the newest member of nissan's u.s. lineup is the 2018 nissan kicks, which i recently got to drive following its 2017 los angeles auto show debut. while the outgoing juke was definitely categorized as a compact entry-level suv, the kicks isn't so easily placed in any single category. it has more in common with cars like the hyundai kona and kia soul rather than suvs like the honda hr-v and toyota c-hr.
part of the reason for this is that the kicks is only offered in front-wheel drive. if you want all-wheel drive, you'll have to go for a rival or one of nissan's other suvs. while the juke was known for its ... quirky ... styling, the kicks is a bit more sedate. and even though we're unsure whether or not we should call it an suv, it does have a few styling cues that are hallmarks of suvs — starting with the lower black cladding along the body that makes it look more rugged.
nissan offers a heavy dose of interior and exterior customization with the kicks. the car in this video is gun metallic with a monarch orange roof, but nissan offers several other two-tone paint configurations. you'll also have the chance to add accessories to the car, much like this one has with orange wheel inserts, an orange front lip spoiler and orange mirror caps.
for the rest of my impressions, check out the video above. if you can't wait to get your hands on a nissan kicks of your own, however, it's on sale now.
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