Nissan Kicks breaks cover in Japan as electrified Juke successor

The second-generation Nissan Kicks has been unveiled in right-hand-drive form for Japan, giving New Zealanders their closest look yet at the Juke replacement and Nissan's newest small SUV – though the model has yet to be confirmed for local showrooms.

Already on sale in left-hand-drive markets including North America, the new Kicks adopts Nissan's latest design language and third-generation e-Power hybrid technology, which is also used in the larger Qashqai.

Positioned beneath the Qashqai in Nissan's global SUV lineup, the Kicks is designed to compete with small crossovers such as the Toyota Yaris Cross, Hyundai Venue, and Mazda CX-3.

It rides on a version of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance's CMF-B architecture, which also underpinned the previous-generation Juke, which was discontinued in New Zealand in early 2026 due to declining sales.

While Nissan New Zealand hasn't announced plans for the Kicks, the model is under consideration in Australia as part of a broader product expansion aimed at strengthening the brand's SUV lineup.

Speaking with CarExpert Australia earlier this year, Nissan corporate executive for family, product and component strategy Richard Cander indicated the Kicks was a possibility for Australia.

"I think we're in a position of restructuring what the portfolio is going to look like for the next stage for Australia," said Mr Cander.

"I think Kicks could be an option for sure. Let me look at it."

The Kicks is one of several new Nissan products being evaluated for Australia and the wider Oceania region, alongside models such as the China-built N7 electric sedan and NX8 SUV, as well as the recently confirmed Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute.

In Japan, pricing starts at ¥2,999,700, equivalent to approximately NZ$33,000 at current exchange rates.

Measuring 4366mm long, 1801mm wide and 1626mm tall, the new Kicks is larger than its predecessor. Its 2655mm wheelbase is only 10mm shorter than the Qashqai's.

Nissan says the front-end design was inspired by an American football helmet, while higher-specification variants gain distinctive polygon-pattern detailing and a full-width tail-light signature.

Every Kicks variant uses Nissan's latest third-generation e-Power hybrid system.

The setup combines a 1.4-litre three-cylinder petrol engine producing 72kW and 115Nm, which acts solely as a generator, with a 105kW electric motor that drives the wheels.

Front-wheel drive is standard, though all-wheel drive is available in Japan. AWD models add a 50kW rear electric motor and a dedicated Snow drive mode.

Claimed fuel consumption is as low as 3.9L/100km for front-wheel-drive versions, increasing to 5.0L/100km in all-wheel-drive guise.

Inside, the Kicks features Nissan's 'zero gravity' seats, synthetic leather trim, NissanConnect connected services, and available dual 12.3-inch displays for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system.

Higher-grade variants also offer integrated Google services, an Intelligent Around View Monitor with additional camera views, and a range of convenience features including wireless phone charging, a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, 10-speaker Bose sound system, and power-adjustable driver's seat.

Safety technology includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot assist, and rear cross-traffic assist.

The original Kicks entered production in 2016 and was sold in numerous global markets as Nissan's entry-level SUV. The second-generation model began production in Mexico during 2024, with Japanese production now underway ahead of local deliveries.

Whether the Kicks eventually joins Nissan New Zealand's lineup remains to be seen, but its right-hand-drive debut means the brand now has another potential contender in the increasingly competitive light SUV segment.