Nissan Kicks has been unintentionally confirmed for PH market
ASEAN NCAP shows new Nissan Kicks is coming to PH
If there’s one Nissan model that many Philippine customers are waiting for, it’s the successor of the Juke: the Nissan Kicks.
Unfortunately, nearly five months since its global debut, Nissan Philippines has yet to confirm whether or not the new Kicks will be sold in the country. But thanks to an unlikely source, it seems that the Kicks is coming here.
According to the crash test agency responsible for the region, the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the Kicks is slated for release in the Philippines.
Upon going through their assessment of the 2020 Kicks, we noticed that the Philippines has been included in the list. More importantly, they even listed down the safety systems and driving assist technology that will be offered on the crossover for the Philippine market.
Based on the information provided, we know that the local Kicks will be offered with curtain airbags and side airbags as an option. These might also be standard equipment for higher trim models, while the front airbags will be standard. Unlike other countries, some Nissan Intelligent Mobility features like blind spot warning, the intelligent rear-view mirror (i.e. Terra), lane departure warning, and lane keep assist will not be available on Philippine-spec models. In fact, according to ASEAN NCAP, the only safety tech available on local Kick units will be forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking.
Aside from the number of airbags and some of the safety systems, ASEAN NCAP didn't indicate what engine options, trim, or variants the Philippine-spec Kicks will get. For reference, the Thailand-spec Kicks is offered with Nissan’s e-Power hybrid powertrain which puts out 129 PS and 260 Nm torque. Meanwhile, other countries in the ASEAN region get a 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline engine good for 156 PS and 254 Nm torque, or a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter four-cylinder producing 106 PS and 142 Nm torque.
With all the trim and powertrain options of the Philippine-spec Kicks still up in the air, there is one thing we are certain about – its safety record. Based on the results of the ASEAN NCAP test, the Kicks scored a perfect five stars and scored 86.93 out of 100. Specifically, the crossover scored 34.06 for adult occupant protection and 40.7 for child occupant protection. ASEAN NCAP also praised the numerous safety technology which are available for the model.
The Kicks will succeed the popular Juke once it debuts in the Philippines. With its arrival more or less confirmed, the questions now would be when will it be launched and how much will it cost?
