Nissan Kicks into SUV pack
All-new global compact SUV breaks cover -- but it's not a sure thing for AustraliaThe trendy new Nissan Kicks compact SUV has been revealed in production guise and it looks almost identical to the Kicks concept car that was revealed early in 2016.
Developed at a cost of $A253 million, the new "global SUV" vehicle will naturally be sold right across the planet in more than 80 markets – except Australia.
That's the word from Nissan Australia, whose official line is to deny the local introduction of the car at the moment.
"The Nissan Kicks is not confirmed for the Australian market at this time," reads the press statement.
It's motoring.com.au's understanding that the car will be offered here in due course, once the business case required to green-light the new model for this country is hammered out.
The appealing compact SUV is roughly the same size as the Mazda CX-3, which has been selling up a storm in Australia and generating healthy profits for the importer.
Expected to slot in underneath the JUKE and QASHQAI small SUVs, the Nissan Kicks measures 4295mm long, just 20mm longer than the Mazda CX-3. The Nissan is also 5mm skinnier and 40mm taller than the CX-3, at 1760mm wide and 1590mm tall respectively.
In other words, the Nissan Kicks is gunning for the CX-3's lucrative market share.
Apart from its dimensions, little else is known about the new compact SUV from Nissan, such as what engine will propel it, what gearbox will manage its power and whether there'll be fiery NISMO version too.
Price-wise, the Nissan Kicks could undercut the Mazda CX-3's $19,990 price point, because it's cheap to build in its country of origin, Brazil.
Nissan is promising a high-tech cabin with "innovative features" for buyers who are "technology hungry" including plenty of smartphone integration kit. Other features such as 360-degree parking cameras and Moving Object Detection will be available.
It also reckons class-leading space for rear seat passengers will eventuate along with heaps of boot space too.
"Kicks will offer best-in-class design, convenience and technological innovation," said Keno Kato, Nissan's Corporate Vice President of Product Planning.
He stated that the Nissan Kicks has been designed to appeal to a wide customer demographic and will "confidently take on the city", suggesting it will have none of the off-road prowess of great-granddaddy Patrol.
Stay tuned for more details and potential Australian arrival dates.
The Nissan Kicks will also be the official car of the upcoming Rio Olympics
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