Nissan boots up Kicks crossover

NISSAN has revealed the production version of its Kicks compact crossover that it aims to conquer the world's SUV markets with, but despite ultimately eyeing 80 countries, Australia has not yet made it on to the list.

Latin America will be the first market to take on the Kicks, starting with Brazil, before a gradual global roll out, but the little crossover was developed with emerging markets in mind, which typically rules out Australia.

As reported by GoAuto last month, the Japanese car-maker had originally targeted only developing regions with the Kicks, but a warm reception had broadened its scope worldwide. Despite the welcome, Nissan Australia is still not convinced the new model is a good fit.

“As you can imagine, an emerging market car, they don’t start building them in spec levels Australians expect,” said Nissan Australia managing director and CEO Richard Emery in April.

In addition to the mismatch with Australian consumer habits, the Kicks may also struggle to find a comfortable spot in the current line-up with dimensions that would tread on the toes of some of its stable mates.

The Kicks is just 5mm narrower than the Juke and 46mm compared with the Qashqai, it is 160mm longer than the Juke but 82mm shorter than the Qashqai, while height is also a tight squeeze with the Kicks standing 5mm shorter than the Qashqai and 25mm taller than the Juke.

Few technical details have been revealed regarding the new model including any powertrain options with only a few hints at technology to keep punters interested at this stage.

According to Nissan, the Kicks is for “busy city-dwellers to tackle everything the city can throw at it” and features some up-to-the-minute safety gear such as 360-degree view camera and Moving Object Detection.

A flat-bottomed steering wheel adds “sporting flavour”, while practicality is boosted with an elevated driving position for easier entry and exit and an enhanced view of the road. Interior passenger space is “best in class”, according to Nissan.

The car-maker also claims the Kicks will offer class-leading load area space, while its “technology hungry” target audience will be drawn to “innovative features” and a 7.0-inch colour display that accesses smartphone connectivity and other infotainment systems.

While there are some significant styling changes when compared with the Kicks Concept that debuted at the Sao Paulo motor show in 2014, the overall theme of the baby SUV has been retained and features some Nissan calling cards such as the V-motion grille and “boomerang” head and tail-lights.

Its “wrap-around visor” windscreen creates the effect that the roof is floating above the car and is part of the extensive work Nissan aerodynamicists carried out to reduce interior wind noise and drag to boost fuel efficiency.

Initially, the Kicks will be built at Nissan's Mexican factory in Aguascalientes, but full production will ramp up following the completion of the new production facility in Rio de Janeiro.