Nissan debuted an all-new compact crossover at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show – the 2018 Nissan Kicks. Its designed as a fun, visually appealing city run-about with good fuel economy, room for five people and their stuff, the most desired in-dash technology, and a price that starts “well under $19,000.”

Dan Mohnke, Nissan’s senior vice president of sales, marketing, and operations, says, “As the gateway to Nissan's adventure-ready sport-utility portfolio – joining Rogue Sport, Rogue, Murano, Pathfinder, and Armada – Kicks is designed to fit the needs of singles or couples looking for expressive styling, personal technology, smart functionality and advanced safety features at an affordable price.”

Notice Mohnke didn’t mention the Nissan Juke. That’s because the Kicks will replace the Juke when it arrives in showrooms later this year – at least that’s the unofficial plan of action. The Kicks will compete with big players like the Jeep Renegade, Toyota C-HR, Honda HR-V, Kia Soul, and new 2018 Hyundai Kona.

Continue reading for more on the 2018 Nissan Kicks.

Less frog-like, but more conventional

The 2018 Nissan Kicks looks nothing like the Juke, that frog-faced crossover with big, round headlights and oddly shaped fenders. Rather, Nissan designers took a more conventional approach. That’s not to say the Kicks or boring, though. It has all the popular design styling found on the competition. Cues include the blacked-out, floating roof, sharp creases in the doors surrounded by bulgy, round fenders, and over exaggerated LED lighting.

Inside, the Kicks has an almost no-nonsense dash design. It doesn’t skimp on technology, though. There’s a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a large driver information screen in the gauge cluster, push-button starting, steering wheel controls, and plenty of USB ports. Nissan’s Around View Monitor system offers a 360-degree view of the outside and an interesting Bose audio system with a pair of small “Ultranearfield” speakers in the driver’s headrest. The range-topping Kicks SR trim is where the tech gadgets are added. The S and SV represent the bottom and mid-range trims.

Power comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, and Nissan clearly intends the Kicks to be a fuel-sipper with only 125 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque. Nissan’s Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System is present on the dual overhead cams that control the four valves in each cylinder. A continuously variable transmission is the only gearbox choice, sadly, as is front-wheel drive. Yep, no AWD option here. Fuel economy is expected to be 33 mpg on the highway.

Official pricing hasn’t been announced, but Mohnke’s comment about the MSRP starting “well under $19,000” might mean anything from $17,000 to $18,500. Nissan will release pricing a bit closer to the Kicks’ arrival in showrooms in the spring of 2018.

References

Nissan Kicks

Read our full review on the 2017 Nissan Kicks.

Read more 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show news.