Nissan Kicks

Nissan Kicks generations: what actually changed

The first generation (2016-03-01 to 2020-05-31) is one 5-doors SUV version: 1.6 CVT.

The first generation (2016-03-01 to 2020-05-31) is one 5-doors SUV version: 1.6 CVT. It is the lightest Kicks in the file at 1198 kg kerb weight, 1626 kg gross, 179 mm ground clearance, 41 L tank, 125 hp (92 kW) at 5800 rpm and 156 Nm at 4000 rpm from 1598 cm³ Gasoline, Inline 4, No boost, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 9.8, bore × stroke 78 × 83.6, fuel 95, Variable gearbox, FWD. Wheels: 205/60 R16 and 205/55 R17. Front suspension Independent, spring; rear Semi-independent, spring. Front brakes Ventilated disc; rear Drum. City / highway / mixed: 7.6 / 6.5 / 7.1 L/100 km. 0–100 and top speed: not measured. Gear count: not measured. CO2 and eco class: not measured.

The restyling of that same first generation (from 2020-06-01, stop not measured) is four versions in the same SUV 5-doors body. The petrol 1.6 CVT is still there, but it is not the 2016 car with a new grille: 122 hp (89 kW) at 6300 rpm instead of 125 hp at 5800, 155 Nm at 400 rpm instead of 156 Nm at 4000, compression 10.4 instead of 9.8, kerb 1217 kg (+19 kg), gross 1661 kg (+35 kg), clearance 177 mm (−2 mm), tank 40 L (−1 L). Rear suspension becomes Independent, spring. Fuel use of this 1.6 CVT is unchanged at 7.6 / 6.5 / 7.1. Specific output falls from 78.2 hp/L (125 ÷ 1.598) to 76.3 hp/L (122 ÷ 1.598). Kilograms per horsepower rise from 9.58 (1198 ÷ 125) to 9.98 (1217 ÷ 122). If the question is “same engine family, least mass,” the pre-restyle 1.6 CVT wins on arithmetic. If the question is independent rear suspension on a 1.6, only the restyle has it.

From the same restyling date, 1.2 AT e-Power at 129 hp (94 kW) at 6300 rpm arrives: Hybrid, 1198 cm³, Inline 3, 4 valves per cylinder, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 12, bore × stroke 78 × 83.6, fuel 95, Automatic with 1 gear, FWD, 260 Nm at 3600–5200 rpm. Boost: not measured. City 3.7, highway 5, mixed 4.8 L/100 km. Tank 41 L. Kerb 1350 kg, gross 1625 kg, clearance 177 mm. Wheels: not measured. Independent, spring at both ends. Front Ventilated disc, rear Disc. Versus restyle 1.6 CVT, that is +7 hp, +105 Nm, −400 cm³, −2.3 L/100 km mixed (7.1 − 4.8), +133 kg kerb (1350 − 1217). Specific output 107.7 hp/L (129 ÷ 1.198). Weight per horsepower 10.47 kg/hp (1350 ÷ 129) — heavier per horse than either 1.6, but the torque figure is 67% higher than 155 Nm.

From 2022-07-01 two further 1.2 AT e-Power versions appear, both 136 hp (100 kW) at 6300 rpm and 280 Nm at 3600–5200. They must not be treated as one car. The FWD 1.2 AT e-Power 136 hp: mixed 4.35 L/100 km, city and highway not measured, tank 41 L, kerb 1360 kg, gross 1625 kg. Versus the 129 hp 1.2 AT e-Power: +7 hp, +20 Nm, +10 kg, mixed −0.45 L/100 km (4.8 − 4.35). Specific output 113.5 hp/L (136 ÷ 1.198). Weight per horsepower 10.00 kg/hp (1360 ÷ 136), better than the 129 hp hybrid. The AWD 1.2 AT e-Power 136 hp: same 136 hp, 280 Nm, mixed 4.35, clearance 177 mm, gross 1625 kg, but kerb 1480 kg (+120 kg versus the FWD 136) and tank 35 L (−6 L). Weight per horsepower 10.88 kg/hp (1480 ÷ 136), the worst of every version that has a kerb figure. Extra drive is paid in 120 kg and 6 litres of tank, not in extra mixed consumption in this file — mixed is the same 4.35.

The second generation (from 2024-03-01) is one version: 2.0 CVT, SUV 5-doors, 143 hp (105 kW), 190 Nm, 1997 cm³ Gasoline, Inline 4, Front, transverse, Direct injection (direct), bore × stroke 84 x 90.1, Variable, FWD. Power rpm, torque rpm, boost, compression, fuel grade, gears, city / highway / mixed, tank, kerb, gross, wheels: not measured. Clearance 213 mm — 34 mm more than the restyle’s 177 and 34 mm more than the first-generation 179. Rear brakes Disc ventilated (front Ventilated disc). Independent, spring both ends. Specific output 71.6 hp/L (143 ÷ 1.997), the lowest of the set, because the extra 399 cm³ over the 1598 1.6 CVT buys only 18 hp versus the 2016 1.6 CVT (143 − 125) and 21 hp versus the restyle 1.6 CVT (143 − 122). Torque 190 Nm is +34 Nm versus 156 and +35 versus 155, still 70 Nm below the 129 hp 1.2 AT e-Power (260) and 90 Nm below the 136 hp hybrids (280). Without kerb weight, kg/hp for 2.0 CVT is not measured.

