2025 Nissan Kicks Play

The 2025 Nissan Kicks Play is really the renamed entry-level version of the 2024 Nissan Kicks subcompact SUV. Yep, in the face of Nissan releasing the second generation of the Kicks, it decided to continue producing and marketing the S base trim level of the first generation as the 2025 Kicks Play. The primary advantage the Kicks Play has over the Kicks is a $310 savings in the transaction price. Therefore, the Kicks Play provides consumers with a marginally cheaper path to the already enticingly affordable Kicks with its solid fuel economy, impressive list of advanced safety tech, and manageable size.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this class of subcompact SUVs including the 2024 and 2025 Nissan Kicks.

The second verse, same as the first … The Kicks Play name is new; however, it is identical to the 2024 Nissan Kicks S.

Nissan only offers the Kicks Play in a single trim. Squeezing under the starting price of the Nissan Kicks Play isn’t easy. Only segment rivals the Chevy Trax and Hyundai Venue manage a lower base sticker. As already mentioned, the Kicks starts at $310 more. For our money, we’d opt for the Kicks S over the Kicks Play because it comes standard with LED headlights, a front-seat center console, adaptive cruise control, more cargo room, a more powerful engine, and a few other goodies. Two advantages of the Kicks Play over the Kicks S are more front-seat head and legroom and standard keyless entry.

If you want to stay in the Nissan family but go bigger, we suggest the Nissan Rogue.

Before buying a new Kicks Play, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. It’s too soon to determine how the Kicks Play will stack up to the rest of its class for resale value; however, historically, the Kicks has managed average resale values.

The 122-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, in conjunction with its automatic transmission, engineered for mileage rather than performance, delivers rather leisurely acceleration. You will hardly notice this shortcoming as you whiz by gas station after gas station. You see, Nissan designed this powertrain for the ebb and flow of traffic on crowded city streets. However, where you may notice this less-than-enthusiastic performance is laboring uphill with a full complement of passengers and their luggage.

The Kicks Play provides a relatively pliant ride for a tiny SUV, and the steering is responsive. We live in an age of small crossovers managing mpg with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). For example, the Kia Seltos, Honda HR-V, and Toyota Corolla Cross have one. Some of our owner reviews note a droning that can carry into the cabin.

Fuel Economy

The government has yet to publish official estimated fuel-economy numbers for the Kicks Play, but we assume they will be the same as the 2024 Nissan Kicks. That means 33 mpg in mixed city-and-highway driving, placing it in the top tier of the subcompact segment. At 31 mpg, the Hyundai Venue comes close. Toward the bottom of the pile is the Honda HR-V (28 mpg). The lone hybrid in this class is the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, which returns up to 42 combined mpg.

Nissan furnishes the tidy cabin for five. Its interior is larger than key rivals like the Hyundai Venue and Toyota Corolla Cross. Moreover, its front head and legroom are better than the second-generation 2025 Nissan Kicks. However, we think three adults across the 60/40-split folding backseat is tight for jaunts longer than getting to the office lunch spot. Up front, two can sit comfortably, enjoying the view with plenty of elbow room. Some may find the cloth-covered front seats a bit too firm for longer trips, as a few of our owner reviews have noted. We applaud Nissan’s efforts to hold down the cost of the Kicks Play; however, we miss a center console with side-by-side cup holders and a padded armrest. Nissan does supply the driver’s seat with a fold-down right armrest, but it’s rather narrow and is a bone of contention for more than a few owners. By the way, the only cupholders in the second-row seat are in the doors.

Rear-seat legroom (33.5 inches) is a bit tight compared to others in the segment. The Honda HR-V provides 37.7 inches. What it lacks in rear-seat legroom, the Kicks makes up for with better-than-average cargo space (53.1 cubic feet). As a runner of errands, a plus for the Kicks Plus is a cargo area roughly the same as that of the Chevy Trailblazer but significantly larger than the Hyundai Venue. The 2025 Kicks, though, has about 30 cubic feet behind the backseat and 60 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. So, advantage Kicks.

From the curb, the 2025 Kicks looks sharper and more current than the Kicks Play. Having said that, we think the Kicks Play looks as good as many of its competitors.

Large bundle of safety tech
The Kicks Play comes with forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection. It also includes rear park assist with automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning.

Keyless entry
Standard in the Kicks Play, this feature allows you to unlock the driver’s door if the key fob is on your person. Push-button start is also included. You must step up to an upper trim in the 2025 Nissan Kicks to get this technology.

High beam assist
This headlight system defaults to high beams. However, when its sensors detect approaching headlights or taillights, it automatically drops down to low beams. It then automatically reverts back to high beams when it’s clear.

Audio system
A 6-speaker audio system featuring Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard. The 2025 Kicks S only includes four speakers.

Power accessories
Power windows, door locks, and outboard mirrors are standard.

Auto brake hold
It’s not hard to keep your foot on the brake while waiting at a long stoplight. But it’s easier not to.

The Kicks Play’s 122-hp 4-cylinder is adequate in most driving situations. Its continuously variable automatic transmission is built for fuel economy rather than breathtaking acceleration, and it gets the job done just fine. The Kicks will hit 60 mph in about 9 seconds, which is very close to the Honda HR-V’s and Chevy Trailblazer’s times.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Nissan’s warranty protection for the Kicks Play is typical for mainstream manufacturers. A limited bumper-to-bumper warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The powertrain warranty is also pretty much the standard at five years or 60,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

We suspect the 2025 Kicks Play will carry the same crash test scores as the 2024 Kicks. In government crash and safety testing, the 2024 Nissan Kicks received a National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) overall score of 4 out of 5 stars. It performed better in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing, with its top score of “Good” in six out of six tests.