Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) recently held a track day for select media outlets to showcase the 2nd generation Nissan Kicks e-POWER that they are officially launching locally in mid-August.
The Kicks will be Nissan’s entry to the highly competitive 5-seater crossover segment, and yes, as the name suggests, it’s going to have Nissan’s proprietary e-POWER technology which is one of the two pillars of Nissan’s global electrification strategy (the other being pure EV) to reinforce its leadership in electrification.
The Nissan Kicks e-Power on display at the Clark International Speedway | Photo by Mika Fernandez-David
e-POWER is a 100% electric motor drive system using the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) technology perfected in the Nissan LEAF, (but) with a gasoline engine to generate electric power. The system provides a unique high-performance driving experience paired with the comfort of an all-electric vehicle. It has a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional Internal Combustion Engines (ICE), and unlike EVs but similar to conventional hybrid systems, does not require external charging. However, unlike hybrids that are propelled by their gasoline engine AND electric motor, e-POWER is purely electric driven. The petrol engine generates the energy that charges the battery, which in turn powers the electric motor that spins the tires. The petrol engine automatically kicks in when the battery level reaches 1/3 capacity and switches off when the battery is adequately charged. By toggling a switch, the Kicks can also go on full EV mode, where the vehicle runs entirely on electricity (i.e. no automatic turning on of the engine). However, the petrol engine will eventually be needed to recharge the drained Lithium-Ion batteries. Other Nissan vehicles available with e-POWER in other markets include the Note, Serena, Sylphy, and Qashqai.
Under the hood of the second-generation Nissan Kicks e-POWER | Photo by Mika Fernandez-David
The second-generation Nissan Kicks e-POWER’s electric motor| Photo by Mika Fernandez-David
The Nissan Kicks e-POWER’s emission info| Photo by Mika Fernandez-David
Like the all-electric Nissan LEAF, the e-POWER system makes use of Nissan’s e-Pedal which allows the driver to accelerate and decelerate using just (what is usually called the) throttle pedal. When the driver eases their foot from the e-Pedal, the friction from regenerative braking slows the vehicle down and uses the kinetic energy to charge the battery. On Eco mode, the vehicle gently slows down as the pedal is released. In Sport mode where the acceleration is more aggressive, the braking is also more pronounced. For instances where heavy braking is required, there is still a brake pedal that can be used.
Here’s what we know so far:
Scheduled to launch next month, the Kicks e-POWER will be available in 3 trims, presumably VL, VE, and EL.
It is fitted with a 2.06kwh Li-ion lithium-ion battery and has the same motor as the Nissan LEAF, an AC3 Synchronous Motor. The Kicks e-POWER is rated to produce 136PS of power and 280Nm of torque which is comparable to a 1.8L conventional engine but is said to have a quicker response time than a 2.0-liter turbo engine. Nissan Thailand has pegged its average fuel consumption at 23.8 Km/L, however, actual local numbers are not yet available.
Without the indicative badges, there is very little difference in the exterior aside from a black top, fog lamps, and a chrome side garnish for the top variant. Standard across the board are 17-inch alloy wheels, the black grille with chrome trim, body-color door handles, LED headlights, and Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), among others. The most significant difference among the variants, however, will be the amount of Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) features included, to which the intelligent Around View Monitor (I-AVM) is confirmed on the VL.
Inside, the dark interior is paired with leather seats (fabric for the base model) and features a 3-spoke, D-shaped steering wheel with audio and cruise control buttons. In terms of head units, we saw one with a touch screen and another more basic version in the base trim. Wired Apple Carplay and Android Auto are confirmed for the VL variant, with USB-Type C and USB-Type A ports in the center stack. Two USB-Type A charging ports are also available for backseat passengers.
Dashboard of the Nissan Kicks e-POWER VL variant | Photo by Mika Fernandez-David
Dashboard of the Nissan Kicks e-POWER EL variant | Photo by Mika Fernandez-David
The boot of the Kicks has 400 liters of space that can easily be expanded by folding the rear seats which have a 60/40 configuration. It has a 41-liter fuel tank and the units will be sourced from Thailand.
Nissan Philippines President Juan Manuel Hoyos (right), posing with (L to R) Akihiro Shibuya, Alliance Powertrain Engineering Director for e-POWER, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Naoki Nakada, Powertrain Engineer, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Photo by Mika Fernandez-David
During the track day, the units available were in white (hero color), orange, red, blue, and dark gray
While the Nissan execs were understandably tight-lipped about the launch SRP, speculative pricing has it pegged to cost lower than the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV and Hybrid, and approximately in the same price range as the Honda HR-V, and will come with a 5-year warranty.
Nissan Kicks e-POWER Tire Repair Kit found in the boot | Photo by Mika Fernandez-David
Despite the supply chain problem that manufacturers are experiencing globally, the Nissan execs we talked to assured us of an adequate number of units available come launch time to cover the rest of the year.
Based on our brief time with the Kicks, we found it easy to drive, responsive, and not overly complicated to operate. The e-Pedal takes getting used to but is easy to get the hang of. The silent engine (that kinda sounds like a submarine) might make you think that the Kicks e-POWER is slow, but let us assure you that and can pack a punch when needed, and is quite fun to drive. Its size makes it easy to park and maneuver in the city, and big enough to make you feel safe on the expressways. Styling is on point, and for those in the market for a 5-seater crossover, this will fit you comfortably.
For those concerned with range anxiety, charging station (in)compatibility, as well as the additional costs of installing a charger at home, the Kicks e-POWER looks like a good intro to Electric Vehicles.
Given the right pricing and availability, would you get one?
Doing it right. The crew sanitized the cars after every driver change. This should be the gold standard of how events are run given the current situation. | Photo by Mika Fernandez-David
