2025 Nissan Kicks vs Nissan Kicks Play: For an extra $4,600, what do you get?

For those of you who haven’t noticed, Nissan had a very good idea when designing its new Kicks. Along with building the second-generation of it cheap and cheerful SUV, the automaker decided to continue building the first-generation Kicks and continues to offer it at its traditional low price, because why not?

The Nissan Kicks Play (as the first-gen version is currently known) is one of the most affordable sub-compact SUVs in the Canadian market, challenged only by Hyundai’s Venue. The all-new 2025 Nissan Kicks, meanwhile, competes with SUVs in a class that includes the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, Mitsubishi RVR, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Toyota Corolla Cross. This “new” Kicks landed last summer boasting a more “expressive” silhouette, a more refined interior, a more powerful engine, and — above all — the option of all-wheel drive. This feature was never been available on the original Kicks, which, as I said, has become the Play.

Under the new Kicks’ hood, you’ll find the same 2.0-litre that powered the Nissan Qashqai before it disappeared from our market. The inline four that makes 141 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque, code-named MR20DD, also powers the Nissan Sentra sedan.

The Kicks Play, on the other hand, still relies on the smaller 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (code-named HR16DE), which produces 122 hp and 114 ft-lb of torque. Both vehicles are available only with a continuously variable transmission (CVT Xtronic).

The Kicks Play is only available in two two-wheel-drive versions: the S, starting at $22,598, and the SV, starting at $25,198. The new Kicks, however, boasts a much broader range — and, as previously mentioned, a higher price tag.

The good news is that both the base S ($27,199) and mid-range SV ($28,749) configurations of the new Kicks can be delivered with all-wheel drive, if you fork over an additional $2,000. AWD is also standard on the top-of-the-line SR Premium, which starts at $34,899. Both models are subject to a freight and PDI charge of $2,030.

Is the new Kicks worth the extra money?

One might be tempted to differentiate between the two Nissan Kicks simply by price. Indeed, the revised version of the small-ute, in its base trim, requires $4,600 more from your wallet than its predecessor. But, of course, it’s not quite that simple. Let’s find out what that 20% premium buys and whether or not it’s worth the investment.

1) Cabin: Advantage Nissan Kicks

The interior of the new Nissan Kicks is definitely an upgrade. While its predecessor’s cabin is traditional, with a small 7-inch central screen and analog instrumentation, the new cabin is more refined and technologically advanced, with a very trendy dual screen (up to 12.3 inches). All its functionality is easier to tame and overall, you get a very user-friendly infotainment system. In fact, the interior is so impressive that Wards named it one of the 10 Best Interiors and UX (User Experience) of the Year.

2) Cargo space: Advantage Nissan Kicks

The new Nissan Kicks is more or less 50 mm longer and wider than the Play, the difference mainly found in the cargo space. With the bench seat folded down, almost twice as much cargo can fit behind the first row of the new Kicks (1,700 litres versus 915 litres for the Play).

Even when all the rear seats are occupied, the new model can fit up to 20% more than the Kicks Play. Additionally, the new Kicks features a two-height adjustable floorboard that can be configured according to need — a very useful feature absent from the Kicks Play.

3) Occupant space: No Advantage

When it comes to passenger space, the new Kicks doesn’t stand out from its predecessor, as the latter’s interior design was so efficient. In fact, the Play offers better headroom (up to 50 mm) and legroom (up to 28 mm) in the front, although discerning observers will have noticed that the Play lacks the new model’s sunroof which usually reduces headroom.

As for the rear accommodations, both vehicles offer limited headroom and legroom. That said, for those who must travel with adults in the back, the new Nissan Kicks offers 50 more millimetres of knee room than the Play. But know, that at 876 mm, it’s far from being the “dégagement” found in a limo.

4) Powertrain: Advantage Kicks Play

Now, we’re about to surprise you. For day-to-day driving, the Nissan Kicks Play convinced us more than its new iteration. Both vehicles use a CVT transmission, but the Play’s proves more flexible, even though its has 19 fewer horsepower and 26 fewer torque than the new Kicks. The main reason is that the Play is up to 230 kilos lighter. When taking a highway on-ramp, the “old” Kicks simply runs out of steam less quickly while the new, heavier version seems to constantly run out of breath.

5) Fuel economy: Advantage Kicks Play

Less weight and power obviously mean less fuel is burned. In our real-life tests, the two-wheel-drive Nissan Kicks Play consumes one liter per 100 kilometres less fuel in combined city-highway driving than an all-wheel-drive new Nissan Kicks. For those who drive 20,000 kilometers per year, that equates to an annual savings of $250.

