Nissan Kicks e-Power

Highly anticipated, Nissan’s unique Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), the new Nissan Kicks e-Power, officially launched in Malaysia.

A B-segment SUV (compact SUV), underpinned is a Series Hybrid powertrain (mechanical power: electric motor – generator: combustion engine).

Fully imported (CBU – Thailand), available via Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) are two variants (VL – MYR 113,800, VLT – MYR 121,800).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) cover a vehicle warranty (five years/100,000 KM) and an EV component warranty (eight years/160,000 KM).

Five (single-tone – VL, VLT) exterior colours (Brilliant White Pearl, Sunrise Orange, Red Pearl, Brilliant Silver, Black Star).

Four (dual-tone – VLT – MYR 4,000) exterior colours (roof – Super Black – Brilliant White Pearl, Sunrise Orange, Red Pearl, Dark Metal Grey).

Two interior colours (single-tone: Black-Blue stitching – VL, dual-tone: Black-Mocha Brown – VLT).

The new Kicks e-Power has a roundly tiered dashboard, linked to a low-rising centre console (armrest storage, e-Power electronic gear shifter).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, centre console, steering wheel, doors), it sees two colour schemes (single-tone: Black-Blue stitching – VL, dual-tone: Black-Mocha Brown – VLT) with contrast trims (Silver).

Equipped are driver/central displays (instrument cluster, infotainment) and air conditioning vents (corners: rounded, top-central: rectangular). 

Inclusively, the layout is neatly designed with accessibilities ergonomically arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented). 

Equipped is an Advanced Drive Assist Display (ADAD – instrument cluster), featuring a 7.0-Inch TFT semi digital driver display (instrument cluster).

Variant-specific, the interior sees fabric (VL) and leatherette (VLT) upholsteries, in two colour schemes (single-tone: Black-Blue stitching – VL, dual-tone: Black-Mocha Brown – VLT).

The front gets manual-operated (driver/passenger – multi-way) Zero-Gravity Inspired seats. The rear gets a manual-operated (60:40 split-flat-fold) bolstered bench.

Included are armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out) and headrests (front, rear).

A five-seater SUV, the cabin offers generous space, providing the occupants (front, rear) with ample interior mobility. 

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Mounted is a three-spoke-flat-bottom steering wheel. Single-tone (Black) leatherette with contrast trims (Silver).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, vehicle settings) and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic).

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Practical storage areas. E.g., side door/seat back pockets, centre console partitioned/caverned compartments and glove box.

Provided are four cup holders (two – front, rear) and two bottle holders (one – front side doors).

Installed are three USB ports (one-front, two-rear) and one 12 V socket (front).

Accessing its manual-operated (button, remote/key fob) tailgate, opens to 423-Litres (rear seats up) of load capacity.

Weighing in at 1,300 KG, the new Kicks e-Power measures at 4,290 MM long, 1,760 MM wide, 1,605 MM tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,615 MM.

Bulbous and tapered, it parades a cleanly seamless exterior, emphasised by roundly sculpted and flowing contours.

The front-end sees a smooth bonnet, formed quarter panels and a sharply rounded bumper (Nissan’s V-Motion grille, lower-centre air-intake, corner cut outs).

Accentuations, body claddings (Black: grille inserts, bumper, fenders, side sills, side mirror arms, window surrounds), body trimmings (Chrome: grille surrounds, bumper, lower side doors, Nissan emblem) and roof rails (Silver).

Bulbous and athletic, it continues the cleanly seamless exterior, emphasised by roundly tapered and horizontally cut creases.

The rear-end sees a mildly dipped roofline, a roof-edge spoiler, formed quarter panels, a tapered tailgate (Nissan emblem) and a covered bumper (diffuser).

Accentuations, body claddings (Black: bumper, fenders, side sills, window surrounds, roof-edge spoiler, shark fin antenna), body trimmings (Chrome: lower side doors, Nissan emblem) and roof rails (Silver).

Sleek, the headlamps are housed slim, sharp and inward-tilted. Installed are full LED projector units.

