The Nissan Kicks was introduced in 2018 as an all-new subcompact SUV to give the automaker another option in the growing class. Nissan gave the Kicks a refresh for the 2021 model year, making the already-competitive subcompact SUV even more noteworthy. With the Kicks coming off a recent refresh and entering its fifth model year on sale, we expect the 2022 Nissan Kicks to be a carryover model.
When Nissan updated the Kicks for 2021, the subcompact SUV arrived with new exterior styling. While the current Kicks has a tiny footprint, the SUV wears a massive grille, rugged body cladding, and raised fenders. The available two-tone exterior paint scheme gives the Kicks a unique, upscale design. We expect the 2022 Nissan Kicks to share the same overall design as the current model.
On the inside, the current Kicks wears a youthful design that has straightforward controls. The dashboard has a tiered design with the touchscreen being sandwiched in between air vents and HVAC controls. Both the HVAC and infotainment systems have physical buttons and dials for ease of use, while the D-shaped steering wheel is a sporty touch. As a carryover model, the 2022 Kicks should have the same interior design.
When it comes to tech features, the 2022 Kicks should have the same equipment as the current Kicks. Currently, the Kicks comes with a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, three USB ports, and a six-speaker audio system as standard. Optional features include an 8-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi hot spot, NissanConnect services, satellite radio, and eight audio speakers.
The current Kicks is only available with one powertrain. The engine in the subcompact SUV is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 122 horsepower. A continuously variable automatic transmission is standard, as is front-wheel drive. This engine is expected to carry over unchanged for the 2022 Nissan Kicks.
Standard safety features on the current Kicks include blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, pedestrian detection, rear cross traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, and automatic high-beam assist. A surround-view parking camera, adaptive cruise control, driver attention monitoring, and rear door alert are optional. In the IIHS’ testing, the Kicks earned a rating of “Good” in all six crash tests. The NHTSA gave the subcompact SUV a four-star overall safety rating. These safety features and ratings should remain the same for the 2022 model year.
