[Keeleri_Achu]

Originally Posted by shibujp

A great engine ruined by a numbskull selection of gear box!

Originally Posted by Nithesh_M

Nissan's revival plan crashes before its last takeoff attempt.

Sorry guys, but I have to disagree. Last month I rented a 2020 Nissan Versa, the international version of Sunny, here in the U.S. I had very low expectations but came out pleasantly surprised. Especially with the engine and transmission. It was not fast by U.S standards. Period. But the CVT was quite responsive and could easily make the best use of the engine. I got to drive for about 300 miles in Interstates, town traffic and back roads. It mimicked gear shifts on full throttle acceleration and the rubber band effect was minimal to non existent. I found it to be much better than the one I experienced in the 4th gen City. Nissan have been making CVTs for quite some time now and it's safe to assume that they have been perfecting it with every iteration. To my knowledge, the only automatic transmission Nissan offers in India or even here in the U.S is the X-tronic CVT, with the DCT of GT-R and 370z being exceptions for obvious reasons. It makes no sense for them to offer a different type of transmission. And with all the questions regarding the reliability of DCTs in Indian traffic conditions still in the air, I'm happy that they went for a safe option. Unlike Honda who chose not to introduce the brilliant 1.5 turbo, Nissan is offering the 1.3 even before other markets, which in my books deserves an applause. That engine makes the Indian Kicks more powerful than the U.S Kicks or the larger Rogue Sport. I believe that with a properly tuned CVT and that 1.3 turbo, the Kicks can kick any other sub 20 lakh SUV's butt in terms of performance. Let's just hope that they price it sensibly and offer a manual for the ones who can still afford to live with 3 pedals on their daily commute.

[4x4addict]

Don't understand why Renault/Nissan has completely moved to CVT for the X-Trail, Koleos, Kicks, etc. CVT's are no fun to drive compared to DCT or even a Torque Converter Gearbox.

[fhdowntheline]

I think the pairing of CVT is ok for the class of vehicles we are looking at. The Kicks is not a 4WD, it is very much a pseudo SUV with good ride and handling manners. It is not expected to scorch the tarmac ala Skoda Octavia 1.8, its dynamics are not designed for that anyway. So why bother with DCT and other exotic options? Just give it enough grunt for fast and efficient performance. To that end, the pairing is just fine. With 4 adults, 400 litres of luggage filled, this car will not struggle for performance. I would like to think it will easily keep up with the likes of Seltos and Creta.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Keeleri_Achu

Last month I rented a 2020 Nissan Versa, the international version of Sunny, here in the U.S.

Apples to apples, buddy. The car you are talking about has a different engine & different CVT (I believe 3rd-gen) compared to what Nissan is offering here. Not all CVTs are bad - I actually don't mind the one in the Honda City either. But the CVT that Renault-Nissan India use & the way they tune it is awful.

That said, I hope they've done a better job with the Kicks CVT. After all, it's the final shot in the arm.

[tarik.arora]

With Mr. Rakesh Srivastava at the helm, i expect sensible pricing this time. Nissan is out of consideration for most of the potential buyers, and only a very attractive price can raise some eyebrows at the moment.
I think things have started moving at Nissan: This new Kicks and the upcoming Redi-GO facelift will set the tone for the brand. If Nissan is able to generate some stir with these 2 products, the upcoming compact SUV can benefit.

[W.A.G.7]

Going by their track record, I am inclined to think they are going to mess this up as well. I believe the first thing they need to change is the name of the car. But the very few who will buy it - will have a trouble free ownership. Their cars have a good build quality and are very reliable. The Micra was one such example.
I would have expected them to improve thier sales and services full time before they introduced new variants or models in India.

[1.2TSI7DSG]

I think it's a decent combination to have. 1.3L turbo with a CVT might tug the people who want a petrol CSUV and with a not a great complexity/risk of the DCT. It would definitely better than the AMT we have in the Duster. None of the competition offers it. If the manage the tuning, they might have a winner here.
Fingers Crossed for the drive reviews!!!

[Swap_Abarth]

Great engine specs. It is a good looking SUV with great ride quality. It is perfectly suitable to our roads.

I am not worried about CVT, more interested in MT turbo petrol variant. Only issue I see is after sales service network and quality of service. I have heard horror stories about Nissan service centers. Hope they will get it right quickly. Hope this will give them good volumes.

