Well, I drove the Pre 1.3 turbo manual petrol variant.
1. Its got good road presence. where ever I had stopped it was a head-turner. Its dynamic, Energetic, a bit youthful in nature. Rear-end some may like as the tail light seemed a little funky.
2.CABIN- Interior is best with clean lines and elegant feel inside the cabin. Plush leatherette dashboard and seats. The moments you step on the car you feel it is well built. The doors are heavy and close with a thud. Interior quality is good. Everything feels well put together. It's spacious, even in the rear seats. Its a good cabin to be inside. and again you get that quality feel. NVH levels are good, feels damn quiet inside.
3. In terms of safety it comes with Vehicle dynamic control, ABS, EBD, Traction control, 4 airbags ...(could've included 2 more) , 360-degree parking is one of the best aid while parking.
4. Features, it comes decently equipped if not the best. 360-degree camera, 8-inch touch screen (no lag) android auto apple car play, dual-zone auto climate, rain-sensing wiper, light-sensing headlamp, cruise control......
5. THE DRIVE. .... so the driver seat you notice is you sit a little height, you get an SUV feel. press the start-stop button, the clutch felt a little deep. and gear throws were okay-ish. moves like any turbo cars in the first and second gear. but the third gear was giving me explosive performance after the turbo starts kicking in around 2000rpm. 156 horsepower gives a great mid-range punch .....
Since the clutch was a bit deep i stalled the car 2 times. BUT TO MY SURPRISE. they have put a feature where if the vehicle goes off, you press the clutch again and it starts! that's neat!. The steering is a little heavy a low speed but on the highway, it gives confidence as it has got a little weight to it.
But even the engine is not the talking point, its the suspension that makes this car a must buy. sometimes you don't even have to worry about bad roads. just go without braking...... this car feels solid planted, no road undulations can be felt inside the cabin. this suspension and vehicle dynamics is one class above. I was driving confidently around 100 kmph in a turn on average roads. i never felt so confident. Brakes are enough despite only has got front disc brakes.
Overall i liked this car a lot. This car had put a big smile on my face. and its not a feature-packed car to make you feel like home inside. I felt it like an enthusiast preference fir a powerful, well-built quality, car.
Something we can compare with Volkswagen, Skoda, fiat...... not Suzuki or Hyundai.
I've always used Japanese cars (15 years - Prado Land cruiser & Camry). I then used Hyundai for 6 years in India and regretted every moment. So when it came to changing the car, bought Nissan Kicks which came within my budget.
Toyota Fortuner was outside my budget. And Rav4 is not launched yet. Jeep Compass is highly priced, so for me, it does not give the value for the price we pay.
I drove TATA and Mahindra - took them from Rentals for long drives and did not like them at all. Also heard horror stories about after sales and quality from friends.
So Nissan kicks came in the right budget for me and given the features for XV Premium CVT Automatic, it's an excellent value for money. Did some test drives and understood that it's similar to Toyota quality. Tough and reliable but may not have gadgetry inside like Kia/ Hyundai.
Now that I use it regularly, I feel it's a no-nonsense SUV - reliable and gives a comfortable drive. Trustworthy when I go for long drives. Same assurance as a regular Japanese (Toyota) car that I'm used to. Automatic CVT drive is super. No frills, but has all that you require in terms of multimedia, comfort and essential features.
I don't know why customers talk about re-sale value in cars. I'm also surprised that Hyundai Creta sells so much in India. When you are using a car, buy a good one. Friends talked about re-sale value being high for Hyundai Creta. But I felt the point was not valid. You buy a car to drive it not with a motive to re-sell the car. I don't understand the logic. And a knowledgeable, value conscious buyer will definitely go for Japanese cars.
I had initially booked Seltos HTX+. But after test driving Nissan Kicks the ride quality amazed me and after few more test drives, I was convinced that I want Kicks. The booking to delivery was very smooth. Dealer arranged the Vehicle in less than a week and Pre-delivery Check was done. I have been mostly doing long drives with my Kicks and 20% local drives. The ride comfort, low end torque gives complete peace of mind in cities without worrying about gear shifts. On highways, I keep the RPM below 2000 and do 80-90 Km/h which gave me 19 km/l mileage.
In cities it gave 12-13 km/l. Mind you these are initial few thousand KMs of usage. Suspension is super intelligent and avoids body rolls, brakes give absolute confidence as I had to make sudden brake from 105 Km/h to 0 in less than 2 seconds which Kicks handled with ease, its high ground clearance also means, you forget about potholes. The diamond cut 17 inch alloy wheels, its stylish V shaped grill, tinted glasses(Seltos and CRETA has it only in 20 lakhs variants) give good appeal. It's Mercedes Benz Engine Turbo mated with priceless CVT gear box gives the best in class power (156 PS no other SUV in the category has) and comfort.
The interiors are not class leading at the same time it has implemented all essential stuff like AC Vents, dials, audio(btw, excellent quality stock speakers 4+2), steering mounted controls good quality and not confusing enough. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto being standard there is nothing to boast. Nissan Connect App.
Excellent ride, passes through potholes and pits with breeze, lowest NVH levels, boot space is very big, ground clearance is highest, low turning radius allows great manouverability. All in all best SUV in its class, a sure shot head turner. Definitely worth considering for people who live in area with bad roads because you don't feel any thuds and highest GC takes it all!
You may not find enough number of Kicks on the road. Showroom was closed as lock down was going on. Took to online booking mode. Response from the showroom Autorelli B T Road, Kolkata was quick. Test drive was arranged at the door step on the date lock down is relaxed. SA was in constant touch for any doubt clearing. Overall buying experience was pleasant.
The car is very silent inside. Totally insulated from outside cacophony. Solidly built, doors carry weight. Awesome engine refinement. Quick acceleration and overtaking is a breeze. Riding comfort is very good. Potholes, speed breakers do not cause discomfort any more. Steering appears to be happy if you are used to that of a Hyundai or Suzuki. It's very responsive and easy to maneuver. Smaller turning radius comes handy.
Look wise it's great. Draws appreciation whosoever looks at it. Well proportioned side profile and aerodynamic body style. A pillar poses minimum or no obstruction to the visibility. Driver position is a commanding one. Cooling power of AC, regular square shape of boot are big plus.
Yet to visit a service centre as regular maintenance is at 1 year interval.
Little cons: low mileage, lower reclining angle of rear seat, non adaptive rear view camera output, manual IVRM adjustment, no disc brake at rear wheels, somewhat laggy touch screen.
Notwithstanding, an overwhelming experience of ownership.
Excellent car with excellent driving dynamics, performance-oriented engine without any cons & at par with safety features. Joyful ride, good mileage, too good grunt, what can you expect more.