Nissan Kicks Gets A New Base Diesel Variant

• Only diesel variants of the Kicks have been rejigged; petrol variants remain unchanged.
• The new base-spec variant makes the diesel Kicks Rs 1.2 lakh more affordable than before.
• Top-spec XV Pre Option variant has been removed; XV Pre gets all features as standard.
• Variant rejig and feature additions have resulted in a price hike of Rs 2,000 to Rs 24,000 depending on the variant.

Nissan has extensively changed the variant lineup of the slow-selling Kicks premium compact-SUV. Limited to the diesel variants, the Kicks now gets a new base variant, priced at Rs 9.89 lakh, and a rejigged variant list. The company hopes this could make the SUV more attractive to prospective buyers. 

The new base-spec Kicks XE diesel variant is Rs 1.2 lakh cheaper than the XL variant! Meanwhile, the XV Pre Option diesel variant has been removed and the optional features have been added to the XV Pre variant instead. The top-of-the-line Nissan Kicks now costs Rs 96,000 less than before. Changes have been made to the feature list in all existing diesel variants, resulting in a price hike of Rs 2,000 to Rs 24,000 depending on the variant. 

Here’s how the variant lineup of the Kicks diesel has changed:

All prices ex-showroom Delhi 

It must be mentioned that the petrol variants don’t get any changes to its variant line up, features or prices. It is available in XL and XV variants that are priced at Rs 9.55 lakh and Rs 10.95 lakh (both prices, ex-showroom Delhi), respectively. 

The base-spec XE variant comes with almost all the features the previous XL base variant offered. This includes a 2-DIN infotainment system with USB, AUX-In, Bluetooth connectivity, a four speaker sound system, a cooled glove box, automatic climate control and NissanConnect technology pack that offers more than 50 connectivity features. Safety features include dual airbags, ABS with EBD and rear parking sensors.  

The XL variant now costs Rs 24,000 more than before. For the premium, the revamped variant now packs 17-inch alloy wheels (up from 16-inch steel wheels), front fog lamps, roof rails, steering-mounted audio controls, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and an Eco driving mode. 

The XV variant sits right below the top-spec XV Pre variant. While this variant gets a nominal price hike of Rs 2,000, the amount of feature upgrades it gets is quite impressive. It now packs LED projector headlamps, cruise control, keyless entry-and-go, power folding and adjustable wing mirrors, a six speaker audio system and hill-start assist.

The XV Pre is the new top-spec variant in the Kicks diesel lineup. It now commands a premium of Rs 4,000. But it is cheaper by a massive Rs 96,000 when compared to the now-discontinued XV Pre Option trim. It now packs auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, dual-tone black and brown interiors, leather upholstery and finish on the dashboard and rear fog lamps. The XV Pre also gets side airbags, taking the total airbag count to four. The XV Pre diesel variant can be had in dual colour options as well.

The Nissan Kicks is powered by the same 1.5-litre K9K diesel unit and 1.5-litre H4K petrol unit as before. The diesel engine develops 110PS and 240Nm while the petrol engine develops 106PS and 142Nm. Transmission options are limited to a 5-speed manual in the petrol and a 6-speed manual in the diesel.

The introduction of the new base-spec diesel variant is indeed a welcome move as the Kicks is now available to a wider base of customers. Will this transform the fortunes of the SUV in the segment? Only time will tell.