Priced at $21,520, the 2025 Nissan Kicks Play proves old dogs can

Nissan is kicking it old school with last year’s leftovers

Nissan introduced the redesigned Kicks earlier this year, and it’s a huge improvement thanks to a more powerful engine, available all-wheel drive and a design that doesn’t feel like it was built specifically for rental fleets. However, this isn’t the only Kicks in town, Nissan has also launched the new Kicks Play.

If you’re feeling deja vu, you’re not alone, because the 2025 Kicks Play is the 2024 Kicks S, but with a slightly different name. Nissan hasn’t said why they’re keeping this model around, but it’s hard to justify its existence since pricing starts at $21,520, not including a $1,390 destination charge.

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By comparison, the 2025 Kicks (good one) starts at $21,830 with a destination charge of $1,390. This means the price difference between the two models is only $310. However, the reality may be different, as we wouldn’t be surprised if the Kicks Play comes at a discount when it goes on sale early next year.

Equipment carries over from last year, so buyers will find halogen headlights and 16-inch steel wheels. They also come with air conditioning, cruise control, a six-speaker sound system and a 7-inch infotainment system.

While these features aren’t anything exciting, the Kicks Play does have a wide variety of driver assistance systems. Highlights include blind spot warning, lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. There’s also rear automatic braking and rear cross-traffic alert.

Power is provided by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 122 hp (91 kW / 124 PS) and 114 lb-ft (154 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to an Xtronic continuously variable transmission that sends power exclusively to the front wheels.

2024 Nissan Kicks S Pictured