The Nissan Kicks e-Power is opened for bookings ahead of its official debut in December.
The hybrid is expected to be launched at the 2024 KL International Mobility Show (Dec 5-11), which is making a comeback after a five-year hiatus.
Its selling price is estimated to be below RM130,000.
The Kicks e-Power, a B-segment SUV, delivers electric motor-driven performance without requiring external charging. It essentially combines EV-like responsiveness with the convenience of petrol-powered energy generation.
With a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine as an energy generator, the system produces electricity for a 2.06kWh lithium-ion battery, which directly powers the electric motor in front, producing 95kW (129PS/127hp) and 280Nm of torque.
The electric motor in turn turns the front wheels.
The Kicks e-Power can go from 0-100kph in 9.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 180kph.
This setup, using the second-generation Nissan e-Power technology,
provides smooth, instant acceleration and fuel efficiency of 21.7km/L (NEDC), offering a range of up to 900km on a full 41-litre fuel tank.
(The NEDC testing protocol has been supplanted by the more realistic WLTP standard. Some carmakers still insists on using the outdated NEDC standard to inflate their figures and make their product look good, if not realistic. While WLTP is now the global standard for realistic testing, the persistence of NEDC figures in some cases reflects either marketing expediency or lagging regulatory updates in specific regions.)
The e-Power system reduces tailpipe emissions by 20% compared to conventional internal combustion engines (ICE) and includes features like regenerative braking and single-pedal driving with the e-Pedal Step function.
Nissan says maintenance costs average RM365 per service interval. The Kicks e-Power is backed by a 5-year vehicle warranty and an 8-year warranty on EV components.
The SUV’s exterior features Nissan’s V-Motion grille, LED headlamps, and a floating roof design.
Inside, the cabin includes a dual-tone dashboard, a 7-inch driver display, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Zero Gravity seats, and a minimalist EV-style console with an electronic gear selector.
An Intelligent Rear View Mirror enhances visibility with a real-time camera feed.
The SUV has earned a 5-star Asean NCAP rating and comes with advanced features under Nissan Intelligent Mobility, including Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Malaysia is getting the facelifted first-generation Kicks, the same model offered in Thailand, with units fully imported from there.
Meanwhile, the local media had already become familiar with the Kicks e-Power, having recently driven it over two days in a test-drive from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka and back.
