2023 Nissan Kicks

The Nissan Kicks isn't on our list of the 10 Cheapest New SUVs You Can Buy for 2022, but its price tag can't be blamed for its absence. Instead, it's the lack of available all-wheel drive that disqualifies it from official SUV designation. Otherwise, the Kicks' starting price tops the affordability list, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious shoppers. On sale now, the 2023 Kicks sees a $300 price increase over the outgoing base model and starts at $21,585 (all prices include destination charge). Still, the Kicks' starting price is less than half the average new car price that was estimated at $46,259 last month, according to J.D. power.

Despite its small footprint and below average price tag, the Kicks offers a very spacious interior that seats up to five passengers. It also gets impressive fuel economy and a healthy list of standard safety technologies. See what the base S model has to offer and how it fares compared to higher trim and its small SUVs and fellow pseudo-SUV rivals (no AWD available).

The single-engine Kicks option, a 122-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder, remains unchanged and is again paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. In our testing of the 2022 model, we found the SUV competent on city streets but struggled with highway acceleration. What the Kicks lacks in passing flair, it makes up for in efficiency, with an EPA-rated 31/36/33 mpg and the higher real-world mpg seen during our test: a pump-counted 37 mpg.

The Base S comes standard with cloth seats and 16-inch wheels wrapped in all-season tires. The SV model starts at $23,445 and gets larger 17-inch alloy wheels, silver roof rails, and an 8-inch touchscreen instead of the base model's 7-inch unit; it also added remote start. Starting at $24,145, the top-of-the-line SR offers unique exterior elements including black roof rails and mirrors, dark chrome grille, and LED headlights and fog lights. Interior designations include the unique upholstered seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and 360-degree camera. An eight-speaker Bose sound system, faux leather upholstery, and heated front seats and steering wheel can be added to the SR via the available Premium Package.

The modest list of standard tech features in the Kicks S includes a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, three USB ports, a six-speaker audio system and a start button. However, the SUV's standard suite of driver assistance and safety features up the mark. The Nissan Safety Shield 360 comes with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic warning, blind spot warning, reverse automatic braking and automatic high beam assist. The S also comes with standard cruise control, but Nissan's adaptive cruise control system is only available on higher trims.

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