Word has gotten out by now about Nissan’s own entry into the local subcompact crossover category. That would be the Kicks, armed with no less than the automaker’s successful e-Power series hybrid system. But the powertrain brings another remarkable feature in the form of the e-Pedal Step.
In an era of rising fuel prices, Nissan Philippines is changing the game
This refers to the one-pedal acceleration and braking system fitted on e-Power models. Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) conducted an experiential drive of the Kicks for members of the motoring media, serving as an opportunity for me to experience not just e-Power, but e-Pedal Step as well.
While the idea of an electric vehicle powered by a combustion engine sounded like an intriguing proposition, the thought of making a vehicle run and stop with just a single pedal seemed downright strange to me, at best. Is it nothing more than just a new-fangled gimmick?
Former race driver Louis Ramirez giving the rundown on what to expect aboard the Kicks e-Power
Running our test drive unit around Aseana Ave. and J.W. Diokno Blvd. in Parañaque, the e-Power system didn’t fail to meet my expectations. Torque was instantly available for acceleration, and the needle had no trouble climbing up all the way to 100 kilometers per hour on long stretches of road.
Considering the ease with which the Kicks devoured the asphalt in front of us, I wondered how the vehicle can be brought to a stop without using the conventional way i.e. stepping on the brake pedal. Former race driver Louis Ramirez, sitting shotgun, assured me that the e-Pedal Step can handle slowing down the vehicle safely.
The steeds for the day waiting to be mounted
I had gunned the Kicks past an intersection towards another traffic stop, whereupon Louis advised me to simply ease my foot off the pedal. It sounded a bit counterintuitive for those of us accustomed to alternating between the gas and brake pedals in city driving, but I complied with the knowledge that the guy knows what he’s talking about.
Indeed, I could feel the brakes clamping down on the rotors, but not overwhelmingly so. The learning curve lies mainly in fighting the urge to step on the brake pedal and bring the Kicks to a sudden stop. As a side benefit, the energy recovery system was already busy harvesting the heat from the brakes to convert into electricity with which to charge the onboard battery.
Nissan's e-Pedal Step system regulates braking force according to vehicle speed
The e-Pedal Step accomplishes its purpose by measuring the amount of pedal pressure and vehicle speed in returning the necessary braking force. For instance, strong braking is produced when either the gas pedal is floored or the vehicle is running at low to medium speed, which is usually the case in rush hour traffic. Good for avoiding rear-ending the car in front or the random pedestrian popping up on your field of vision.
Meanwhile, on high-speed highway cruises where the driver is not inclined to press the pedal excessively, the deceleration is kept low similar to engine braking on a combustion-powered car. Apart from sparing the driver the chore of having to press the gas pedal constantly just to sustain forward momentum, it also avoids abrupt stops that could result in injuries such as whiplash.
The resulting energy recovered from the brakes makes e-Pedal Step especially handy on long drives
With repeated use, the e-Pedal Step taught me to regulate the way I eased off the gas pedal to get the braking force I wanted, without bobbing my passengers’ heads. The standard brake pedal was needed only to bring the Kicks to a complete stop, while we were waiting for a break in traffic. Take note, the e-Pedal Step automatically engages when the Kicks is placed in Eco and Sport drive modes.
The country’s struggles with rising fuel prices is one thing that the Nissan Kicks e-Power is prepared to address. But as it turns out, Nissan also has a solution for the fatigue normally associated with driving in our dreaded traffic as well, demonstrating that e-Pedal Step is the proverbial step in the right direction for a new age of motoring.
Read more about our featured cars and technologies at Philkotse.com.
Know more about Nissan Kicks 2024
The Nissan Kicks Philippines is a hybrid-powered subcompact crossover. In the local market, it has four variants. They are the e-POWER EL AT, e-POWER VE AT, e-POWER VE Sport AT, and e-POWER VL AT. Their prices range from Php 1,179,000 to Php 1,494,000.
Under the hood, the Kick’s e-POWER engine can produce up to 134 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque. Power is sent to this Nissan model’s front wheels via gear reduction transmission.
