Nissan Kicks Sounds Strange on the Motorway, Says Consumer Reports

Well, it's brand new in North America, but has been offered for many years in Brazil... since the 2016 Olympics, if we remember correctly. Not only does the Kicks have to worry about its better-built ancestor, but also more rivals than ever.

Even though it's full of criticism, the Consumer Reports review of the Nissan Kicks suggests it's good enough for the segment. Let's talk about the engine first. While many competitors offer big units or ones with turbochargers, Nissan only has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 125 horsepower and 115 lb-ft of torque. Even though the specs sound sufficient, the Note has taught us not to get our hopes up.

Also, the Kicks uses a CVT. Consumer Reports believes the combo is excellent around town, where this model will spend most of its time. But while it's quiet at low speed, the same cannot be said on the motorway, where the 1.6L is described as sounding strange under load.

With a base price of $18,000, you can't expect much in the interior department either. Hard plastics dominate the experience, but it's only less fussy than the Juke. Some models do get Android Auto and Apple Carplay, but the publication didn't like that safety systems like auto emergency braking weren't offered on the base car.

Practicality is good for this size of car, but the front seats can feel hard on longer trips. Also, the rear bench doesn't fold flat. Great outward visibility makes it easy to park. So in short, this is far from perfect but ticks all the boxes for first timers looking for a cheap lease. Still, it's never going to beat the Jeep Renegade or Honda HR-V.