What exactly does the 2020 Nissan Kicks ‘kick’? Does it kick the dust as a sporty SUV, does it kick the bucket as a car you should never buy, or does it kick around town as something that’s super fun to drive? Well, that’s what we’re here to figure out by investigating both what people love and hate about the Nissan Kicks.

What Is Loved About The Nissan Kicks?

One of the most loved features about the 2020 Nissan Kicks includes its competitive price. You can roll off the lot in a brand new Kicks for around $18k. Higher trim options don’t raise the price by much either. 

Along with a reasonable price, the Nissan Kicks also has a competitive fuel economy by getting an average of 31 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. This could provide savings at the pump along with the savings you receive by choosing this SUV. 

The Nissan Kicks only weighs 2,700 pounds, making its nimble frame incredibly light. This helps balance out the SUV’s weak engine to make it fun to drive around town. It also has a tight turning radius allowing this compact vehicle easy to maneuver into parking spots and other tight areas. 

You can also ride around town comfortably. The Nissan Kicks has seats made with sporty cloth that cradles passengers and drivers while being easy to clean. 

There’s also a 7” infotainment center to use with a 12-volt outlet to connect your tech. Along with Android Auto, the Nissan Kicks also offers hands-free text messaging to provide advanced features. 

Despite the small size, this compact SUV is pretty spacious and can comfortably fit five people. The back seats also have a 46/60 backseat split for storage. With the seats up, there’s 32.3 cubic square feet of space for storing your luggage. 

The Nissan Kicks comes with all-weather tires to give you more control in adverse conditions and has a clearance height of 7”. 

What Is Disliked About the Nissan Kicks?

We aren’t very excited about the Nissan Kicks engine. It has a four-cylinder engine that only puts out 122 hp. It also has a continuously variable automatic transmission, so the Kicks doesn’t accelerate reasonably quickly. 

While it’s a fun SUV to drive around town, you can’t exactly punch the gas. It takes 10.2 seconds to get to 60 mph. Also, drivers have complained about the engine being loud.  So, while you struggle to pass people on the interstate, you’ll have to deal with a noisy cabin as well. 

Another issue involved stopping power. The Nissan Kicks is equipped with rear drum brakes that seem a little weak because of the SUV’s incredibly long stopping distance. 

Unlike competitors such as the RAV4 or Honda CR-V, the Nissan Kicks isn’t available in all-wheel drive. So, be sure to avoid snowy areas and rough terrains. 

Sure, the Nissan Kicks provides savings as a low-cost, compact SUV, but the savings could be found in the interior. The dashboard feels like it was manufactured with cheap plastic, but you can upgrade to the leather-wrapped steering wheel for a better feel. 

The Nissan Kicks also only sits on 16” tires. We would like to see something a little larger for better handling and cornering. However, this SUV isn’t made for off-roading, so the 16” tires should be just fine. 

So, What Does The Nissan Kicks ‘Kick’? 

It kicks city butt. This compact SUV has an excellent fuel economy and nimble size that makes it perfect for maneuvering around city streets on a budget. However, if you want something faster and with at least some off-roading capabilities, consider a more powerful compact SUV.