[tarik.arora]

Originally Posted by turbo

Only CVT? Or will there be a manual option as well?

According to my sources, MT is part of the package.

[RaceHorse]

I have had the Micra Xtronic-CVT for more than 5 years, It was perfect for city runabouts and occasional highway drives. Initially, the CVT was irritating to drive, but as the time progress, I got adjusted to it and learned how to drive the CVT the correct way.

I agree it was no fun driving CVT as most of the time when in need of overtaking or emergency situations the rubberband effect shows up and makes us worry. Also, the booming sound, when we accelerate, irritates before it gets adjusted to RPM.

I hope this new combination with Turbo petrol might mask the rubber band effect well, and Nissan is offering 8 step CVT is for the first time. Hope it betters our expectations.

A Team-BHP review will address all our questions. If it is priced closely to C-SUV's this will add more confusion in my next purchase decision. Fingers crossed.

[84.monsoon]

Originally Posted by Nithesh_M

Management discussion:

A: None of our products seem to attract the target. What do we do?
B: What if instead of following our competitors, we offer something new/different?
.......

And Nissan's revival plan crashes before its last takeoff attempt.

Another version of the dialogue:
A: None of our products seem to be a segment leader or attract a cult following. What do we do?
B: What if instead of following our competitors, we offer something new/different?
A: Great! What do you have in mind?
B: See, the B-Segment SUV space is where the growth is. We have a great product in the Kicks but it is hurt by the fact that it lacks a clear positioning. It is trying to be a jack of all trades but the master of none. What if we re-launched it as "the most powerful B-Segment SUV" and priced it really competitively?
A: How?
B: We have the HR13 engine that makes more power and/or torque than Seltos GT, Jeep Compass or just about any competitor. It is also very fuel efficient thanks to the CVT. Will not cost an arm and leg to produce since we can re-use the existing investments on tools & equipment.
C: With a killer price and great launch, we can probably disrupt the market here. The Kicks is way more solid and capable than the likes of Seltos and Creta.

And the revised Kicks 1.3 Auto becomes a smash hit, offering a very competitive product at 30% lower price point than the likes of Seltos and Creta Turbo Petrol Autos.

[landmaster18]

I went to the Nissan showroom in Secunderabad (Hyderabad) in January to inquire into the Kicks. The service was super bad. It was as if I had disrupted their calm by walking into the showroom

I wish the service were a little bit better. I am inclined on the Kicks even if it is a CVT version.

[pgsagar]

I hope the car has a proper 4-cylinder engine. A 3-cylinder configuration would change everything. And, not for the better. And, while you are at it Nissan, see if you can throw in a pano-roof. That's the new fad sweeping the land. And, last but not the least, price it sensibly. You need to match the Koreans feature for feature and THEN shave a few lakhs off the price. That is the only way you can veer some buyers away from Korean showrooms. Good luck!

[AnAvgJoe]

The 1.3 Turbo petrol is one of the newer engines in Renault-Nissan alliance (if memory serves me right), found in a slew of their products that are currently on sale across the world. The automotive press have not had much to criticise as regards to this engine.

I think that this engine mated to a manual gearbox, would make a great enthusiasts car.

However, the Nissan Kicks has been, for want of a better word, 'A resounding failure'. The Indian market rarely gives second chances, 'Once a failure, always a failure'. I do not think the introduction of a new engine, no matter how good will change that. The Ford Escort springs to mind, A nameplate with such history, spoilt by a puny engine.

Nissan requires to bring in a few 'Halo Products', so as to whet the appetite of the automotive press, who in turn would give Nissan much needed eyeball space among potential customers and that in turn would make Nissan a brand worth considering in the eyes of the general public. The Patrol, Pathfinder, Navara or the Qashqai/Rogue spring to mind. They in turn would bring in sales of the New Micra (a beautiful car, an ideal competitor to the i20, Jazz, Altroz) or even the Juke (again a worthy compact SUV contender).

I do hope that time will prove me wrong and that Nissan will succeed with their re-engined Kicks and they stay to bring some of their more exciting products to our shores.

[Nithesh_M]

A manual model would also keep prices competitive.

For example if the Civic had a petrol model with manual gearbox in even a base trim there would have been more sales than what they manage now.