Sixteen years ago, I was looking for an affordable and efficient car that would serve me well both in the city, getting down tight side streets to parallel park, and on trips to the airport with luggage in the rear.  That, and I wanted something unique.  I bought a Smart ForTwo that’s been perfect for its intended purpose, but I may be ready for something a little more capable, but still funky.  The 2025 Nissan Kicks SR AWD could work.

Completely redesigned for 2025, the Kicks trades econo-hatch styling for that of a proper crossover.

It’s a fetching little devil with horizontal strakes across its face, narrow LED headlamps, and stacks of driving lamps embedded between.  Our SR edition adds 19” wheels and two-tone paint with a floating black roof.  Designers deftly disguised tall bodysides with aggressive sills that extend high into the doors.  I like the futuristic rear taillamps that arch across the hatch.

Given I’d likely keep this vehicle a very long time, having all of the latest style, comforts and technology matter.  Like many new cars, the Kicks has a glassy twin-screen arrangement with crisp digital gauges and touchscreen combined.  Devices connect wirelessly via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus charge wirelessly in the console below.  Automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel add luxuries – as do a twin-panel panoramic glass roof and 10-speaker Bose audio system with speakers in the headrests.

Whether indulging with Dua Lipa or George Jones, it sounded great.

Tap around to realize how posh the Kicks really is.  There’s some hard plastic if you tap your fingers, but most surfaces are soft-touch including the gray-and-red stitched panels on the doors, carbon fiber texture on the dash, and French-stitched coverings above.  Check the gradient red checks on the seats.  Very cool – and comfortable.  SR editions add a red-stitched flat-bottom steering wheel, piano black accents, and red around the gear selector.

Go for a drive, however, and you’ll find the Kicks is really just a tall sub-compact car.

On paper, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower should give it some, well, kick, but it took a firm foot to convince the continuously variable transmission to whirl power through our vehicle’s newly optional all-wheel-drive system.  Drive modes flick between Normal, Eco, Sport or Snow.  There’s nothing sporty about any of the modes, but at least it gets a frugal 27/34-MPG city/highway.

The bumpy suspension reminds me a little too much of my Smart, but it’s not as bad as it could be.

Base models come with a torsion beam rear suspension, which is fine for a small car, but our SR steps up with a fully independent arrangement.  It’s still pretty harsh over rough city streets, but does a much better job of settling on the highway and provides a more engaging driving experience should you find yourself with curves ahead.  Road noise definitely gets through, but the Kicks is otherwise an acceptable appliance for carrying friends, family, or just your camping gear.

And it does so safely adaptive cruise with lane centering, blind spot warning, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross path detection with auto brake.

Am I going to replace my Smart with a Kicks?  That’s to be determined, but having four doors, all-wheel-drive, flip-down rear seats for luggage, and a cabin that feels right certainly make their case.  And, so does the price.  Base models start at just $21,520, coming to $32,485 fully all-in.  Competitors include the Chevy Trax, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, and Subaru Crosstrek.

Storm Forward!

Send comments to Casey at [email protected]; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.