2019-03-01 Exhibit

MAR 19 I I 57

StartinG price:

`9.55 Lakh
(ex-showroom)

by saurabh Gamare

The kicks has definitely announced its way in the suv market but misses a few checkpoints in terms of its price, features and reliability as

compared to other suvs. For the kicks to come out on top of the segment, the after-sales service from nissan will matter a lot.

attained with ECO mode switched on

which is only available on the Diesel

variants. Boot space of 400 litres

and an option to fold rear passenger

seats and if ever you’re stranded on

your weekend getaway trip with a flat

tyre, you wouldn’t have to trouble

yourself by removing all your luggage

to reach for the spare wheel because

the spare wheel is attached on the

Kicks’ underbody. The rear seats can

easily sit three people, also there is a

rear armrest with two cup holder slots.

There’s a storage space under the main

instrument console which has ambient

lighting, it did help me in reaching out

for spare change or my wallet in the

dark. However, the storage space in the

glove box is narrow and long, tough to

fit in wide objects.

drivabiLitY and

comFort

It doesn’t feel like you’re sitting inside

a Diesel engine car, that is the level

of refinement Nissan has achieved on

the Kicks. Its 1.5-litre diesel engine

is capable of producing 108bhp at

3,850rpm and 240Nm of peak torque

at 1,750rpm. It is an under-specced

engine as compared to the European

variant. The 6-speed manual

transmission gearbox is super smooth

and there’s barely any vibration on

it, as you can find on diesel cars, but

Nissan has not provided an option for

an AMT gearbox. It may be 12bhp

less than its European variant but it

still packs a punch when you floor it in

the second gear. Initially, it took me

some time adjusting to its heavy

steering wheel but the feedback from

it on three digit speed was comforting.

The weight on the steering wheel is

adequate to ride on bumpy roads.

Talking about bumpy roads, the Kicks

has a best in class ground clearance

of 210mm which ensures that

potholes and off-roading adventures

are a breezy experience. It would have

been even more comfortable if there

was a dead pedal on offer or some

leg room, and the armrest is fixed at

an angle where it becomes difficult

to shift gears or reaching for the

handbrake without the

wrist colliding.

2.5-lItre K9K

dCI dIesel

108 bHp 240 nm 6-speed manUal

the main

hiGhLiGht oF the

kickS iS the Four

cameraS with

a 360-deGree

view which iS

honeStLY an

amazinG add

on For a car

under `15 Lakh.

thiS add on

wiLL deFiniteLY

encouraGe a Lot

oF other car

manuFacturerS

to incorporate

Such FeatureS in

the Future.