Nissan Kicks will go on sale in the middle of this month to rival Hyundai Creta and upcoming Tata Harrier
Nissan Motor India revealed the Kicks SUV for the domestic market on October 18 before inviting the media to test drive it at the Great Rann of Kutch and we came out mightily impressed. The Japanese manufacturer is planning to introduce the brand new SUV in the middle of this month.
Expected to be priced around Rs. 10-15 lakh (ex-showroom), the premium SUV will compete against the likes of segment-leading Hyundai Creta, Renault Captur and the upcoming Tata Harrier slated for arrival on January 23. Unlike the Kicks sold in international markets, the India-spec model is not based on the V platform.
Instead, it sits on the updated version of the proven M0 architecture and has several specific changes for India with emphasis on interior space. The exterior changes in comparison to the global model are prominent faux air intake finished in black finish, angular V-motion front grille, redesigned central air dam, horizontal silver trim, chrome applique on the tailgate and so on.
Other important exterior features are 17-inch wheels, LED headlamps with DRLs and honeycomb grille mesh pattern adding an appreciable road presence to the SUV. The India-spec Kicks is 89 mm longer, 66 mm taller, 53 mm wider with 63 mm longer wheelbase compared to the global model.
It also has good ground clearance of 210 mm to meet the demands of mild off-roading. Nissan wants to make a big impact in the segment and has included segment-first features like 360-degree around view monitoring system. The Vehicle Dynamic Control is another feature that enhances the overall driving experience of the Kicks.
Interior is equipped with eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, coloured MID, satellite navigation, etc. The 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine connected to a six-speed manual transmission makes 110 PS at 3,850 rpm and 240 Nm at 1,750 rpm.
The 1.5-litre H4K petrol unit generates 106 PS at 5,600 rpm and 142 Nm of peak torque delivered at 4,000 rpm, and is linked to only a five-speed gearbox. Both the tried and tested engines are carried forward from Terrano.