Nissan Kicks specs: every version in one table

Nissan Kicks engine and horsepower: litres versus the badge

People search “Nissan Kicks engine size” and “horsepower 2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024 / 2025 / 2026.” The file answers with six rows, not a single “Kicks engine.”

The 1598 cm³ Gasoline four is the only engine in generation one before restyling, and it remains as restyle 1.6 CVT at 122 hp. Peak power moves 500 rpm later (5800 → 6300) while losing 3 hp. Peak torque is listed at 400 rpm on the restyle versus 4000 on the 2016 car — use the file as written; do not “correct” it to 4000. Displacement, bore × stroke 78 × 83.6, Inline 4, 4 valves, Front, transverse, multi-point, FWD, Variable, and 7.6 / 6.5 / 7.1 fuel use are the same on both 1.6s. What is not the same: boost (No on 2016, not measured on restyle), compression 9.8 versus 10.4, tank 41 versus 40, mass, clearance, rear suspension.

The 1198 cm³ Hybrid three-cylinder is three versions of 1.2 AT e-Power. All share 78 × 83.6, compression 12, multi-point, Automatic 1, Front, transverse. The split is 129 hp / 260 Nm / FWD from 2020-06-01 versus 136 hp / 280 Nm from 2022-07-01 in FWD and AWD. The 136 hp pair is +5.4% power and +7.7% torque versus 129. Versus restyle 1.6 CVT 122 hp, the 136 hp hybrid is +14 hp (+11.5%) and +125 Nm (+80.6%) from 400 cm³ less metal.

The 1997 cm³ Gasoline four in 2.0 CVT is the largest engine and the highest horsepower (143). It is the only Direct injection (direct) Kicks. It is also the least power-dense: 71.6 hp/L against 78.2 on 2016 1.6 CVT, 76.3 on restyle 1.6 CVT, 107.7 on 1.2 AT e-Power 129 hp, 113.5 on both 136 hp hybrids. Torque density: 190 ÷ 1.997 = 95.1 Nm/L on 2.0 CVT; 156 ÷ 1.598 = 97.6 on 2016 1.6 CVT; 260 ÷ 1.198 = 217.0 on 129 hp e-Power; 280 ÷ 1.198 = 233.7 on 136 hp e-Power. If “engine options” means pull per litre, the hybrids win by more than a factor of two on torque density. If it means peak horsepower on a Gasoline Variable FWD SUV, 2.0 CVT is the only 143 hp row.

Engine problems, check-engine light, air-filter part numbers, and filter replacement intervals are not in this dataset — those searches have no measured answer here.

Nissan Kicks mpg and performance: what is measured, what is not

0–100 km/h: not measured on 1.6 CVT (both), all three 1.2 AT e-Power, and 2.0 CVT. Top speed: not measured on all six. You cannot rank sprint or Vmax from this catalogue.

Fuel that is measured:

• Both 1.6 CVT: 7.6 city, 6.5 highway, 7.1 mixed. Restyling did not change the three consumption figures.
• 1.2 AT e-Power 129 hp: 3.7 city, 5 highway, 4.8 mixed. City is 3.9 L/100 km below the 1.6 (7.6 − 3.7). Mixed is 2.3 below (7.1 − 4.8). Highway is the only cycle where the hybrid’s listed figure (5) is not the lowest gap: still 1.5 below 6.5.
• 1.2 AT e-Power 136 hp FWD and AWD: mixed 4.35; city not measured; highway not measured. Versus 129 hp mixed, −0.45. Versus 1.6 CVT mixed, −2.75 (7.1 − 4.35). AWD does not raise mixed consumption in the file.
• 2.0 CVT: city, highway, mixed all not measured. You cannot claim it is thirstier or cheaper to run than a 1.6 from these numbers.

On a 41 L tank, mixed range arithmetic (tank ÷ use × 100): 2016 1.6 CVT 41 ÷ 7.1 × 100 ≈ 577 km; restyle 1.6 CVT 40 ÷ 7.1 × 100 ≈ 563 km; 1.2 AT e-Power 129 hp 41 ÷ 4.8 × 100 ≈ 854 km; 136 hp FWD 41 ÷ 4.35 × 100 ≈ 943 km; 136 hp AWD 35 ÷ 4.35 × 100 ≈ 805 km. 2.0 CVT tank not measured, use not measured, range not measured.

