Kelley Blue Book: The 2024 Nissan Kicks is nimble, fuel efficient and easy on the wallet

Nissan
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chose to carry over the Kicks unchanged for 2024. Despite this being the seventh year in the current Kicks’ lifecycle, it still looks fresh and inviting. In the Kicks, Nissan created an urban warrior of the first order that is easy to park and performs well in stop-and-go traffic. Boasting the best fuel economy in its segment, the Kicks also campaigns effectively on road trips. Easy on the eyes and wallet, the 2024 Nissan Kicks shines as an entry-level crossover. Alternatives include subcompact SUV competitors like the Chevy Trax and Hyundai Venue.

The Kicks is unchanged, most likely because it will redesign it for 2025. The Kicks first arrived on the scene in 2018; consequently, it’s due for a full makeover.

2024 Nissan Kicks pricing

The 2024 Nissan Kicks starts at $20,790. This is for the entry-level S grade, making the Kicks one of the better bargains in the segment. Only a few models, like the Hyundai Venue and Chevy Trax, beat it. Nissan keeps things relatively simple for Kicks buyers. For instance, there are only three trim levels. Moreover, only the top-end SR grade ($23,350) offers factory-installed option packages. You don’t even need to dither over all-wheel drive because the Kicks doesn’t offer it; it is front-wheel drive only. Nissan doesn’t offer a smaller SUV; however, if you need a little more room and power, we suggest the Nissan Rogue, which costs roughly $9,000 more.

These are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices and don’t include the $1,365 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).

Before buying the Nissan Kicks, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Within its segment, the Nissan Kicks has an average track record for retaining its value to date. It does outperform the Mazda CX-30 and Jeep Renegade.

Check out: The 2023 Mazda CX-30 vs. the Hyundai Venue, 2 subcompact SUVs under $25K: Which is better?

Power, ride, and handling

Nissan achieves its respectable estimated fuel economy numbers with the Kicks by mating a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission. It’s engineered to conserve fuel rather than enhance acceleration. On the one hand, this duo delivers solid mileage. On the other hand, acceleration is, shall we say, leisurely. Around town, you won’t notice it as you zip by gas station after gas station. The Kicks is well-suited to the cadence of crowded city streets. Where you might notice its less-than-enthusiastic performance is heading uphill with a cabin full of people and a cargo area packed with luggage.

The Kicks provides a relatively pliant ride for a tiny crossover, and the steering is responsive. We live in an age of small crossovers managing mpg with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). For example, the Kia
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Seltos, Honda
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HR-V, and Toyota
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Corolla Cross have one. Some of our owner reviews note a droning that can carry into the cabin.

Related: The 2024 Honda HR-V or the Toyota Corolla Cross: Which is better?

Fuel economy

With government-estimated fuel economy numbers in its segment’s top tier, the Kicks turns in an impressive 33 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. At 31 mpg, the Volkswagen Taos and Hyundai Venue come closest. Towards the bottom of the pile are the 4-wheel-drive Jeep Renegade (26 mpg) and the front-wheel-drive Honda HR-V (28 mpg). You can check out more about fuel economy at the EPA’s fuel economy website.

Roomy for its class

Nissan furnishes the tidy cabin for five. Its interior is larger than key rivals like the Hyundai Venue and Toyota Corolla Cross. However, we think three adults across the 60/40-split folding backseat is tight for jaunts longer than getting to the office lunch spot. Up front, two can sit comfortably, enjoying the view and elbow room. Some may find the cloth-covered front seats a bit too firm for longer trips, as a few of our owner reviews have noted. We applaud Nissan’s efforts to hold down the cost of the base Kicks S; however, we missed a center console with side-by-side cup holders and a padded armrest. Nissan does supply the driver’s seat in the S trim with a fold-down right armrest, but it’s rather narrow and is a bone of contention for more than a few owners. Nissan corrects this shortcoming in the two upper trims. Another gripe: The only cupholders in the second-row seat are in the doors.

Rear-seat legroom (33.5 inches) is a bit tight compared to others in the segment. The Honda HR-V provides 37.7 inches, and the Jeep Renegade has 35.1 inches. What it lacks in rear-seat legroom, the Kicks makes up for with better-than-average cargo space (53.1 cubic feet). As a runner of errands, a plus for the Kicks is a cargo area roughly the same as that of the Chevy Trailblazer but significantly larger than the Hyundai Venue.

See: The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs. the Hyundai Kona: Which compact SUV is better?

Enduring exterior styling

Despite its being in the presumed final year of its lifecycle, this generation of Kicks holds up well for its curb appeal. The exterior styling is sharp and eye-catching.

Our favorite features and tech

Full bundle of safety tech
Even in the base S, the Kicks comes with forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection. Also included are rear-park assist with automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning.

Surround-view camera
Rare for a subcompact crossover, the Kicks uses a series of cameras located around the vehicle to create a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle and its immediate surrounding area. This feature is on the top-end SR trim.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Standard in every Kicks, smartphone integration of Apple
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CarPlay and Android Auto allows you to access your music, contacts, and navigation through the vehicle’s infotainment system.

Bose audio
Available in the top-end SR grade, this 8-speaker Bose system delivers clear, crisp sound.

Advanced Driver Assist Display
Using a 7-inch LCD screen, this feature displays important driver information, such as mpg, text messages, trip-computer info, and more. It’s standard in the upper two trims.

Auto brake hold
It’s not hard to keep your foot on the brake while waiting at a long stoplight. But it’s easier not to.

Also see: 10 new cars worth waiting for

Engine and transmission

The 122-horsepower 4-cylinder probably isn’t going to take any trophies at the Main Street Saturday night drag events. It would be a tad more fun to drive with a traditional 5- or 6-speed automatic transmission; however, its continuously variable automatic transmission is built for fuel economy rather than breathtaking acceleration. The Kicks will hit 60 mph in about 9.0 seconds, which is very close to the Honda HR-V’s and Chevy Trailblazer’s times.

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3-year/36,000-mile warranty

Nissan’s warranty protection for the 2024 Kicks is typical for mainstream manufacturers, with a limited bumper-to-bumper warranty covering three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. At five years or 60,000 miles, the powertrain warranty is pretty much the standard, as well.

Safety ratings

In government crash and safety testing, the 2024 Nissan Kicks received a National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration overall score of 4 Stars out of 5 Stars. It performed better in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing with its top score of “Good” in six out of six tests.

KBB’s car review methodology.

This story originally ran on KBB.com.