Features are automatic On/Off, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED) and sequential turn signals (LED). Paired to the set are fog lamps (LED).

Slim, the tail lamps are framed full-width (lightbar) with pointed wraparound edges. Installed are LED combination units.

Features are automatic On/Off and sequential turn signals (LED). Paired to the set is a high-mounted stop light (windscreen-integrated).

The side mirrors (dual-tone – Black-body-colour) are electric-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with turn signals (LED) and blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Warning – BSW – VLT).

Equipped are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. 

Drive is aided by an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system and an e-Pedal Step (One-Pedal Drive) system.

Fitted is a set of 17-Inch five-spoke (dual-tone – Black-Silver) alloy rims, wrapped in 205/55 R17 (front, rear) Yokohama BluEarth E70 tyres.

The new Kicks e-Power features the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Variant-specific (VLT) systems are Intelligent Around View Monitor (IAVM – 360-degree camera) with Moving Object Detection (MOD), Intelligent Rear View Mirror (IRVM – LCD screen – camera feed), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC).

Standard (VL, VLT) systems are Cruise Control (CC), Intelligent Emergency Braking (IEB), Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (IFCW), Intelligent Trace Control (ITC), Hill-Start Assist (HAS) and Intelligent Driver Alertness (IDA).

Other systems (VL, VLT) include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control System (TCS), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and parking camera (rear – dynamic guidelines).

Passive safety includes seven airbags (driver-passenger, driver-knee, sides, curtains), seatbelts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (two – rear outer seats), automatic door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), automatic-dimming rearview mirror (VLT), parking sensors (four – rear), parking cameras (rear – dynamic guidelines, 360-degree), Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold and security alarm (anti-theft, engine immobiliser).

Three selectable drive modes available (NORMAL, ECO, SPORT). Included is an e-Pedal Step (One-Pedal Drive) system.

Equipped is an 8.0-Inch LCD touchscreen central display (infotainment). 

The system supports Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), media, navigation, USB and Bluetooth.

Entertainment is channelled via a standard setup (six speakers).

The new Kicks e-Power features a Series Hybrid (mechanical power: electric motor – generator: combustion engine) powertrain (Nissan e-Power Technology: Extended-Range Electric Vehicle – EREV).

Embedded is an electric motor (EM47 – AC3 Synchronous Motor – front-mounted) and a generator engine (HR12DE – 1.2-Litre inline three-cylinder 12-valve naturally aspirated DOHC petrol).

Total system output reads at 95 KW/127 HP and 280 NM.

Fitted is a single-speed (reduction gear) automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to the front wheels, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system.

0 to 100 KM/H acceleration is done in 9.5 seconds, and the top speed is 180 KM/H.

Powering the e-motor is a Lithium-Ion battery (2.06 KWH), which is charged-up by the generator engine.

Fuel tank capacity is 41-Litres. Fuel consumption is 4.61 L/100 KM.

The new Kicks e-Power features these conveniences.

E.g., Intelligent Key (i-Key – keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button), automatic headlamps (On/Off), automatic door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking), steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustments, EPS), rear-view mirrors (exterior: BSW – interior: IRVM, automatic-dimming), armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out) and headrests (front, rear), infotainment (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto), single-zone automatic air-conditioning (rear air-vents), interior lighting (cabin, boot), parking cameras (rear – dynamic guidelines, 360-degree) and Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold.

Installed is a single-zone automatic air-conditioning (rear air-vents) system.

Propping-up the chassis is a setup of independent MacPherson struts with stabiliser (front) and torsion beam (rear) with stabiliser suspensions.

The SUV is comfortably spacious, safe and suitable as a daily driver. The ride quality is firm and well-balanced, with a smooth engine power and transmission delivery. 

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin experience is refined, alienated from most of the outside noises.

The new Nissan Kicks e-Power is a great daily driver with an all-around appeal, offering space and style in one solid build.

Sportily postured, its shell envelopes a comfortably refined interior, ranging from many advanced connectivity and safety systems.

Ultimately, its build quality is satisfactory, bargaining good looks and mechanics. The new Kicks e-Power is surely a head turner on Malaysian roads.