Nissan presented two new products for the US market at once: an updated frame SUV Armada and a budget crossover Kicks. The latter has changed externally in the same way as the global version of the model, and also acquired new equipment.
The novelty received a more aggressive design: the rear bumper was replaced with a new one, the rear lights are now connected by a jumper stretching across the entire tailgate, the radiator grill was made larger, and large side air intakes appeared on the front bumper. Three new shades have been added to the exterior color palette: Electric Blue Metallic blue, Scarlet Ember Tintcoat red and Boulder Gray Pearl gray, each of which can be combined with a black roof.
There are also enough changes in the cabin: more comfortable seats are installed, an improved multimedia system (in basic configurations with a seven-inch screen, in top-end ones with an eight-inch screen) with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a USB-C connector has appeared. The redesign has also affected the center console and armrest between the front seats.
In the US, the model will be offered with a 1.6-liter petrol engine producing 163 horsepower and 154 Nm of torque in combination with a variator and front-wheel drive. Meanwhile, in other markets, the Kicks is also available with the e-Power hybrid powertrain, which consists of an electric motor that drives the front wheels and a 1.2 aspirated three-cylinder that recharges the battery. However, the Americans are not entitled to an electrified version.
The production of Nissan Kicks for the American market is established at a plant in Mexico. It is expected that the updated crossover will appear at local dealers in February 2021, but for now a pre-reform version is available in the country, which costs from $ 19,070.
