PUMPED-UP KICKS

NISSAN ISN'T SHY about experimenting with its subcompact of ferings. In the recent past, it briefly gave us the adorable Cube, seemingly designed by Hello Kitty, followed by the frog-eyed Juke that somehow spawned a six-figure R-badged super-SUV in other markets.

- Mike Sutton

The comparatively normal Kicks introduced for 2018 resonated better with American shoppers. Yet with a meager maximum of 125 horsepower, the Kicks was soon outflanked by a series of newer, more substantial competitors. Novelty is fleeting, and tiny SUVs aren't so tiny anymore, so while extroverted elements glint across the redesigned 2025 Kicks, Nissan's primary focus was bringing more size, power, and content to its smallest SUV.

The new Kicks has distinctive style and is sufficiently attractive, albeit devoid of funky flourishes like the Cube's asymmetric rear-end design. Chunky lines and tasteful brightwork jibe with horizontal grille bars and LED running lights. Nissan says the design of the lower body cladding mimics the soles of athletic shoes, an influence that's hard to see on our Deep Blue Pearl test car. But opt for a brighter hue like Yuzu Yellow Metallic, and the Kicks might get away with a Nike swoosh down its side. Our top SR model's optional 19-inch aluminum wheels up the visual wattage over the standard 17s, though lesser trims come with 16- or 17-inch steel wheels wearing plastic covers. But this is a vehicle that starts at just $23,220, its increase over the outgoing model amounting to a $490 pittance.

More important are the larger proportions: It's 2.8 inches longer, 1.6 inches wider, and nearly an inch taller than before. Ground clearance is now a substantial 8.4 inches, a 1.4-inch increase. The wheelbase grows from 103.1 inches to either 104.6 or 104.9, depending on whether you go with the standard front-wheel-drive layout or spring for the newly available all-wheel drive ($1500 to $1650, depending on the model).

If you're on the fence about spending the extra money, consider that front-drive versions have a torsion-beam rear axle, while all-wheel-drive examples like this one get an independent struttype rear suspension.