The 2023 Nissan Kicks is a subcompact SUV with a stylish design, a comfortable ride, good fuel economy, and an affordable price. However, despite its many positive attributes, the Kicks has not been able to achieve high levels of owner satisfaction.

Let’s explore what owner satisfaction is and why the 2023 Kick seems to be lacking in this department.

This is how owner satisfaction is judged

It’s hard to determine just how satisfied someone is with a product. It’s even harder when you’re asking thousands to come to a consensus on their feelings. One person may be in love with a vehicle, while another is counting down the days until they can get rid of it for something new. Consumer Reports has this down to a science, however.

Consumers are asked a range of pre-determined questions, which helps cut out some of the fluff. Once enough respondents have taken the survey, Consumer Reports then goes over the data and releases it to the public.

In the case of vehicles, some of the questions revolve around comfort, driving experience, infotainment, and cost of ownership. Owners are often brutally honest, and many a vehicle has been torched in these reviews. While the results could be much worse, the 2023 Nissan Kicks isn’t holding up to scrutiny well.

Many owners wouldn’t recommend the Nissan Kicks

Despite a starting MSRP of $20,290, the 2023 Nissan Kicks failed to win over consumers. Only about half of the respondents in the survey stated they would get the Kicks again.

The Kicks is not one of Nissan’s most popular vehicles, but it does offer a lot for the price. There were several new additions for the 2023 model year, such as the Nissan Safety Shield. This includes some much-requested safety tech such as blind spot warning, rear automatic braking, high beam assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.

All-wheel drive isn’t included, which many consumers have been begging for. It’s easy to assume this has to do with the cost, but other similar SUVs at this segment offer it. 

Another problem plaguing the 2023 Kicks is the lack of a powerful engine. It gets a four-cylinder engine with 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. 

In spite of its affordability, many critics are recommending consumers wait for the 2024 Nissan Kicks because there will be some more significant upgrades. 

The Nissan Kicks wasn’t the only vehicle consumers don’t love

There are actually seven vehicles to make Consumer Reports’ list of the least satisfying vehicles which have a lower rating than the Kicks. The most surprising part is that many of them are from luxury automakers.  

Volkswagen has two vehicles to feel the brunt of consumer dissatisfaction, with the Taos and the Atlas Cross Sport not faring so well.

Mercedes-Benz also has two vehicles on this list. The first is the GLA, which less of half of owners would recommend. The GLB fared even worse.

The Infiniti QX50 was seen on the list. Rounding out the survey was the Kia Seltos and Jeep Compass. 

This list is not finite, and some consumers actually really like the Kicks and other vehicles, which failed to impress others.

Given their poor scores, however, it’s clear that you should really do your research before committing to purchasing a new vehicle that many other consumers wouldn’t choose it again if they could do it over.