The refreshed 2021 Kicks is stylish and offers some of the best features and tech for the money in the extra-small SUV class. It's fuel-efficient, easy to park and even kind of fun to drive on a curvy road. But it falls short of its competition when it comes to comfort and measurable performance.
Looking to buy a small and inexpensive crossover SUV? The 2021 Nissan Kicks might be worth checking out. This is Nissan's smallest SUV and takes its place alongside its bigger and pricier siblings, the Rogue Sport and Rogue. Like many extra-small SUVs, the Kicks is a lot like a budget hatchback (think Volkswagen Golf) but with a slightly taller stance. It doesn't offer traction-enhancing all-wheel drive or the outdoorsy vibe you might otherwise expect from a traditional SUV, but you still get a higher ride height and extra cargo capacity compared to a sedan.
2021 Nissan Kicks S CARFAX One-Owner. Clean CARFAX. Odometer is 10599 miles below market average!Most of our vehicles also pre-qualify for up to a 1...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
33 Combined MPG (31 City/36 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3N1CP5BV8ML546264 Stock: ML546264 Certified Pre-Owned: No Listed since: 08-14-2025
The Kicks gets a few updates for 2021. Nissan has updated the exterior styling, improved some interior materials, and added standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. You definitely get a lot of features for your money with the Kicks, but there are some drawbacks to the way it drives. Check our Expert Rating below to get our full report and help you decide whether you should get a Kicks or go with an alternative such as the Hyundai Kona, Kia Soul or Mazda CX-30.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Average
7.4
out of 10
We drove the 2021 Nissan Kicks on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
7/10
How does the Kicks drive? Performance isn't the Kicks' forte. Acceleration is leisurely — we measured a 0-60 mph time of 10.7 seconds, which is among the slowest you'll find in this class. The brakes are easy to control so you can stop smoothly, but the pedal action feels a bit squishy and unnatural. In our tests for emergency braking, the Kicks performed adequately.
The Kicks, though, has a couple of things going for it. The suspension is responsive and keeps the vehicle composed, so it's kind of fun to drive on a twisty road. We also like the transmission's smooth and responsive gear ratio adjustments in routine driving. It avoids the annoyances commonly associated with continuously variable transmissions.
Comfort
6.5/10
How comfortable is the Kicks? It's not unusual for an inexpensive subcompact vehicle to compromise a bit on comfort, but you will want to kick these poor seats — especially the rear bench — to the curb. Depending on your seating position, you'll likely notice the front seats' lack of upper-back support. The rear seatbacks are too upright, and the bench is flat and hard. These are among the least comfortable seats we've encountered.
The Kicks can be a little noisy too. Wind noise isn't too bad and only becomes more noticeable at highway speeds. But the Kicks is susceptible to lots of road noise. About the only good thing in this category is the Kicks' compliant ride quality — it smooths out a lot of bumps in the road without being overly floaty.
Interior
7.5/10
How’s the interior? The Kicks' cabin is easy to climb in and out of and become familiar with. The climate control and touchscreen menus are simple and user-friendly. It's easy to see out of the front and the sides thanks to large windows and a low hoodline. The thick rear roof pillars compromise rear visibility somewhat, but it isn't terrible.
On the downside, taller drivers or drivers with big feet might have issues with the driving position. The accelerator pedal is crowded up against the side of the footwell, and the low, upright seating position can be uncomfortable. We've also found the Kicks' rear seating to be cramped compared to the back seats in other extra-small SUVs.
Technology
8/10
How’s the tech? The Kicks has nearly everything a modern smartphone-using driver needs. A quartet of USB ports is standard, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. A 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen is also standard depending on the trim level. But we've found the touchscreen prone to glare, which makes it difficult to see in direct sunlight.
The Kicks comes standard with a pleasing number of advanced driving aids. They generally work well, but the traffic-adaptive cruise control is a bit overly cautious in the distance between the Kicks and the vehicle ahead. The optional surround-view parking camera system is a rare feature at this price point, and it's a big help for parking in tight spots. Overall, there's a lot of cool tech for such an inexpensive car.
