Levelling-Up: Introducing The All-New 2025 Nissan KICKS

Brendan McAleer March 22, 2024

Unveiled just outside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the all-new 2025 Nissan KICKS is a solid step forward for Nissan’s nimblest crossover. The thousands of sports fans streaming into the arena to watch the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament got the first look at the totally redesigned model, with more onboard technology and more capability than ever before. Though the big reveal took place south of the border, the all-new KICKS is packed with features and functions that are well suited to the Canadian market.

Delivering a solid balance of comfort, technology, and versatility, Nissan’s latest compact crossover sets its sights on the urbanite that’s looking for something capable and compact, yet still ready for adventure outside those tight Canadian city streets (and parking spots). Under the hood there’s now more power, with a standard 2.0L engine producing 141 hp, a 15% bump over the outgoing model. More grip too, as Nissan’s all-wheel-drive system is now an available option, including a drive mode selection system with a snow setting. The addition of the latter is a welcome one, providing both the added safety for coping with the ever-changing Canadian climate, as well as opening doors to more exploration off the beaten path, should new owners want to get out of town and explore more remote corners of their respective provinces.

There’s also more space, with the all-new KICKS bigger in length, width, and height. In fact, it now has a longer wheelbase than its larger cousin, the Qashqai, and is also taller for a more roomy cabin. A longer wheelbase makes for a smoother ride, and you can expect Nissan’s excellent seats to make the all-new KICKS a relaxing unwind when traffic gets bad. Heated front seats are standard, which yet again ticks the right boxes those of us in colder, snowier regions. After all, no one likes dropping into a frozen seat after spending time brushing and scraping the last blizzard off their new ride.

The previous Nissan KICKS was zippier than expected, and the added power should dial up the fun. However, the most impressive element of this new model is just how much technology Nissan has managed to cram into it. Top-notch features uplift the baseline model: Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and Nissan is early to the game here in identifying smartphone connectivity as a must-have feature. Stream your favourite mix through the optional 10-speaker Bose stereo, which now comes with speakers mounted in both driver and passenger headrests.

A standard 12.3” touchscreen handles interface duties, and there are up to four USB ports in the top trim so every passenger can refresh their batteries. An optional 360 degree camera makes squeezing into even the tightest of parking spaces a breeze. Learning from current demands of the marketplace, compact does not mean low on convenience, nor does it mean compromising on overall quality.

On the move, the all-new KICKS now has Nissan’s advanced driver assist system (dubbed ProPilot) as an option, and comes standard with a full suite of safety aids. The latter extends to automatic emergency braking front and rear, side traffic and blind spot alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. ProPilot goes even further with intelligent cruise control that’s linked to the navigation system to slow down for tight curves, and capable of coming to a complete halt and starting off again in stop and go traffic.

Perhaps best of all, the all-new KICKS has something missing in so many modern cars: a personality. With a two-tone palette of actual colours ranging from icy blue to scarlet red and a waspy yellow, the all-new KICKS is intended to be the opposite of an appliance on wheels. It’s designed to be comfortable and everyday livable, as versatile as the sleek windbreaker you zip up before heading out the door. But in the same way streetwear these days rivals high fashion, the idea is that you can match your KICKS to your style — individuality without the badge snobbery.

Kick greyscale commuter traffic to the curb. The all-new KICKS looks like a fun and fresh way to elevate the entry level segment of the market. It fills a gap that’s been a bit underserved by other brands lately, and we can’t wait to get behind the wheel and see how it fares from urban weekday to adventure-packed weekend. Cross-Canada road trip, anyone?

Learn more about the all-new Nissan KICKS here.