2021 Nissan Kicks

Nissan's three-strong Kicks lineup kicks off with the base S trim at a starting MSRP a shade under $20k, or $19,500 to be precise. The SV breaches the psychological barrier at a price of $23,100 and the Kick SR starts at $21,940. Prices exclude destination and handling fees of $1,095.

Since the 2021 Kicks is only a facelifted model, it drives nearly identically to the outgoing model. Owners of the pre-facelift Kicks may note the improved stopping power courtesy of the new rear disc brakes on SV and SR models and some other minor adjustments, though. The Kicks still rides on Nissan's V-Platform, which is also shared with the Versa sedan. This means it misses out on the excellent independent rear suspension found on the larger Sentra with its CMF-C/D platform. The simpler twist beam setup results in bumpier ride comfort and less agile handling, but at the price point, the Kicks is adequate. We never felt like the suspension jarred us on rough roads, which is impressive for an inexpensive vehicle.

With no all-wheel-drive option, the Kicks likely won't shine in snow driving but its light curb weight should keep it from struggling on snow-packed roads. That light curb weight keeps the Kicks feeling spry, though it's tough to enjoy the car's surprisingly nimble handling with the overly assisted steering. The wheel turns with minimal effort, making parking maneuvers straightforward while stripping away the driving enjoyment. Nissan hides a sport mode with an unmarked button on the shifter, but all it does is drop the transmission ratios to provide better engine responsiveness. At its price point, the Kicks delivers a comfortable and satisfying driving experience without any surprises.

When shopping in the entry-level subcompact crossover segment, most buyers are used to forgoing creature comforts and luxuries found on depreciated used models and more expensive luxury cars. But the 2021 Nissan Kicks teaches those shoppers that they can have an affordable car with all of the goodies found on more expensive models. Will the Kicks inspire on a backroad? Not really. But it will go from point A to point B while carrying the best stereo we've ever heard at this price point.

There are larger and more powerful options in the subcompact space, such as the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, and Kia Seltos, but none of them comes close to the Kicks' sub-$20,000 starting price. The Hyundai Venue is cheaper, but it's less well-optioned than the Kicks. Buyers looking for style, features, and impressive fuel economy should find a lot to enjoy about the Kicks and the 2021 updates have only made it easier to love.

Without full pricing available during this writing, it's tough to precisely pinpoint which Kicks trim level to recommend. Seeing as this is a highly-affordable car with a $19,500 base price, we assume most buyers will want to limit themselves on options as much as possible. Even last year's SR model started just over $21,000, keeping it well in the reasonable spectrum. Nissan has combined the premium and technology packages for this year, and we recommend going for the SR with these options just to get the excellent Bose audio system. All-in, a Kicks SR will struggle to exceed $24,000.

One of the Kicks' competitors comes from within its own family in the form of the Nissan Rogue. It's a pricier alternative with its base price of over $25,000, but that extra money goes towards many things, not least of which is a bigger vehicle that can store as much as 74.1 cubic feet worth of your stuff. You also get a more upmarket interior with the availability of heated seats in both rows, dual- or tri-zone automatic climate control, and a panoramic sunroof. Furthermore, the driver gets an expansive and configurable 12.3-inch driver info display. You can even have a 10-speaker Bose sound system, and with its 2.5-liter four-banger generating 181 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, it's a little more enjoyable to drive too. If you can afford the additional outlay, we recommend the Rogue.

Korean cars are getting better and better, and in 2021, the Juke has Hyundai's smallest SUV to contend with. It starts at an even lower price point than the Kicks, asking for just $18,750 for the base version. Like the Kicks, only a CVT is available these days, but at least you get alloy wheels on all variants. The 1.6-liter four-pot in the Venue is also more powerful, offering 121 hp and 113 lb-ft of torque, although these figures are still meager. However, the Venue is smaller, offering just 18.7 cubic feet behind the second row. It also doesn't get blind-spot monitoring or push-button ignition unless you upgrade to higher models. USB ports are also reserved for those who choose the top two trims. On balance, the Venue is a good car, but the Kicks seems more practical and only mildly less powerful.