The all-new Nissan Kicks 2020 has been launched in India from Rs 9.5 lakh (ex-showroom). A new turbo-petrol engine and a choice of their widely-acclaimed Xtronic CVT automatic are also offered.
If it wasn’t for the pandemic, the compact SUV market would be a hive of activity and with BS6 norms weeding out the segment, there would still be a slew of potent challengers. Another name has thrown their hat into the ring. The new Nissan Kicks 2020 has arrived with a choice of 1.5-litre petrol, or a more powerful 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine.
Any enthusiast worth their petrol knows of the legendary RB26DETT and VR38DETT engines, but the new HR13DDT is what now powers the new Nissan Kicks 2020. The new petrol four-cylinder engine has been jointly developed by Renault-Nissan and Mercedes, and is seen in transversely-mounted, front-wheel drive applications. Displacing 1,332-cc, the four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, in the Kicks, delivers 156 hp and 254 Nm of peak torque. That’s more than adequate performance and should give it a good punch, or rather, kick, from the powertrain. The HR13DDT engine also uses cylinder coating technology, borrowed from the Nissan GT-R supercar’s VR38DETT engine. This technology boosts efficiency as well as offers higher fuel economy and performance.
The Nissan Kicks 2020 is offered with a selection of only petrol drivelines. These include, first, the 1.5-litre H4K four-cylinder unit with 106 hp and 142 Nm, paired with a manual transmission, and offered in two variants, and second, the new 1.33-litre turbo-petrol HR13DDT with 156 hp and 254 Nm, available with a choice of four manual transmission variants and two Xtronic CVT automatic variants. The new Xtronic CVT automatic is toted as the best-performing automatic transmission in its class. It offers a seven-step M mode which provides a manual transmission-like experience at the driver’s choice, and is also said to have 40 per cent less friction thus contributing to higher fuel economy and response.
Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “The all-new Nissan Kicks 2020 is built with Japanese engineering and technology and has high build quality with purposeful and intelligent technology with class-leading premium-ness. The new Nissan Kicks is powered by best-in-class turbo engine and best-in-class Xtronic CVT offering higher fuel economy and acceleration.”
The Nissan Kicks is available in two 1.5-litre petrol variants with a manual transmission, XL and XV, priced at Rs 9.50 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively. There are four variants with the 1.3 Turbo, the XV, XV Premium, XV Premium (O) and XC Premium (O) Dual-tone, priced at Rs 11.85 lakh, 12.65 lakh, 13.70 lakh and 13.90 lakh respectively. The two Xtronic CVT variants, XV CVT and XV Premium CVT are priced at Rs 13.45 lakh and Rs 14.15 lakh respectively.
