Nissan Kicks To Kickstart The Company’s SUV Plans

With the compact SUV segment heating up, it’s no surprise that every manufacturer wants a piece of the pie. As its alliance partner Renault gears up to launch the Captur(e), Nissan too seems to be working on a compact SUV to take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta and the Jeep Compass. The Japanese manufacturer has confirmed the launch of the Nissan Kicks to increase its market share in the Indian four-wheeler market.

The Nissan kicks will most likely be powered by the tried and tested K9K 1.5-litre, turbocharged diesel engine that powers the Renault’s Captur and the Duster. The Kicks, like the Captur, will most likely be available with the higher state of tune - 110PS of power and 240Nm of peak torque. If that’s indeed the case, expect the Kicks to be available with the same 6-speed manual gearbox seen on the Captur at launch. The latest Nissan SUV will sit above the Nissan Terrano and compete against the likes of the Mahindra XUV500, Hyundai Creta and the Jeep Compass.  

The Kicks has been on sale in Latin American markets for close to a year now. It looks nothing like other Nissan models that we’ve seen in our country so far. This SUV gets a sharp and aggressive styling and retains Nissan’s traditional ‘V’ grille that are flanked by wraparound headlamps. A chunky bumper and wraparound taillights dominate the rear. Sharp cuts and slashes, blacked out pillars and a rising windowline make up the side profile of the SUV. The India-spec SUV, however, is expected to feature some minor changes.

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The Kicks’ cabin is expected to sport a 7-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity options. Other premium features that are likely to be offered in the India-spec version are semi-digital instrument cluster, a flat bottom steering wheel and automatic climate control.

The Kicks sold in international markets is based on the V platform that underpins the fifth-generation Micra. This platform doesn’t make for an economical choice for the Indian market, and is also the reason behind Nissan not launching the all-new fifth-gen Micra in our country. To circumvent this, Nissan is likely to base the India-spec Kicks on the M0 platform that underpins the Renault Lodgy. This platform is a derivative of the the heavily-localised B0 platform that underpins the Nissan Terrano and the Renault Captur and Duster SUVs. The Kicks will be produced at the carmaker’s manufacturing plant in Chennai, and is expected to arrive at our shores around Diwali.