Bravo too that Nissan includes extenders on the sun visors, often needed but rarely found in newer cars. The steering wheel also is heated and is a flat-bottom number allowing for easier in and out access as there’s more knee room below the wheel than with a standard wheel. This driver’s instrument panel has an old-school analog speedometer, but digital info screen to the left of that giving mpg and other important info. The touchscreen is easily read and used and includes both volume and tuning knobs, a bonus. Inside, the fake leather seats are well-shaped and two-tone gray with orange stitching on the dash and steering wheel to add a bit of pizazz. ![]() The EPA rates Kicks at 31 mpg city and 36 highway. ![]() I got 31.7 mpg in about 60% city and town driving. Gas mileage, and this is a gas-powered car, is quite good too. There’s some jiggle, but the ride never becomes severe or bothersome. Plus, the suspension is pretty compliant for a short-wheelbase vehicle. The handling is light and responsive, not sporty, but sort of fun on winding roads. Road noise is noticeable at highway speeds, but certainly not an issue in city driving. Of course, the engine works a little harder than those offering 140+ horses, and you’ll hear it. ![]() So, the acceleration is good for in-town stoplight getaways. Finally, for more power there’s Mazda’s awesome CX-30.Īs for the Kicks, it touts just 122 horsepower from its 1.6-liter I4, but the automatic CVT (continuously variable transmission) is programed to give it a fair amount of oomph from a standstill. One also could check out the Honda HR-V that I tested a couple months back, or the Hyundai Kona, Kia’s Niro, Soul, or Seltos. Moving up a bit in price and power is Toyota’s equally cute C-HR, or less cute Corolla Cross, which does offer AWD. If you want to consider others look first at the Hyundai Venue that also doesn’t offer AWD but is in the same size and power category as the Kicks and also looks like a crossover. Even with add-ons the tester hit just $27,915, one of the lowest priced test cars I’ve had in the past couple years. And excluding things like a power hatch and AWD helps keep Kicks among the lowest cost vehicles you can buy new. No power hatch back there, but there is a wiper which a Wisconsin necessity. Less necessary yet is a $575 interior electronics package with 20 choices of ambient colors that can be dialed in to impress your friends or significant other with a door pocket light and frameless rearview mirror with universal remote.Ī visual upgrade, the $495 17-inch black alloy wheel option is something most of us would welcome, along with the $225 carpeted floor mats and cargo mat. If you intend to pile stuff on the roof this is a smart choice. Less necessary options included a $435 exterior package with crossbars for the standard black roof rails, plus finished exhaust tips. The test car added a snazzy two-tone gray and black paint scheme to increase curb appeal, and that’s only a $650 option and includes a small black spoiler over the rear window. Hold on buster, a Premium Package that adds just $1,390 to the price tag includes all of that, starting with a Bose 8-speaker audio system, plus NissanConnect Services via Sirius XM and a security system. ![]() And a heated steering wheel and WiFi hot spot would be primo too, and cloth seats are for poor folk, I need at least a good-looking leather imitation.” Now you may be saying, “That’s all well and good, but I need a fancy sound system and heated seats, minimum. and crank the tunes or use your own navigation system. Heck, there’s intelligent or smart cruise control just like all the fancy cars and trucks now have, plus a very readable 7-inch touchscreen, 4 USB ports, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote start, push-button start, rear seat heat ducts, and I know you younger readers will like this, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. What else will you find on this high-end low-balling Kicks SR? That’s a deal that should have you doing the happy dance right up to your credit union’s loan officer. How’s $21,585 strike you for the base S model? Need a bit more features? Then move up to the SV model at $23,445, or this top-end SR for $24,145. OK, so what are we calling entry-level these days? Even that last item is optional on many vehicles costing much more. Standard is a bevy of safety equipment including (hold on now) blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, rear sonar, high-beam assist, rear automatic braking, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian sensing and an AroundView (360-degree) camera.
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