Nissan Kicks to be showcased at Autocar Performance Show 2018

As the Autocar Performance Show 2018 draws closer, here’s news of a brand new SUV that’ll be present at the show – Nissan will bring the Kicks SUV to APS 2018, making this the first time the SUV will be on display for enthusiasts in Mumbai.

Get your passes to the Autocar Performance Show 2018 HERE

Revealed in October as a rival to the Hyundai Creta, the India-spec Nissan Kicks retains almost all the cues that are present on the international model we drove in September. What’s new on the India-spec Kicks is a redesigned front bumper with faux air inlets above the fog lights and an aluminium skid plate, all of which is meant to add a dash of toughness to the Kicks' appearance. Also present on the India-spec Kicks are LED headlights and a new honeycomb mesh design for the grille, flanked by a more angular ‘V-motion’ chrome band.

Size-wise, the India-spec Kicks is bigger than the international model. It measures in at 4,384mm, 89mm longer than the model sold abroad, and is wider (1,813mm) and taller (1,656mm), with a longer wheelbase (2,673mm). It's based on an updated version of the Alliance's M0 platform (and not on Nissan's V platform), which also underpins the Renault Captur. Interestingly, while the Kicks is longer and taller than the Captur, it has the exact same wheelbase. Ground clearance on the India-spec Kicks is rated at 210mm.

While the interior remains under wraps for now, what we can tell you is that the India-spec Kicks will have more space on the inside compared to the international model thanks to the increase in size, and will also likely have more boot space than the international Kicks' 432 litres. A 7.0-inch ‘floating’ touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be part of the package, as will several other segment-firsts such as a 360-degree surround-view system and a telematics-enabled smartwatch.

It is likely the India-spec Kicks will likely have the same engine and gearbox options as the Nissan Terrano, Renault Duster and Captur: the tried-and-tested 110hp, 1.5-litre diesel motor, and a 106hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine. Gearbox options could include a 6-speed manual for the diesel and a 5-speed manual for the petrol. A CVT gearbox on the petrol and an automatic transmission on the diesel engine will be offered with the Kicks, though some time after it has launched.

As it will be positioned above the Terrano in Nissan's line-up, expect prices for the Kicks SUV to range from Rs 9.4 lakh to 15 lakh (ex-showroom) when it is launched in January 2019. The Nissan Kicks is set to take on the Hyundai Creta.