After a rigorous evaluation of 33 vehicles with new or significantly redesigned interiors, the Kicks stood out for a number of attributes, including having the lowest price-as-tested MSRP of the entire field.
The panel of eight Wards editors also acknowledged Kicks for its available high quality stitching and soft surfaces on the instrument panel “befitting a more expensive vehicle,” as well as its available Intelligent Around View® Monitor, which they found “handy in tight spots and which used to be available only in Infiniti luxury cars.” They also noted the available Bose® Personal Plus Audio System that includes driver’s headrest-mounted speakers.
“The new Kicks is designed to fit the needs of singles or couples looking for expressive styling, personal technology, smart functionality and advanced safety features at an affordable price,” said Scott Shirley, vice president, CMM & Marketing Operations, Nissan North America, Inc. “It’s an honour to be selected by the interior experts at Wards – a big award for the smallest and most affordable vehicle in our extensive Nissan crossover and SUV lineup.”
The interior provides ample passenger space throughout the cabin, with 915 L/32.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down, and an additional 617 L/21.8 cu/ft of cargo space in the trunk well, enabling Kicks to offer a total 1,504 L/53.1 cu/ft of usable cargo space.
Kicks has modern and simple “Gliding Wing” instrument panel design dominated by a centrally mounted 7.0-inch colour display housing a comprehensive infotainment system offering available Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ smartphone connectivity.
For the ultimate audio experience, the Kicks SR includes the class-exclusive2 Bose® Personal® Plus sound system with a pair of lightweight 2.5-inch Bose® UltraNearfield™ neodymium speakers located inside the Kicks driver’s seat headrest. Among the other onboard technology, Kicks SR features Intelligent Around View® Monitor (I-AVM).
Safety, security and driver convenience features are strong points for Nissan Kicks. Intelligent Emergency Braking3 is standard on all grade levels, along with seven airbags and RearView Monitor. Kicks SR add Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST NEW CARS OF 2019
The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute partnered with Car and Driver magazine to test a mix of 50 new vehicles, picking the top-rated models in a range of categories. The Nissan Kicks emerged as the winner in the highly competitive subcompact crossover segment.
Using industry standards and proprietary protocols, the Good Housekeeping/Car and Driver testers rated the vehicles on safety, value, handling, design and technology – all strong areas of the Nissan Kicks design.
Writing about the new Kicks, the editors noted, “This super-affordable model checks all the boxes you want in a first car: great fuel economy, a smooth, comfortable ride and standard safety features, along with some extras you wouldn’t normally expect.”
And, in their “Lab Lowdown” they concluded, “When it comes to the Kicks, it’s all about value. You won’t find a more solid car at this great of a price.”
Would you like to experience what all the fuss is about for yourself? Then click the TEST DRIVE button below to schedule a complete tour and road test of the award-winning 2019 Nissan Kicks.
