Electrified 2023 Nissan Kicks e-POWER officially launched, starts at Php 1.209M

Nissan Philippines is ready to kick some ass as it continues to push for electrification with its latest offering, the all-new Nissan Kicks. It is set to compete in the very popular and crowded subcompact crossover segment. While it may not be the first electrified model in the segment, it is the first to provide a full electric vehicle driving experience as it is available with Nissan’s e-POWER technology.

e-POWER is a self-charging and 100% electric motor drive system powered by an efficient gasoline engine that offers an exciting and fun drive. It utilizes the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) technology from the Nissan LEAF full EV with the addition of a gasoline engine used for charging. In other words, it is a gas-powered electric motor.

This isn’t your usual hybrid powertrain as in that case, the gasoline engine, battery, or the combination of both can send power to the wheels. In the case of e-POWER, only the battery can send power to the wheels as the engine is not connected to them. Instead, the gasoline engine charges the electric motor.

Anyway, having e-POWER, all variants of the 2023 Nissan Kicks for the Philippines are powered by a 1.2-liter HR12DE Inline 3-Cylinder petrol engine that produces 78 horsepower and 103 Nm of torque that functions as a power generator for the 1.57 kWh battery. It is paired to an EM57 electric motor that produces 136 horsepower and 280 Nm of torque.

The 2023 Nissan Kicks e-POWER is available with a total three variants. The lineup starts with the EL, followed by the mid-spec VE, and topped-off by the top-spec VL, similar to other models in Nissan’s local lineup.

When it comes to design, the 2023 Nissan Kicks e-POWER features a bold front fascia that is amplified by the large V-Motion grille, flanked by slim full LED headlights. The side features 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels and a floating roof design. The rear on the other hand looks similar to both the previous and current generation of the larger X-Trail with its full LED taillights with the addition of a faux light bar connecting them.

Inside, the Kicks is rather simple with a dashboard design similar to that of the Almera subcompact sedan. Among its features are soft-touch padded leather on the dashboard, Zero Gravity seats, an 8-inch NissanConnect infotainment system (except on EL), electronic gear shifter, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. 

Full specifications and equipment can be viewed through this link.

For the safety department, VE and VL variants of the Kicks e-POWER is equipped with some Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) features which are Intelligent Around-view Monitor (IAVM) with Moving Object Detection (MOD), Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (IFCW), and Intelligent Emergency Braking (IEB). 

Pricing for the 2023 Nissan Kicks e-POWER was already revealed over a week ago with it starting at Php 1,209,000 for the entry-level EL variant, then Php 1,309,000 for the VE, and Php 1,509,000 for the VL. This is very competitive when compared to competition such as the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.

With such competitive pricing and new technology, the Nissan Kicks e-POWER will surely be a hit and a step in the right direction for vehicle electrification in the Philippines. What do you think?