Engineer’s Review: The 2025 Nissan Kicks

Engineer’s Review: The 2025 Nissan Kicks

The Nissan Kicks is back for another model year, and dare we say that this one is even better than previous years? Our team at Maus Nissan of North Tampa is excited to share insights into what you can expect when you get behind the wheel of a 2025 Kicks.

Follow along as we share more, with a little help from our friend David Koichi Chao at AutomotivePress. He’s an automotive engineer, so you know he has the inside scoop!

What’s New for 2025?

The 2025 Kicks has undergone several upgrades for this model year, including:

• It’s longer, wider, taller, and has a larger wheelbase
• Ground clearance has been increased to 8.4 inches from 7.0 inches

When looking at the powertrain, there are also a few updates:

• A larger 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine replaces the previous 1.6-liter engine, and it creates 141 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque
• All-wheel drive is now available for the first time and offers Snow mode (though you likely won’t need that here in Florida!)
• It comes with a new CVT transmission

Interior and technology updates include:

• Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats are standard in the front and the back
• The Kicks has a larger 12.3-inch NissanConnect touchscreen
• Safety Shield 360 is standard on every Kicks
• The 2025 Kicks come with the new Nissan Maintenance Care package, which covers the first three oil changes for a maximum of two years or 24,000 miles.
• There are seven two-tone color variations available

Engineer’s Review

Now, when looking at the Kicks from an automotive engineer’s standpoint, the gaps between the body and doors of the Kicks are quite consistent, which showcases Nissan’s craftsmanship and attention to detail. Plus, the corners where the edges of the hood meet the body at the headlights are almost perfect, which is hard to do!

Plus, the door panels are smooth and meet without interruption, and the paint job looks as good as vehicles that cost twice as much. The clear coat is very consistent, and there isn’t any of that orange peel look to the paint.

When looking at paint thickness, David uses his paint thickness gauge to measure the total amount of paint above the sheet metal. Generally, you want it to be between 100-150 microns, and the Kicks comes in at 127 on the hood, 122 on the front fender, 116 on the front door, and 144 on the rear quarter panel. This is thicker than you find on most Toyota models, as their vehicles usually fall within 100 to 110 microns.

Interior

According to David, the interior is where the Kicks really shines. You get a lot for the money, including a 12.3-inch digital display, an infotainment system, and a carbon fiber-esque look throughout the cabin. And there isn’t too much hard plastic throughout, which can make an interior look cheap.

Plus, it has large cup holders, USB-C connections, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel, which add just a little bit more comfort and class to the already classy 2025 Kicks. During his review, David said that there aren’t any squeaks or rattles, which is great!

Overall, David says that there aren’t many models on the market today that can compete with the value of the Nissan Kicks, and we couldn’t agree more!

Read More > 4 Less-Known Features of the Nissan Kicks

Test Drive the 2025 Kicks

Ready to take the 2025 Kicks on a test drive? We invite you to stop by Maus Nissan of North Tampa or reach out to us at (813) 800-6287 for more information. We’re excited to see if the 2025 Kicks is the perfect fit for you!

Since you’re here, check out our current 2025 Kicks inventory!