Nissan Kicks Scores in Europe
The Nissan Kicks is not a car that we’ve heard much about, yet in its first generation it has sold 1.8 millions examples worldwide, but it has never been sold in Europe. Until now.
Nissan will not only sell their new Kicks in Europe, but they will also manufacturer it in the U.K. following a £170m investment in new model at the Sunderland Plant, which coincidently, also celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
The Nissan Kicks is a B-segment compact crossover, in the same vein as the Toyota Yaris Cross, and just like its Japanese competitor, the Kicks is exclusively a hybrid using Nissan’s coveted e-POWER hybrid technology and will be manufactured alongside the Qashqai, Juke and LEAF up in the North East of England.
Massimiliano Messina, Chairperson Nissan AMIEO Region, said: “This is fantastic news for our European region and demonstrates the agility and speed with which we can bring new models to new markets. Kicks is a compact crossover, with the unique e-POWER hybrid drivetrain, exciting design and innovative technology. Electrification with choice is what European customers want, and the introduction of Kicks will further demonstrate how Nissan has options for all.”
2027 Nissan Kicks e-POWER
Nissan is on a much needed product offensive this year, updating its ARIYA, Qashqai and X-Trail, announcing the new all-electric JUKE, introducing the new 3rd generation Nissan LEAF and the all-new 6th generation MICRA.
However, Kicks is the second product announcement from Nissan in September alone following the long anticipated wait of Nissan’s new A-segment small electric car called the PIXO which will be fully revealed soon.
The second-generation Kicks model is currently built in Japan, Mexico and Brazil for sale globally, but this announcement is the model’s first European market entry, and further enhancing Nissan’s strategic shift as an emerging hybrid and EV manufacturer at a time when some European manufacturers are struggling with their strategies.
Adam Pennick, Vice President of Manufacturing, Nissan Sunderland Plant, said: “I’m proud to welcome this new model allocation for Sunderland. It’s the perfect way to celebrate our 40th year as a world-class manufacturing site. We look forward to seeing Kicks e-POWER hybrid going down the production line with our electrified line up of Qashqai, Juke and LEAF.”
e-POWER Explained
Nissan’s unique e-POWER hybrid system differs to that found in Toyota’s, where the engine and electric motor take it in turns to drive the wheels, with the engine and regenerative braking system adding power to the small *Li-ion battery.
Nissan’s e-POWER hybrid differs in that the engine only acts as a generator for the small Li-ion battery, with the battery alone being the single source that provides power to the electric motor, which then drives the wheels.
Nissan claims this system is more efficient, and the recently updated Qashqai and X-Trail have received the next generation e-POWER hybrid system, with the C-segment crossover Qashqai said to drive up to 795 miles of range from one tank of petrol from its efficient hybrid set-up that can deliver up to 65.7 mpg.
The much smaller kicks should in theory be capable of 70 mpg+ which given the price of fuel these days, should make it an instant hit for those looking to lower their fuel costs.
*Li-ion = Lithium-ion
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About the Author
Graeme Cobb is a lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for writing about cars, EVs, industry updates and more.
You can find Graeme on 𝕏 at @graeme_cobb
