Nissan has revealed the all-new Nissan Kicks in Japan. Unlike the crossover in Thailand, which is a heavy facelift of the first-generation Kicks, the Japanese domestic market (JDM) model is the second-generation crossover that already debuted in North America.
Perhaps designed with the latter market in mind. Nissan notes that the design is based on an American football helmet, a sport not to be confused with the actual football currently being played in the FIFA World Cup taking place there currently.
Adopting a bold design language inspired by the Nissan Serena, the second-generation Nissan Kicks notably replaces the brand’s signature V-Motion grille with a modern, blocky aesthetic.
Up front, the fascia features daytime running lights integrated directly into the horizontal grille bars. Move to the back, and the rear profile is defined by an upright, geometric shape and distinctive taillights, representing a significant departure from the softer, more rounded lines of the first-generation model currently available in Malaysia.
Stepping inside, the second-generation Nissan Kicks interior features dual 12.3-inch integrated displays featuring an infotainment system with built-in Google services. The brand’s famous zero-gravity seating now extends to both front and rear outboard seats. To complete the cabin experience, soft-touch materials, including synthetic leather and fabric, wrap the instrument panel, centre console, and door trims.
RELATED: 4th-gen T33 Nissan X-Trail e-Power e-4orce previewed at KLIMS 2026 – to launch in Q4 2026
Under the bonnet, the all-new Japanese-market Kicks debuts the marque’s third-generation e-Power powertrain. A 1.4-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine acts solely as a generator to charge the battery, feeding a front-mounted traction motor that produces 143 hp and 315 Nm.
For comparison, the e-Power powertrain on the Nissan Kicks in Malaysia sees the front-mounted traction motor producing 129 hp and 280 Nm. This is paired to a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated three-cylinder that makes 82 hp/103 Nm acting solely as a generator to charge the onboard 2.06 kWh battery.
There are also variants equipped with the e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive system. This setup adds a rear-axle-mounted traction motor producing 68 hp and 140 Nm.
The entire Nissan Kicks lineup in Japan comes standard with an upgraded ProPilot driver assistance suite. The intelligent around view monitor now features front wide view, invisible hood view, and 3D view functions. To boost rear-side protection, Nissan has also adopted enhanced intelligent emergency braking, intelligent blind spot intervention, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic alert.
It remains to be seen whether Malaysia will eventually receive the heavily updated first-generation Kicks that debuted in Thailand, or the all-new, second-generation model revealed in Japan. Given that our current crossover arrives fully imported (CBU) from Thailand, the former seems likely, but do not discount the second-generation model just yet.
GALLERY
