It can take time for a new pair of shoes to feel right, but we slipped into the all-new 2025 Nissan Kicks just fine during our SoCal First Drive. And that’s because the Kicks is right up our alley: Attractive, more powerful and budget friendly.

This redesign laces up with a youthful and sporty vibe, defined by sharp lines, and edgy lighting elements front and rear. The interior is fitted with a specialized insert: Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats, now also found in the second row. They distribute weight and pressure more evenly, and we found them to be all-day comfortable. A standard 7-inch instrument panel is upgraded to a dazzling 12.3-inch display on higher trims; same for the infotainment screen, with the 7-inch unit growing to 12.3-inches on the SV and SR grades.

A little more pep in its step, under the tongue is a 2.0-liter inline-four engine, producing up to 141 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is now available on the Kicks for the first time— and on all grades! Stitching all of these enhancements together made for a truly enjoyable time behind the wheel.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks starts around $23,000 with destination, working up to about $30,000 for a top-equipped model. We’ll tie up our thoughts on the all-new Kicks in a future Road Test.