Nissan Kicks dimensions, weight, clearance

Kerb / gross / clearance / tank / wheels:

• 1.6 CVT 2016: 1198 / 1626 kg, 179 mm, 41 L, 205/60 R16 and 205/55 R17. Payload arithmetic: 1626 − 1198 = 428 kg.
• 1.6 CVT restyle: 1217 / 1661 kg, 177 mm, 40 L, same two wheel sizes. Payload 1661 − 1217 = 444 kg (+16 kg versus 2016).
• 1.2 AT e-Power 129 hp: 1350 / 1625 kg, 177 mm, 41 L, wheels not measured. Payload 1625 − 1350 = 275 kg.
• 1.2 AT e-Power 136 hp FWD: 1360 / 1625 kg, 177 mm, 41 L, wheels not measured. Payload 265 kg.
• 1.2 AT e-Power 136 hp AWD: 1480 / 1625 kg, 177 mm, 35 L, wheels not measured. Payload 145 kg — 280 kg less than 2016 1.6 CVT (428 − 145) and 120 kg of the 1480 is the AWD premium over the 1360 FWD twin. Gross is the same 1625 kg on all three hybrids, so every extra kilogram of hardware is payload taken away.
• 2.0 CVT: kerb not measured, gross not measured, tank not measured, wheels not measured, clearance 213 mm.

Ground clearance ranking among measured rows: 2.0 CVT 213 mm, then 2016 1.6 CVT 179, then every restyle row 177. The second generation is the clearance car by 34 mm. It is not the weight or tank car because those fields are empty.

Which Nissan Kicks version to choose

There is no SR or SV split in this file, and no price, so “what the extra money buys” is what the extra kilograms, centimetres cubed, and millimetres buy.

Choose 2016–2020 1.6 CVT (125 hp) if the job is minimum mass and maximum payload among measured Kicks: 1198 kg, 428 kg payload, 179 mm, 41 L, 156 Nm, 9.58 kg/hp. It is the only version with boost explicitly No and with Semi-independent, spring rear. Fuel 7.1 mixed is the high Gasoline figure shared with the later 1.6. Horsepower 125 is 3 above the restyle 1.6 and 18 below 2.0 CVT.

Choose restyle 1.6 CVT (122 hp) if you want the 1598 Gasoline Variable FWD with Independent, spring rear and the higher 10.4 compression, and you accept 122 hp, 155 Nm, 1217 kg, 177 mm, 40 L. You do not gain fuel economy versus 2016. You lose 3 hp and 1 Nm and 2 mm clearance. You gain 16 kg payload (444 vs 428) and 19 kg kerb. Specific output is the second-lowest Gasoline 1.6. This is the “same 1.6 name, later car” pick, not the stronger 1.6.

Choose 1.2 AT e-Power 129 hp FWD if mixed 4.8 and city 3.7 matter and 260 Nm matters more than 125/122 hp Gasoline. Versus restyle 1.6 CVT: +7 hp, +105 Nm, −2.3 mixed, +133 kg, payload down to 275 from 444. Versus 136 hp FWD e-Power: −7 hp, −20 Nm, +0.45 mixed, −10 kg. It is the hybrid with a full city/highway pair in the file. Wheels not measured.

Choose 1.2 AT e-Power 136 hp FWD if the hybrid is the class and you want the best measured mixed (4.35) and the best hybrid kg/hp (10.00) without AWD mass. +7 hp and +20 Nm over 129, tank still 41 L, clearance still 177. City and highway not measured — do not invent them from the 129 hp row. Payload 265 kg.

Choose 1.2 AT e-Power 136 hp AWD only if AWD is the requirement. Power and mixed match the FWD 136. You pay 120 kg, 6 L of tank, payload 145 kg, and mixed range ≈ 805 km versus ≈ 943 km on the FWD 136. Same 177 mm. Same 1625 kg gross. This is the heaviest measured Kicks (1480 kg).

Choose 2.0 CVT (second generation, 143 hp) if 213 mm clearance, 1997 cm³, 143 hp, 190 Nm, Direct injection (direct), and Disc ventilated rear brakes are the spec. You cannot choose it on fuel, tank, or weight: all not measured. You cannot choose it on 0–100 or top speed: not measured. Versus 2016 1.6 CVT you gain 18 hp and 34 Nm and 34 mm clearance (213 − 179) and 399 cm³; you lose the known 7.1 mixed, the known 1198 kg, and the known 41 L tank. Versus 136 hp 1.2 AT e-Power you gain 7 hp (143 − 136) and 34 mm clearance and lose 90 Nm (280 − 190) and any measured consumption.

Reliability as a verdict is not in the data. What is in the data is that restyling cut 1.6 power by 3 hp, added 19 kg, switched the rear to Independent, spring, and then added hybrids whose torque (260–280 Nm) is the largest step in the whole model line — larger than the jump from 156 Nm to the second-generation 190 Nm.

For 2024 / 2025 / 2026 “which to buy” searches: the only generation dated from 2024-03-01 is 2.0 CVT. Restyle 1.6 CVT and all 1.2 AT e-Power rows have stop not measured, so they remain listed as current alongside the second generation. Specs 2020 in this file are the last months of 125 hp 1.6 CVT plus the June 2020 start of 122 hp 1.6 CVT and 129 hp 1.2 AT e-Power. Specs 2022 add the two 136 hp 1.2 AT e-Power from 2022-07-01. Specs 2024 add 2.0 CVT. There is no separate 2025 or 2026 engine row; horsepower 2025 and 2026 in this catalogue are still 122, 129, 136, or 143 depending on which named version is on the page.