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Most entry trims feel like a starting point you’re supposed to climb away from. This one doesn’t, at least not anymore. The Nissan Kicks S trim picked up the big 12.3-inch touchscreen that used to live on pricier versions, reshuffling the math on Nissan’s smallest crossover. Same engine as the top trim. Same safety suite. Fewer extras, sure, but the ones it skips aren’t the ones you’d miss on a Tuesday commute.

At a Glance

• Engine: 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 141 horsepower, shared across every trim
• Screen: 12.3-inch NissanConnect touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Safety: Nissan Safety Shield 360, standard
• Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive (FWD), with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) available

What’s Under the Hood

There’s no engine ladder to climb here. Every Kicks runs the same naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with an Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), so the S trim gives up nothing under the hood compared with the SR. Output lands at 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque, plenty for merging and stop-and-go traffic. That kind of parity is rare in this segment.

Front-wheel drive comes standard, while Intelligent All-Wheel Drive sits on the options sheet. The engine sips regular unleaded, keeping fill-ups painless with EPA estimates of 28 miles per gallon (MPG) city / 35 MPG hwy / 31 MPG combined for FWD configurations.

The Screen That Moved Down the Ladder

This is the headline. The base Kicks made do with a 7-inch unit for a long stretch, but now the S gets the same 12.3-inch NissanConnect touchscreen as the SV and SR variants, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto baked in; no cables, no dongles.

Two USB-C ports sit up front, and SiriusXM tags along. Behind the wheel sits a 7-inch digital driver display that handles speed, range, and trip data cleanly without any squinting.

Safety You Don’t Pay Extra For

Nissan didn’t hold safety hostage for upper trims. The full Safety Shield 360 suite comes standard on the S:

• Automatic Emergency Braking: Includes Pedestrian Detection.
• Rear Automatic Braking: Helps in parking lots and driveways.
• Blind Spot Warning: Paired with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
• Lane Departure Warning: Alerts you to unintended drift.
• High Beam Assist: Toggles high beams automatically.

Room to Work With

In front-drive form, Nissan quotes 30 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 60 with them folded. It swallows groceries, a stroller, or a weekend of duffels with ease.

Zero Gravity seats come standard up front and in the two outboard rear spots. That sounds like brochure talk until two hours into a road trip, when your lower back starts filing a thank-you note.

Where the S Keeps It Simple

The S version rolls on 16-inch steel wheels with covers. They’re cheaper to replace when a pothole wins the argument, and the taller sidewalls soak up broken pavement better than bigger rims. Cloth upholstery, a conventional key, and no wireless charging pad round out the hardware. You’re paying for the machinery that does the heavy lifting while skipping the flashier extras.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the Kicks S have Apple CarPlay?

A: Yes, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard via the 12.3-inch touchscreen.

Q: Can you get the S with all-wheel drive?

A: Yes, Intelligent All-Wheel Drive is available across every Kicks trim.

Q: What does the SV add over the S?

A: Stepping up to the SV adds 17-inch wheels, hands-free entry, push-button start, remote engine start, a wireless charging pad, and access to the Cold Weather Package.

Test-Drive the Nissan Kicks S

Curious how far the base badge has come? Swing by or browse our current inventory to compare the S and SV trims side by side.