2021 Nissan Kicks

The handful of minor updates made for 2021 do go some way toward addressing livability in the Kicks, but the enhanced exterior styling and wider availability of color combinations will likely drive the most interest. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are nice to have, of course, but the added tech and upgraded materials for 2021 simply aren't enough to make the Kicks a top pick in the segment. The new rear disc brakes on the SV and SR trims are worth noting, though — the current Kicks turned in a subpar performance in our braking test with its rear drum brakes (which remain standard on the base S trim), so we look forward to testing the new setup to see if it makes a difference.

As you might expect of an engine with such modest power figures, the four-cylinder doesn't move the Kicks with any sort of authority. In Edmunds' testing of a prior-year Kicks, we recorded a 0-60 mph sprint of 10.2 seconds. That's well off the pace of rivals that offer more powerful engines, such as the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30. 

While the powertrain manages to feel punchy right off the line and in low-speed driving around town, it doesn't have much more to give at higher speeds. You'll be hard-pressed to discern a difference between half throttle and full throttle when merging on the freeway. In both scenarios, the engine is more raucous than it is productive.

Overall, the Kicks is pleasant enough to drive if you don't demand authoritative acceleration. Handling and steering are average for the class, and the CVT is unobtrusive, albeit sometimes a bit slow to respond. We can't yet say how the new rear disc brakes on the SV and SR impact braking performance, but the pre-refresh model needed a truck-like 140 feet to stop from 60 mph in Edmunds' instrumented testing. The brake pedal did feel better in a 2021 Kicks that we drove with the rear disc brakes, so hopefully we'll find a commensurate improvement in stopping distance when we test one at our track.

The seat itself hasn't earned high marks from us in the past, and our complaints still stand: Neither the shape nor the padding is conducive to long-haul comfort. Between the short cushion, awkwardly contoured back and lack of adjustability, there's little to be done if the seat isn't just right for your body to begin with.

On the plus side, the interior is relatively quiet, even on the freeway. Traffic noise comes in through the thin glass, but beyond that you won't be overly troubled by wind or road noise. The ride is also relatively compliant, feeling stable on the freeway and sucking up the worst of imperfect road surfaces. Really, with better seats the Kicks would be a perfectly competent (if small) vehicle for road trips.

Most of the Kicks' controls and inputs are user-friendly. Buttons are easy to find, and the touchscreen interface is entirely straightforward. And even with its small footprint, the Kicks provides sufficient room for four passengers. The tall roof makes for enough rear headroom for adults, and while legroom isn't what we'd call generous, there's enough of it for full-grown humans.

Getting in and out is always easy thanks to short doors and square openings. This SUV is made for crowded parking lots.

It's just a shame the rearview camera hasn't been upgraded along with the screen. It's serviceable, but the extra real estate highlights how low-resolution the camera is.

On the safety front, adaptive cruise control (which maintains a set distance between the Kicks and the vehicle ahead) is now available for the SV and SR trims. It's not a particularly advanced system, but it gets the job done. It's also more eager to accelerate when gaps open up than some other systems, which can have reaction times like tortoises on Ambien.

Finally, the SR's Premium package now outfits the Kicks with a Wi-Fi hotspot, which enables over-the-air updates for the infotainment system.

The rear seats don't fold flat, and if you're going to fold them down you'll have to pull the rear headrests to get a full range of motion from the front seats. You can cram a decent amount into the space, and while it's not as flexible as the Honda, it's better than average for the class.

Interior storage is a mixed bag as well. There's a handy cellphone tray, and the cupholders are reasonably sized, but the door pockets are tight and the armrest box tiny. You can at least empty your pockets with ease, but not much more.

This is the upside to the Kicks' slow acceleration, and for some shoppers, savings at the pump will be an acceptable trade-off. Once again, the Kicks proves a solid value if nothing else.