Nissan may introduce yet another crossover into America’s hottest segment. Reportedly, the Brazil-market Kicks is under serious consideration for US sales by Nissan North America’s top brass.
If it arrives, it is predicted to slot in under the funky Juke, with a slightly less powerful engine than its 188-horse direct-injection 1.6. Its starting price would be lower than the Juke’s $20,250 as well. It may even replace the Juke.
Speaking with Wards Auto, Nissan North America’s vice-president of product planning Michael Bunce said, “We see the opportunity for more mainstream [small] crossovers that are less niche, and we see Honda and others in that space and are taking it very seriously.” Bunce also said that Nissan is studying whether the Juke “remains in the [U.S.] market or not.”
With the Kicks, which was approved for production in Brazil last month, Nissan would go head to head against compact crossovers like the Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, Chevrolet Trax and Subaru XV Crosstrek.
Nissan has already filed a trademark application for the name Kicks with the US Patent and Trademark Office last October, though sometimes these filings are simply to reserve a name.
The Kicks will soon begin rolling off the assembly lines at Nissan’s Rio de Janeiro plant alongside the March (Micra in some markets) and Versa currently being produced there.
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