2023 Nissan Kicks Review

Name: 2023 Nissan Kicks
Brand: Nissan

Price Range: $9,900 - $26,995

Nissan Kicks SR 4dr Hatchback Exterior Shown

Average

7.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2023 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.

See all features & specs

Price & Payment

Select year

Average price: $19,601

Min$

Max$

See listings

Appraise My 2023 Nissan Kicks

Nissan Kicks model years

Nissan Kicks for Sale

Pros

Lots of driver assist tech is standard
Affordably priced
High fuel economy
Easy-to-use controls

Cons

Leisurely acceleration
Uncomfortable seats
Not much rear legroom
No optional all-wheel drive

What's new

No significant changes for 2023
Part of the first Kicks generation introduced for 2018

Overview

Written by automotive expert Alex Nishimoto

12/6/2022

The 2023 Nissan Kicks is an extra-small SUV that's well suited for urban environments but perhaps not the best companion for a mild off-road excursion. The Kicks is one of only a handful of vehicles in its class to not offer all-wheel drive, and its four-cylinder engine will probably leave you wanting more power. Still, the Kicks is Nissan's smallest and most affordable SUV option, and it comes with a solid list of standard features that are attractive if you're on a budget.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

944 listings

Sort by:

2023 Nissan Kicks
SR 4dr Hatchback
$14,488
great price
$2,173 below market
- 89,465 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 31 City / 36 Hwy MPG
- Heritage Honda of Westminster (46 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in Westminster, MD
*Your additional costs are tax, tag, title, registration, and electronic filing fees, and any other applicable state-imposed fees for the state in whi...
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: 3N1CP5DV9PL499652
Stock: MP499652
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-02-2026
2023 Nissan Kicks
SV 4dr Hatchback
$17,801
good price
$825 below market
- 25,430 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, rental vehicle
- 31 City / 36 Hwy MPG
- DARCARS Kia of Frederick (25 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in Frederick, MD
Experience the perfect blend of style, technology, and efficiency with the 2023 Nissan Kicks SV. This compact crossover is designed to elevate your dr...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
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: 3N1CP5CVXPL567569
Stock: P1H0807A
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-04-2026

See all for sale

If you're interested in the Nissan Kicks, you might also consider a Hyundai Venue or Kia Soul — they too have low starting prices and make do without all-wheel drive. But if you can raise your budget a little, the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona are also worth a look. Before you decide, check out our test team's Expert Rating to find out how the Nissan Kicks measures up to its competitors.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

7.4

out of 10

We drove the 2023 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 maintaining a 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 on 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.

2023 Nissan Kicks trim level differences

The 2023 Nissan Kicks is a subcompact SUV available in S, SV and SR trim levels. They all come with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (122 horsepower, 114 lb-ft of torque), a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. Feature highlights include: Compare the 2023 Nissan Kicks trim levels in-depth.

Which Kicks trim does Edmunds recommend?

We suggest you check out the midlevel SV trim. It gets you upgraded brakes, a better infotainment system, and a range of features that make it more enjoyable to live with.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$124/mo

$185/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

Year

Make

Model

See pricing history

Reliability

The 2023 Nissan Kicks has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 24V154000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: PD103, PD1
Number of vehicles affected:: 351
Defect Description:: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
Defect Consequence:: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD104, and PMA34.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Nissan Kicks Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.2

36 reviews

5(64%)

4(11%)

3(11%)

2(8%)

1(6%)

See all 36 reviews of the Nissan Kicks

Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2023 Kicks Features & Specs

Trim:

MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee	$20,590
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	33 MPG
Cost to Drive	$124/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	25.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Kicks models:

Forward Collision Warning: Alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front.
Automatic Emergency Braking: Applies the brakes if you don't respond in time to the forward collision warning system.
Rear Door Alert: Alerts you to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger3 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover15.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

People who viewed this also viewed

Chevrolet Trax
4.5 average Rating out of 6 reviews.
Starting at $21,600

See Chevrolet Trax Inventory

Hyundai Kona
3.8 average Rating out of 5 reviews.
Starting at $25,500

See Hyundai Kona Inventory

Honda HR-V
4.4 average Rating out of 9 reviews.
Starting at $26,500

See Honda HR-V Inventory

2023 Nissan Kicks Review

Price & Payment

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Ashburn, VA

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2023 Nissan Kicks trim level differences

Which Kicks trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Recalls

Warranty

Nissan Kicks Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2023 Kicks Features & Specs

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed