Nissan Kicks brings e-POWER to the small SUV segment and adds e-4ORCE all-wheel drive

Kicks is no longer just a cheap supporting act

The new Kicks goes on sale in Japan on 18 June. The line-up is split between front-wheel-drive 2WD versions and e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive models, with prices starting at 2,999,700 yen and rising to 4,248,200 yen. That translates to roughly €16,100 to €22,900, although any European showroom price would inevitably be higher once local taxes, equipment levels and homologation are taken into account.

The Kicks has also grown noticeably in size. It measures 4,365 mm long and 1,800 mm wide, with a 2,655 mm wheelbase and 170 mm of ground clearance. Compared with Japanese data for the previous P15 generation, the new monocoque body adds 75 mm in length, 40 mm in width and 35 mm between the axles. This is not just design inflation. It is a necessary step in a global segment where so-called small SUVs have already grown close to family-car proportions.

e-POWER drives like an EV, refuels like a hybrid

In Japan, the Kicks uses a 1.433-litre three-cylinder HR14DDe petrol engine as a generator. It produces 72 kW and 115 Nm, but it never drives the wheels directly. The front axle is handled by a YM52 electric motor delivering 105 kW and 315 Nm. In the all-wheel-drive version, an MM48 electric motor on the rear axle adds a further 50 kW and 140 Nm.

The principle behind Nissan’s e-POWER system remains unchanged: the petrol engine generates electricity, while the electric motor provides the drive. Around town, that means sharp throttle response and smooth acceleration, without any reliance on a charging network. In the European Qashqai e-POWER, Nissan presents the same architecture as a kind of bridging technology, offering the feel of electric drive without plug-in charging.

All-wheel drive changes more than the power figure

Here, e-4ORCE is more than simply the addition of a rear motor. Nissan manages torque and braking force across the front and rear axles together, smoothing corner exits and helping settle the body on rougher surfaces. It is the same philosophy Nissan applies to its larger electrified models: the chassis is not there only to find grip, but also to actively balance the car’s nose and tail.

According to Japanese figures, the front-wheel-drive Kicks X returns 25.7 km/l on the WLTC cycle, equivalent to 3.9 l/100 km. In G specification, that drops to 23.4 km/l, or 4.3 l/100 km. The all-wheel-drive X e-4ORCE is rated at 21.5 km/l, or 4.7 l/100 km, while the G e-4ORCE manages 20.1 km/l, or 5.0 l/100 km. With a 45-litre fuel tank, the most efficient version offers a theoretical range of more than 1,100 km.

European perspective: Kicks would sit between Qashqai and Juke

In Europe, Nissan already sells the Qashqai with third-generation e-POWER, rated at an official 4.5 l/100 km on WLTP and 102 g/km of CO₂. That makes the Kicks an interesting case of technology moving down the range. Japan’s WLTC figures cannot be compared directly with WLTP, but the direction is clear: Nissan wants to offer an electrically driven hybrid in a smaller and more affordable format.

The competition is fierce. In European data, the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid 130 sits between 4.4 and 5.1 l/100 km, the Renault Captur full hybrid E-Tech 160 claims 4.5 l/100 km, and the Nissan Juke Hybrid is officially rated at around 4.8 l/100 km. The Kicks would not challenge them on fuel consumption alone, but also with its all-wheel-drive e-4ORCE package. Among small hybrid SUVs, an electrically driven rear axle would give it a clear point of difference.

Why it changes the global picture

In North America, the Kicks plays a different game, with Nissan leaning on petrol power and a more conventional take on all-wheel drive. In Japan, the same model moves much further up the technical ladder thanks to e-POWER. That two-track strategy shows Nissan tailoring the Kicks to individual markets, while using the nameplate as a global anchor for its small SUV line-up.

From a European perspective, an e-POWER Kicks would be a logical addition, especially for buyers who find the Qashqai too large and the Juke too extrovert. The Kicks would offer more understated practicality, a longer wheelbase, the feel of electric drive and the option of all-wheel drive. The bigger question is not simply whether Nissan brings the model to market, but whether it sees enough room on the border between Europe’s B- and C-segments for another hybrid SUV.