. It’s not a very powerful engine by any means. It takes the Kicks a full 10 seconds to reach 60 mph, so you can scrap any plans to go drag racing in it. It’s also not suitable for going off-road, so you’re stuck mainly to paved streets and gravel roads.

That doesn’t mean the Kicks is worthless, though. The fuel economy is insanely high for a gasoline-powered SUV. It gets 31 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

The Nissan Kicks sits up to five passengers comfortably and has enough room in the back to toss in some luggage for road trips. The ride is also comfortable enough. You don’t feel each bump as you travel over less than ideal roads.

There are also plenty of tech options. Music lovers will appreciate the seven-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio, three USB ports, and hands-free operation. If you want features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio, you’ll have to upgrade. But the extra features’ price isn’t so extreme that you’ll flinch when you see the monthly payments.

The Kicks doesn’t kick safety features aside

For anyone looking for automatic emergency braking, it comes standard on the Nissan Kicks. Automatic emergency braking is especially useful for drivers who become easily distracted. Whether it’s a text from your mom that you don’t dare ignore or a song that reminds you of an ex you’d rather forget, distracted driving happens. 

With automatic emergency braking, the brakes will activate if the vehicle senses a hazard in front of it and you aren’t hitting the brakes yourself. It’s not advisable to rely heavily on this feature, but it’s still a relief to have.

Other safety features include pedestrian detection, auto high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear auto braking, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert.

You can’t beat the price

Vehicle safety features often come with a sizable price tag. For example, BMW is becoming notorious for charging subscriptions for some services. So not only do you have to purchase a BMW that’s capable of using a specific feature, but you also must keep renewing your subscription. 

Though most automakers would never consider charging for subscriptions, more often than not, you’re forced to upgrade to a higher trim level to get beneficial features.

The Nissan Kicks offers a lot for a reasonable price, however. In fact, it’s almost shocking how cheap the Kicks is for all that it offers.

The Kicks’ standard S trim starts at a mere $18,870. The next trim level is the SV, which costs $20,500. This is the trim that offers the coveted Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

No matter which trim you choose, you’re sure to get great safety features that could make the difference between crashing your vehicle or arriving home safely. The best part is the Nissan Kicks is in almost everyone’s price range, so if you’re looking for an affordable SUV, this one is hard to beat.