Nissan Kicks SUV teased, to rival Hyundai Creta in India
Nissan India has released a teaser clip of its all-new offering, the Kicks SUV. The Japanese automobile manufacturer recently revealed its India-centric plans which stated that the company will launch new products, strengthen the Nissan and Datsun brands, expand its dealership network, optimise flexible manufacturing and strengthen R&D facilities. It is already known that the Nissan Kicks SUV will be launched in India in early 2019 and will be based on the same platform that underpins the Renault Capture in India. However, since Nissan is the more premium brand over Renault, we expect the Nissan Kicks SUV to be positioned over the Renault Capture and also be equipped with more premium features.
The Indian version of the Kicks is expected to look identical to the Kicks sold in international markets though it might differ from the international version under its skin. The reason behind this is the fact that Nissan is keen on localising the Kicks for India heavily, so as to be able to price it competitively. Goes without saying, pricing will be crucial to the Kicks' success in India, especially since it will compete with successful players like the Hyundai Creta, as also the slightly larger and slightly more expensive Mahindra XUV500 here.
The powertrains that will be offered in the Nissan Kicks SUV should be Renault's tried and tested 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine and 1.5-litre petrol motor. That said, Nissan could also look at plonking the 1.6-litre petrol engine into the Kicks for India, considering the motor is employed in the Brazilian version of the Kicks currently. More importantly, the Kicks is expected to boast of a more elaborate feature list in India, including a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system integrating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Also see: Tata Harrier vs Hyundai Creta vs Mahindra XUV500 vs Jeep Compass Comparo Video
Also see: Nissan Kicks v Hyundai Creta v Renault Captur v Maruti Suzuki S-Cross Comparison test Video