FAST FACTS
2025 Nissan Kicks
Rank
- #10 in Subcompact SUVs
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Cool styling inside and out that doesn't look cheap
- All trims except the base S get an eye-catching 12.3-inch touchscreen
- Impressive cargo capacity for such a small SUV
Cons
- Slow acceleration
- Significant road noise at speed
- Larger wheels look good but compromise ride quality
- AWD version weighs substantially more and has notably less cargo space
What's New for 2025?
The Kicks is fully redesigned this year, boasting expressive new styling, a stronger 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, available AWD and a revamped cabin with widescreen infotainment (except on the base S trim). A weight gain of about 300 pounds largely offsets the engine upgrade, however.
2025 Nissan Kicks Review

by Josh Sadlier
published Dec 3, 2024 | updated Apr 3, 2025

Is the 2025 Nissan Kicks a Good SUV?
"The Kicks certainly looks like a whole new SUV after its 2025 redesign, and we can confirm that it's not just a reskin. The Kicks is slightly larger now and newly available with AWD, while its interior has been overhauled to compete with the latest little SUVs. The highlight is arguably the new widescreen infotainment module that spans from the instrument panel to halfway across the dash. Less impressive is the new 2.0-liter engine, which makes a bit more power than its 1.6-liter predecessor but has about 300 more pounds of Kicks to contend with."—Ranked #10 out of 18 Subcompact SUVs
Which 2025 Nissan Kicks Should I Buy?
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Nissan Kicks that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
1. 2025 Nissan Kicks 2.0 Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Price: $21,830
- MPG Combined: 31
- Drive Type: Front-wheel drive
- Engine: 2.0-liter inline-4
- Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
- Transmission: CVT
- Horsepower: 141
- Torque: 140 lb-ft
- Weight: 2,987 lbs
- Length: 171.9 in
- Towing Capacity: N/A
The redesigned 2025 Kicks gets a little more juice under the hood — 18 more horsepower, to be exact, plus 26 more pound-feet of torque — but that's not a gamechanger, especially since the new model also gains a few hundred pounds. The primary talking point here is the 2025 Kicks' radically different styling inside and out, including an eye-catching front fascia and a new widescreen infotainment system that makes the previous Kicks' cabin look like something from the last century.
2. 2025 Nissan Kicks 2.0 All-Wheel Drive
- Base Price: $23,330
- MPG Combined: 30
- Drive Type: All-wheel drive
- Engine: 2.0-liter inline-4
- Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
- Transmission: CVT
- Horsepower: 141
- Torque: 140 lb-ft
- 0-60: 9.0 sec
- Weight: 3,174 lbs
- Length: 171.9 in
- Towing Capacity: N/A
We would definitely hem and haw over the Kicks AWD before pulling the trigger. You lose a significant amount of cargo space, for one thing, dropping from 30 cubic feet in the trunk and 60 with the rear seats folded to 23.9 and 50.1, respectively. That's a big deal. Fuel economy only falls by a single mpg, but the Kicks AWD predictably weighs a couple hundred pounds more, so its acceleration will be further compromised. It makes sense that Nissan wanted to offer AWD in the 2025 Kicks after the previous generation lacked it, but this particular application of AWD feels like a band-aid. A consolation prize is the AWD model's more sophisticated independent rear suspension, which replaces the front-drive model's semi-independent torsion-beam setup, but that's more of an academic advantage than anything you're likely to feel if you drive the two back-to-back.
2025 Nissan Kicks Pricing & Specs
What are the different versions of the 2025 Kicks, and how much do they cost? Select a version below or just hit the button to see our full 2025 Kicks specs and model data.
2025 Nissan Kicks Pricing & Specs by Version
Scroll for more ➔
Version | Price | Fuel | MPG | Power | Torque |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 Nissan Kicks 2.0 Front-Wheel Drive | $21,830 | Gas | 31 | 141 hp | 140 lb-ft |
2025 Nissan Kicks 2.0 All-Wheel Drive | $23,330 | Gas | 30 | 141 hp | 140 lb-ft |

by Josh Sadlier
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008. Prior to founding MotorDonkey, he spent 15 years shaping Edmunds' expert automotive content in various capacities, starting as an associate editor and ultimately serving as a senior editor before wrapping up with a five-year term as the company's first-ever director of content strategy. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has driven, compared and critiqued thousands of cars in his career. Helping people find their perfect car never gets old—seriously!
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