It’s been less than a week since the 2022 Manila International Auto Show opened its doors. Showgoers and those who opted to “watch” online were given a lot of previews of things to come. What those who stayed online missed out on was a peculiar blue Nissan in an aquarium in front of the venue. It was the Nissan Kicks, and it’s a hybrid.
Nissan has seen a shortage of both compact and subcompact crossover of late, and Kicks may be a great addition to get back into the game in the Philippines. With only the Juke serving as Nissan’s category fighter, the Kicks is a much more updated model that may find favor and a staple fan base.
Looking at it, the Kicks is definitely a good-looking vehicle. You have a wide front end that sports Nissan’s signature V-Motion Grill. Slim headlights flank the predominantly glossy black fascia which is further accented by chrome strips alongside. Vertical foglight housings are found further down and to the side of the bumper and are finished off with a chrome strip on the front chin.
We weren’t able to have a look at the interior because it was behind a glass case, but more important than that is what powers the Nissan Kicks. The closest market from which this model comes is Thailand, and yes it is an e-Power hybrid. Under the hood sits a 1.2-Liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine, and it’s meant to be a generator for the Kicks’ electric batteries. Overall it produces 129 PS and 260 Nm of torque, and with such a small vehicle, those numbers can and will be felt.
When will it be available in the PH? Nissan, oddly enough, was mum about such details. But if they saw fit to give a preview, then it’s quite safe to say that the possibility of the Kicks reaching our shores is quite high. With petroleum product prices soaring, and with everyone looking for alternative means for powering transportation, Nissan is in a prime position to nail it on the head with the Kicks.