Japan Gets A $18,700 Hybrid Kicks And A Rugged Rock Creek, We Get Neither

The second generation of the Nissan Kicks has been around since 2024 in North America, but other parts of the world kept getting upgraded versions of the original. Now, Nissan has finally introduced the new Kicks in Japan, trading the ICE of its American counterpart for a hybrid-only lineup. Furthermore, the local lineup also includes a Rock Creek trim with rugged styling and waterproof upholstery.

Under the hood of the Japanese Kicks lies the new e-Power self-charging hybrid powertrain available in FWD and AWD flavors. This combines a 1.4-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine acting solely as a generator for the lithium-ion battery and the single or dual electric motors.

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The ICE produces 97 hp (72 kW / 98 PS), the front electric motor generates 141 hp (105 kW / 143 PS) and the optional rear-mounted electric motor of the e-4ORCE system contributes another 67 hp (50 kW / 68 PS). Nissan claims that the new setup improves fuel efficiency by over 10% compared to its predecessor.

Visually, the Japanese Kicks looks nearly identical to the US model with the exception of the clear indicators and the different color palette that includes the Resonance Blue shade. The base X and X+ trims feature the textured plastic cladding while the flagship G gains fancier LEDs and rides on 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

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Inside, the biggest difference is the right-hand-drive layout. The dashboard features dual 12.3-inch displays and a practical shelf for resting your hand while using the touchscreen. Depending on the trim, you’ll find Zero Gravity seats, vegan perforated leather upholstery, an 100V AC outlet that can power external appliances, and a comprehensive ProPilot ADAS suite.

A More Rugged Kicks

The highlight of the Japanese lineup is the Kicks Rock Creek, developed by the Nissan Motorsports & Customize (NMC) division. This is distinguished by the triple silver slots on the grille, the black inserts on the front bumper, the Lava Red accents around the bodywork, the aluminum-style skid plates, and the rugged five-spoke alloy wheels. Inside, the Rock Creek treatment includes Lava Red stitching and waterproof seat upholstery.

The Kicks Rock Creek will make its official debut later this summer, with customer deliveries in Japan locked in for this winter. Nissan has confirmed it will be available in both FWD and AWD flavors with the standard hybrid powertrain.

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A camouflaged prototype was recently spied testing on US roads with covered bumpers and a custom roof rack. This suggests that the adventurous trim could join the local lineup for the 2027 model year, although it might have region-specific features.

Pricing for the Kicks in Japan kicks off at ¥2,999,700 ($18,700) for the entry-level FWD trim and climbs to ¥4,248,200 ($26,500) for the flagship G with AWD. As for the upcoming Rock Creek, this is estimated to cost between ¥4,000,000-4,300,000 ($25,000-26,800) when it hits the roads this winter. For comparison, the MSRP of the non-electrified US-spec model currently ranges between $22,730-27,565.

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