Greg's take on the Nissan Kicks!!!

Just like every other major automotive manufacturer, Nissan is playing in the subcompact crossover segment with the Kicks. Bumper2Bumpertv looks at what the brand hopes will be their small but mighty competitor.

2018 Nissan Kicks

THE AUTO PAGE

By

John Heilig

• MODEL: 2018 Nissan Kicks SV
• ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: 1.6-liter DOHC I-4/CVT 
• HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 125 hp @ 5,800 rpm/115 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm. 
• WHEELBASE: 103.1 in.  
• LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 169.1 x 69.3 x 62.4 in. 
• TIRES: P205/55R17 
• CARGO CAPACITY: 25.3/53.1 cu. ft. (rear seats up/down)  
• ECONOMY: 31 mpg city/36 mpg highway/30.2 mpg test 
• FUEL TANK: 10.8 gal.  
• CURB WEIGHT: 2,645 lbs. 
• TOWING CAPACITY: Not recommended 
• COMPETITIVE CLASS: Toyota CH-R, Chevrolet Cruze, Volkswagen Beetle 
• STICKER: $21,425 (includes $975 delivery, $660 options) 
• BOTTOM LINE: A worthy successor to the Nissan Juke, the Kicks incorporates all the good features of the Juke, including interesting styling, with a more modern approach.
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            I have to confess, right off the block, that the Nissan Juke is/was one of my favorites. The styling knocks me out and the small-car performance is ideal for 90 percent of my driving.

            So when Nissan announced the demise of the Juke in favor of the Kicks (an equally odd name), I was concerned. Well, a lot of that concern is allayed. True, the styling isn’t quite as out-of-the-box as the Juke, but the Kicks still causes heads to turn whenever it passes by. It could have been tied Monarch Orange color with the black roof. Nissan calls the Kicks a City SUV and rightly so. 

            The front-wheel-drive-only Kicks is small, built on a 103.1-inch wheelbase and only 169.1 inches long overall. I built my love of automobiles on small cars, so the Kicks fits in well, especially since an older small car has recently joined our stable. We drove the Kicks everywhere and felt confident. Sure, in some instances you have to anticipate (like on entry ramps) and plan ahead, but still, power is decent at 125 horsepower and 115 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission is smooth, as with most CVTs. There is no jerky shifting. 

            The driver faces a unique instrument panel. There’s a large speedometer on the right with (we chose from options) a large drive computer on the left with fuel economy, a digital clock and outside temperature on the top. 

            Entertainment comes from a good audio system with easy-to-find sources and stations. Choices are among AM/FM, SiriusXM, Bluetooth and AUX with two basic knobs for adjusting. Yippee. 

            A flat-bottomed wheel has the usual assortment of buttons for cruise control, audio, and scrolling through then information options.

            Up front there’s a nicely designed dash with a “carbon fiber” finish that goes well with the dotted seats and door rests. 

            One feature that impressed me was the excellent HVAC system that was almost too warm. Like the audio, it has two simple knobs to control. Yippee two.

            Ahead of the shifter at the base of the center stack is a large cubby. There’s a small “key cubby” by the driver’s left knee. An additional smaller cubby is located between the shifter and the two cupholders, which are inconveniently located under the driver’s arm rest. There is no arm rest for the front passenger’s left arm, which my wife used to constantly remind me.

            Front seats are comfortable with good side support that invites brisk driving (if only there was a passenger arm rest). One of my favorite experiences is city driving a small car and weaving among the taxis. The cabbies aren’t too thrilled. 

            Rear seats offer tight legroom, even with indents in the backs of the front seats. There is room for water bottles in the rear doors plus one cupholder at the rear of the center console. There’s good rear headroom and outside visibility. 

            Cargo capacities are very good with the rear seat backs up or down. They did have to be folded for my golf bag. And with the seats folded there is a two-level cargo floor.

            Overall, the Kicks may not totally replace the Juke in my list of fun cars, but it does appeal with a slightly more conservative styling pallet and the kind of performance you want from a small SUV.

(c) 2018 The Auto Page Syndicate

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John's view of the Lexus GS300

THE AUTO PAGE

By

John Heilig

• MODEL: 2018 Lexus GS300  
• ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: 2.0-liter turbocharged 4/8-speed automatic 
• HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 241 hp/258 lb.-ft. @ 1,650-4,400 rpm  
• WHEELBASE: 112.2 in. 
• LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 193.5 x 72.6 x 56.7 in.  
• TIRES: P235/45R18  
• CARGO CAPACITY: 14.0 cu. ft.  
• ECONOMY: 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/18.7 mpg test 
• FUEL TANK: 17.4 gal.  
• CURB WEIGHT: 4,034 lbs.  
• TOWING CAPACITY: Not recommended  
• COMPETITIVE CLASS: Acura RLX, Dodge Charger, Nissan Maxima 
• STICKER: $51,829 (includes $995 delivery, $4,524 options)  
• BOTTOM LINE: The rebadged Lexus GS200t, now known as the GS300, is classic Lexus, with a quiet ride, very good performance, and familial Lexus styling and luxury.
  

            We had an opportunity to visit our grandson at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and our vehicle for the visit was a 2018 Lexus GS300. This model was formerly labeled the GS200t to reflect its 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine, but it seemed more reminiscent of the old, original, LS400, with its quiet, smooth ride. It still sports the 2.0-liter four.

            Our journey took us through city streets in a college town as well as over Interstates and some more general suburban roads. In addition, we toured a few shopping centers with traffic that ranged from almost nonexistent to midtown New York rush hour in volume. The GS300 is equipped with standard blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert to help navigate this foolishness.

            The GS300 proved to be a comfortable driver on all roads. I was impressed with how well it managed through city traffic plus in tight parking garages where we had to make a quick U-turn. The car drove exceptionally well on Interstates, where there was no dearth of power, despite the small engine. The engine is rated at 241 horsepower, and it zipped us along quite well. 

            Other available engines are the 3.5-liter V6 in the GS350, a 3.5-liter Atkinson hybrid engine in the GS450h, and the GS F- Sport, with a slew of performance options.

            Adding to the comfortable ride are great front seats with good side support. The weather in Knoxville was at times chilly, so we appreciated the heated seats. Rear seat legroom is very good. My 6-1 grandson hopped in and immediately commented on the room. “Use that in your review,” he advised. 

            We were blessed with the same funky weather we thought we left in Pennsylvania, with occasional rain and a mix that couldn’t decide among rain, mist, downpour or sun. The rain sensing wipers took the wiper decision out of my hands. 

            Navigating through the infotainment screen requires the use of a Remote Touch Interface Controller on the center console. This controller has built-in indents to help you stop at points on the screen. I like it. There is a nice hand rest for the driver (or passenger) to be comfortable using it. The infotainment screen looks built in, rather than added on as it is in some cars. 

            In addition, the GS300 comes equipped with the Lexus Safety System and with pre-collision system and pedestrian detection, dynamic radar cruise control and the BSM. Needless to say, when you’re driving a new car in a different environment, all the safety equipment the manufacturer can add is well-received.

            Generally, I like the Lexus exterior styling, although I originally wasn’t a big fan of the spindle grille. My only complaint about the GS300 is that almost every time I entered the car I hit my head on the door frame, and I’m not that tall.

            The GS300 renews my admiration for Lexus. Let’s face it, most Lexus models are derivatives of Toyota models, but Lexus does an excellent job of improving the luxury and overall feel of the vehicles. Then GS300 is an excellent package, typical of what we have come to expect from Lexus.

(c) 2018 The Auto Page Syndicate