Kicking Tail And Taking Sales

NISSAN STAKES A CLAIM AS THE BEST-VALUE MINI CROSSOVER

- Scott Evans

It used to be that buying the base model of a budget minded car meant you couldn’t even get power windows or door locks. But things are getting better for the value shopper as customers expect more from their vehicles and new technology trickles down from premium models. The new Nissan Kicks takes this idea a big step forward— starting at less than 20 grand.

The standard features read like a list of things you normally wish you could get as options. Automatic emergency braking and forward collision alert. Automatic headlights. Three USB ports (some pricier competitors don’t offer that many on any trim level). A tilting and telescoping steering wheel. Automatic up/down front windows. Keyless entry and a push-button starter. A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth phone and streaming audio. All for as little as $18,965.

If you can scrape together a few more pennies, though, it’s worth springing for the midgrade SV model. It picks up Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, automatic climate control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic monitoring, a cargo cover, remote engine start, and alloy wheels for $20,665.

Unless you really want LED headlights and a 360-degree camera, you can skip the $21,265 SR trim—it’s mostly cosmetic, save for some software that’s supposed to make it handle a little better.

If you’re going to splurge on the already-strong SV trim, then beg, borrow, or steal the extra $1,000 and get the loaded SR with the Premium package. It adds faux-leather seats with heaters up front, a security system, and a phenomenal Bose Personal Plus eight speaker audio system.