Nissan is expected to launch the Kicks SUV in India in the first quarter of the year 2019. Nissan India is now working on the aggressive localization to price the Kicks crossover SUV competitively. This has delayed the launch of this model in India to early 2019.
The Indian specification of the car will depend on the M0-platform in comparison to the V-Platform used in case of the global-spec Kicks. It is a very low-cost platform, making it ideal for the India-spec as the Indian market is quite price sensitive. The M0 platform underpins SUVs like Renault’s Duster, Nissan’s Terrano SUV, and India-spec Captur. The M0 platform is a very successful global platform for the Renault-Nissan alliance.
Nissan Kicks has a blend of a crossover and an SUV. The crossover features blacked-out A and B pillars and beefier wheel arches, while the other features of the car include boomerang styled head tail lights, V-motion grille, and a floating roof. This model is a sturdy, compact crossover SUV measuring about 4295mm in length, 1590mm in height and 1760mm in width, and it has a 2610mm wheelbase. It is going to be a premium model and is slightly larger in size in comparison to the other models like Terrano, Captur, Duster, etc.
Nissan Kicks will sit above Nissan Terrano SUV and will go up against the Mahindra XUV500, Renault Captur and Jeep Compass.
The Indian version of Nissan Kicks will be drawing power from 1.6-litre petrol engine and 110hp, 1.5-litre diesel with K9K unit. The transmission options of the model will be a five-speed manual for the petrol and six-speed manual for the diesel. The petrol-powered Nissan Kicks SUV will come with a CVT gearbox.
In terms of design, Nissan Kicks crossover SUV will have a funky look with bold and expressive styling in line with the latest models of Nissan. It gets a distinct look from the wheel arches, ridged bonnet and the raked rear windscreen. The contrast paint scheme for the floating roof along with the blackened A-, B-, and C- pillars add to the wow factor of the car.
The 5-seater cabin of the crossover SUV has a youthful vibe to it with an adventurous interior colour scheme. The automatic climate control feature, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth technology, Apple CarPlay, the centrally-mounted 7-inch gliding wing dashboard design, dual-tone upholstery, and a flat-bottomed steering are the major highlights inside the 5-seater cabin of the car.
The Nissan India-spec Kicks SUV is expected to have all the right ingredients. If all the pieces fall into place including the price of the car, then this model could be one of the best products from Nissan to kick-start the long overdue rise in its sales charts. The vehicle offers more cargo room, making it ideal for road trips to weekend getaways. Nissan Kicks is a perfect urban utility vehicle for people who are looking for something that has a blend of both a crossover and an SUV.