Size-wise, the Nissan Kicks is 4,300mm long, 1,960mm wide, and 1,615mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,620mm, and a ground clearance of 180mm.
Locally, the Nissan Kicks competes against the likes of the Geely Coolray, Kia Stonic, MG ZS, Toyota Raize, Changan CS35 Plus, Honda HR-V, among others.
>>> New and used Nissan Kicks 2025 for sale in the Philippines
Nissan Kicks Launch
The Nissan Kicks was officially launched in the Philippine market in August 2022. At launch, it came with three variants. There were the EL e-POWER AT priced at Php 1,209,000, the VE e-POWER AT priced at Php 1,309,000, and the VL priced at Php 1,509,000.
Nissan Kicks Exterior
For exterior equipment, the Nissan Kicks is equipped with LED headlamps with auto-on/off function, LED daytime running lamps, LED taillights, auto-folding power-adjustable mirrors, etc. It also comes with roof rails. This model also gets a black-colored V-motion grille.
Nissan Kicks Interior
The 2025 Kicks can seat up to five occupants. Its rear cabin has 60:40 split-folding seats, while the front has manually adjustable Nissan Zero Gravity seats. Passengers are then kept comfortable with an automatic air-conditioning system,
For the driver, it also provides a tilt and telescopic steering wheel wrapped in leather, a 7-inch TFT display meter, an ample amount of bottle and cup holders, a 12-volt power socket, etc.
Technology & Safety Features
Depending on the trim, the Nissan Kicks gets a total of six airbags. It also has anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, vehicle dynamic control, an engine immobilizer, and a car alarm.
For entertainment, this subcompact model is equipped with an eight-inch touchscreen headunit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-spec trim has six speakers, while the rest have four speakers.
Other features of this model include an idle start/stop system, a 360-degree view camera, parking sensors, and cruise control.
Nissan Kicks Engine
Powering the Nissan Kicks is an AC Synchronous motor supplied by a 2.13 kWh Lithium-ion battery. The said battery, in turn, is charged by a 1.2-liter inline-3 gasoline engine. Collectively, this is dubbed as the e-POWER powertrain.
At maximum, this system can produce up to 136 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque. Power is sent to its front wheels via an automatic single-speed gear reduction transmission.
Nissan Kicks Chassis
The Nissan Kicks uses the V-platform. It shares this with the Nissan Almera. For suspensions, its front end is a strut-type, while the rear is a torsion beam suspension. Braking is handled by disc brakes for all wheels, and its parking brake is an electric type with an auto-hold function.
Nissan Kicks 2025 Price List
| Variants | Price |
|---|---|
| Nissan Kicks e-POWER EL AT | ₱1,179,000 |
| Nissan Kicks e-POWER EL AT (Pearl White) | ₱1,194,000 |
| Nissan Kicks e-POWER VE AT | ₱1,279,000 |
| Nissan Kicks e-POWER VE AT (Pearl White) | ₱1,294,000 |
| Nissan Kicks e-POWER VE Sport AT | ₱1,369,000 |
| Nissan Kicks e-POWER VL AT | ₱1,479,000 |
| Nissan Kicks e-POWER VL AT (Pearl White Two-Tone) | ₱1,494,000 |
Nissan Kicks FAQs
1. How much space will the Nissan Kick 2025's luggage compartment have?
The capacity of the Nissan Kick 2025's luggage compartment will promisingly be 470 liters. That will be up to 835 liters of space after lowering the back seats.
2. How much will the Nissan Kick 2025 cost?
Depending on the variants, the Nissan Kick 2025 will be from Php 1,179,000.
3. How big is the Nissan Kicks 2025?
The measurement of the Nissan Kicks 2025 is 4,300mm in length, 1,960mm in width, and 1,615mm in height with a 2,620mm wheelbase.
4. How many variants does the Nissan Kicks 2025 have?
Four variants. They are the e-POWER EL AT, e-POWER VE AT, e-POWER VE Sport AT, and e-POWER VL AT.
5. What is one of the differences between the four variants?
In terms of safety features, the EL variant only has 2 airbags while the rest of the variants have 6 airbags.
₱ 1,239,000 - ₱ 1,539,000
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