6) All-wheel-drive: Advantage Nissan Kicks

But since “notre pays, c’est l’hiver,” it might be better to choose a vehicle with all-wheel drive, even if it sips a little more fuel. And between the two Kickses, only the new one can do that with its “Snow” driving mode. Its 20% higher ground clearance (214-mm vs. 178-mm for the Play) is better equipped to handle slippery roads and snow drifts.

7) Road handling: Advantage Kicks Play (surprised, hé?)

The new Kicks we tested was the SR Premium AWD trim. It has a multi-link suspension, which is more sophisticated than the torsion beam found in the two-wheel-drive configurations of the Kicks (and Play).

But here’s the thing: The Kicks SR Premium’s ride comfort is compromised due to its 19-inch wheels, versus the Play’s 16- or 17-inch (more obedient and/or compliant) wheels. Add to this the higher ground clearance mentioned earlier, and you’ll understand that bumps are felt more keenly by those onboard the new Kicks.

8) Driving aids: Advantage Nissan Kicks (but that comes with some expense)

When it comes to driver-assistance technologies, both Kicks stand out with their standard 360 Shield safety suite. We’d like to commend the inclusion of blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and rear automatic braking. That said, the new Kicks adds a more advanced driving aid worth mentioning: The ProPilot Assist, for those willing to let the car do some of the driving. However, this feature is only available on the Kicks SR Premium, which starts at just under $35,000.

9) Driver’s vision… or not: Advantage Kicks Play

If there’s one thing that makes us unhappy about the new Nissan Kicks, it’s the high hood which greatly impairs the driver’s forward vision. Unless you’re sitting on six telephone directories, it’s difficult for average-sized drivers to gauge distances ahead. Indeed, a word of advice: Take both Kicks for a thorough test drive before committing to one. See if the poor visibility of the new model bothers you as much as it bothered us.

10) Extras: Advantage Nissan Kicks

Since the devil is in the details, let’s address a few loose ends we liked about the new Nissan Kicks:

• The new Nissan Kicks offers an option its predecessor didn’t: a sunroof — and of panoramic size, s’il vous plaît.
• Are you the type to carry your 32-ounce Yeti cup everywhere you go? The new Nissan Kicks can accommodate them with, arguably, the door’s largest cup holder in its class.
• While the Kicks Play retained its driver’s headrest-mounted speaker, the new Nissan Kicks takes it a step further by integrating a speaker into the passenger’s headrest as well.

11) Style: Your choice!

Since there’s no accounting for taste, we’ll let you decide for yourself when it comes to the exterior styling. Suffice it to say that during our test drive of the new Kicks, opinions were very divided. Some loved the more “expressive” silhouette with its wide stance wrapped in metallic Yuzu Yellow. Others (like us) preferred the original Kicks’ more subtle design and neutral colors, which blend nicely into traffic.

Which Nissan Kicks and which trim should you choose?

The second-generation Kicks won our duet by the slimmest margin — and if your budget allows it, you’ll probably want the one voted among the best automotive interiors, not to mention its easy-to-use modern technology, ample cargo space, and the sense of security provided by all-wheel drive.

Which version of the new Nissan Kicks should you choose, then? We recommend sticking with the middle of the lineup, the SV AWD (starting at $30,749), since it comes with heated seats and a heated steering wheel, automatic climate control, and the intelligent key.

If you’re dying to ride on 19-inch wheels, enjoy a panoramic sunroof, the Bose audio system and the ProPilot Assist, then you’ll need to commit to the top version of the new Kicks: the SR Premium, which starts at $34,899. And given the fierce competition in this market, you may also want to consider the Toyota Corolla Cross or the Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Can’t afford the monthly payments on the new Kicks? No worries! The first-generation Nissan Kicks Play won’t disappoint. So, which version of the first-gen should you choose? We recommend the SV, which starts at $25,198. It’s better equipped than the base version, with heated seats and a heated steering wheel, automatic climate controls, remote start engine, and a cruise control that welcomes the adaptive function.

Admittedly, the Play’s interior isn’t as eye-catching as its successor’s, and the absence of all-wheel drive, combined with its lower ground clearance, could make driving more problematic in the winter. However, the oldie’s highly disciplined behavior, fuel economy, and ease of maneuvering in urban environments continue to make it an appreciated proposition.

For all these reasons — and perhaps because we’re attached to “our old stuff“ — our choice goes to the Nissan Kicks Play. And it seems that Canadian buyers are making the same choice: In the last two full quarters, the Play has outsold the new Kicks by 16%, with almost 10,000 units sold across the country.