Storage
7.5/10
How’s the storage? The Kicks offers more cargo space (25.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats) than a lot of subcompact SUVs. But cargo-carrying versatility is a little lacking. The rear seats don't fold down completely flat, and there's no center pass-through that would otherwise allow you to load longer items without folding down the seats. Small storage areas for your personal items are decent. There's a nicely sized pocket in front of the gear shifter and a configurable cupholder area that can be turned into a medium-size storage cubby if you need it. The center console storage and door pockets are shallow.
Got small children and need to install child safety seats? The Kicks has three top tether anchors and four lower seat anchors that are clearly marked and accessible. However, fitting rear-facing seats will be tight because of the Kicks' lack of rear legroom.
Fuel Economy
8.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The Kicks' fuel economy varies wildly based on driving style, but it doesn't take much to keep the average above 30 mpg. We recorded a high of 37.4 mpg from one fill-up with our test car and averaged 33.4 mpg during our test. The EPA says to expect 33 mpg combined (31 city/36 highway). Overall this is a pretty frugal extra-small SUV.
Value
8/10
Is the Kicks a good value? Value is the name of the game for this segment, and the Kicks is ahead of the class thanks to its low entry price and relatively inexpensive upgrades to higher, fully loaded trims. We don't like the acres of plastic used on the door panels and dash area, but there are enough premium materials in other areas of the cabin to create a more pleasant experience.
Warranty coverage is pretty standard for the segment at three years/36,000 miles for the basic warranty and five years/60,000 miles for the powertrain. Roadside assistance is offered for three years/36,000 miles.
Wildcard
7.5/10
There's no shortage of subcompact SUVs in the market so a vehicle needs to make an impression to stand out. The Kicks makes a case for itself with a stylish exterior design and an updated interior that includes a respectably large touchscreen. It feels good to maneuver through a curvy section of road even if you aren't ultimately going very fast. Quicker acceleration and less excessive use of plastic interior surfacing would go a long way in making the Kicks a more desirable option.
2021 Nissan Kicks trim level differences
The 2021 Nissan Kicks is an extra-small crossover SUV that's offered in three trim levels: S, SV and SR. They primarily differ in the number of features you get. Highlights include:
Which Kicks trim does Edmunds recommend?
Pricing for the 2021 Nissan Kicks is relatively affordable throughout the trim lineup. As such, consider going for the top-level SR trim. It comes standard with nearly everything and gets you a few worthwhile extras over the SV trim.
Love my “new Kicks” very very quiet cabin, love all the safety tech, it’s not that slow and if I wanted to go fast I would drive my Acura. This is a great second car to drive around town in and save on gas. The seats are actually very very comfortable (not sure why edmunds seems to think they are not) I would take this car on a long drive and not think twice about it.
This vehicle has more power than you might think at first glance. I have to travel over a mountain every day to get to work, so I was curious to see how the 2021 Kicks would perform. I have not been disappointed at all! What a smooth ride and more than enough power to get me over the mountain and through the woods.
LOVE MY LITTLE KICKS
5 out of 5 stars
Justjet, 01/25/2022
2021 Nissan Kicks SR 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT)
I have had this car for three months now, drive to work every day and have went on a couple of road trips, and its perfect! I don't know why people are saying its slow? Mine takes off just fine and I often look down and catch myself speeding not meaning to, it just rides so good. I traded in my Mazda 6 that I loved so much I cried when I let it go. But the Kicks has really grown on me. … I hope it last as long as my Mazda did and not give me any trouble besides the normal maintenance I expect. I don't find the seats that uncomfortable at all. And I love the safety features that came with my SR, not to mention the color, Boulder Grey Pearl.
New Day! New Kicks!
5 out of 5 stars
mlphouston, 09/26/2021
2021 Nissan Kicks SR 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT)
I have to start by saying that I have been driving VERY expensive cars for quite some time, but I am taking a more minimalist approach to my life. I grew up in a racing car family so have driven and owned amazing cars throughout my 63 years. I just picked up a new Kicks yesterday and have been shockingly surprised at how peppy it feels driving it around town. The technology in the … car for the price point is absolutely amazing. Only thing I felt I settled on was the lack of a sunroof which would go perfectly with my new wheels. I thought now that I was "downsizing", I would feel like I was settling for something so much less than what I am used to driving and it is just not the case. Superb value and fun to drive.
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