Yahoo Autos Check Out The 2025 Nissan Kicks Crossover's Coolest Design Details
The 2024 New York International Auto Show kicks off today, and last week Nissan kick-started the show’s reveal schedule by debuting the 2025 Kicks crossover. (I promise that’s the only kick pun I’ll make.) Subcompact crossovers aren’t typically examples of especially exciting design, but the second-generation Kicks bucks that trend with genuinely cool styling that has some really interesting details.
In addition to the overall exterior design, which was inspired by football helmets and sneakers, the 2025 Kicks rides on an updated platform and has grown in size. It now uses a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine with more power, and all-wheel drive is available for the first time. The interior is also a huge step forward, with nice materials, lots of available tech features and even a panoramic sunroof.
Ahead of the Kicks’ reveal, I got to check out the new SUV in a studio and chat with Nissan’s design director, who gave me some nice insights into the Kicks’ styling. Take a look through this slideshow to see all of the coolest design details on the 2025 Nissan Kicks, and let us know in the comments which ones are your favorites.
Football Face Paint Lights
Fancy multibeam LED headlights are standard, and the three-bar light signature on the top SR trim is meant to look like the face paint worn by football players. Lower trims have chrome accents in place of the running lights.
Ribbed Grille Slats
The slatted grille catches the light nicely and is much more interesting than a traditional mesh pattern would be.
Shoulder Pad–Like Sculpted Hood
Nissan says the sculpted hood evokes football shoulder pads with prominent, strong bulges rising up to the fenders.
Sneaker Sole Trim
The underside of the front bumper has this 3D textured pattern that’s like the foam soles on a sneaker.
More Sneaker Sole Trim
The side skirts get the same effect. It’s much more interesting than if these pieces were just plain and smooth, and it shows Nissan really put thought into the design.
Three-Spoke Wheels
I mean, who doesn’t look a good three-spoke wheel?
Subtle Kicks Branding
The side-view mirror arms have the Kicks script stamped into the plastic.
Floating Roof Design (A Good One)
I know I know, it’s another crossover with a floating roof design, but I think the Kicks pulls it off really well. And that’s an actual third-quarter window, not just a glossy black panel.
Exposed Logo Through The Glass
The Kicks script here isn’t etched into the glass, that’s actually the bare sheet metal exposed by a cutout in the glass itself. I’ve never seen something like this done before.
(Also, those striped lines are just artifacts from the LED wall that was surrounding the Kicks in the studio.)
Squircle Fuel Door
I just like the shape of the fuel filler door.
Broad Shoulders
The rear haunch is meaty and well sculpted, and it gives the Kicks a nice stance.
Three-Bar Taillights
The design of the taillights echo the fronts, with three separate LED bars that are three-dimensional within the light housing.
Much-Improved Interior
This isn’t necessarily a detail, but man the new Kicks’ interior looks so much better.
Carbon-Look Trim
While I’d rather there be no fake carbon-fiber trim at all, this is actually a woven fabric-like material that feels nice and adds some depth to the interior.
Material Mix
In addition to a lot more of that carbon fabric, the door panels have bronze brushed aluminum trim and more padded surfaces. While certainly not luxurious, everything feels nice considering the Kicks’ low price point.
Gradient Seat Fabric
On the top SR model, the seats have these fantastic fabric center sections with a red and grey gradient pattern. Both rows use Nissan’s Zero-Gravity seats, which are nice and comfy.
Wraparound Stitching
Contrasting red and grey stitching throughout the cabin is a nice touch, and I love how it wraps around on the armrest.
Lined Wireless Charging Pad
The wireless charging pad’s lined design, ahem, lines up nicely with other line motifs on the car, like on the headlights and wheels.
