2019 Nissan Kicks

Nissan offers the Kicks in three different trim levels. The base S comes with 16-inch wheels and roof rails, and you'll also get automatic headlights. The SV adds to the S with 17-inch alloy wheels and some interior upgrades, while the SR adds LED headlights, LED fog lights, a roof-mounted rear spoiler, and it has heated side door mirrors. The SR is also the only model that comes with a dark satin chrome grille. The SV and the SR have the option for the two-tone paint scheme so that you can choose between either a black or a white roof. If you add the Premium package to the SR, it upgrades some interior features.

All of the 2019 Kicks models get the same engine. The 1.6-liter four-cylinder develops 125 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque, and this works with a continuously variable transmission. All the Kicks also come with front-wheel drive.

The small footprint of the Kicks makes it a great vehicle for urban driving, and the 1.6-liter engine has plenty of power to get the 2700-pound vehicle up and going. The CVT in this crossover is one of the best in its class offering a quiet ride unlike many other CVT's. The fuel economy you'll get in the Kicks is impressive with 31 miles per gallon in the city and up to 36 mpg on the highway.

There is room for up to five passengers in the Kicks with a surprising amount of space for a compact vehicle. The NASA-inspired zero gravity sporty seats feature high-end cloth upholstery in the entry-level trim, and leatherette available in the higher trims. The SR model adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a leather-wrapped shift knob, and the Premium package adds heated front seats and simulated leather upholstery. In the back, there are over 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and when you fold them down, it opens up to over 53 cubic feet. For technology, a 7-inch touch screen display screen comes standard along with Siri Eyes Free, Bluetooth, and three USB ports. The SV adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with satellite radio, and the SR with the Premium package upgrades the stereo to an eight-speaker Bose system.

The Kicks comes standard with several safety systems including a rearview camera, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Bumping up to the SV adds a blind-spot monitor with a rear cross-traffic alert system, and the SR adds a 360-degree top-down surround-view camera system. The IIHS named the Kicks a Top Safety Pick, and it earned the highest rating in five different crash tests.