Upfront is the V-Motion grille, a hallmark of Nissan’s contemporary design, as well as boomerang-shaped, LED daytime running lights. Its silhouette also draws prompts from its siblings, including a waistline that kicks up high at the C-pillar and a floating roof effect. Certainly from a looks perspective, the Kicks comes out ahead of the Juke, whose bulbous fenders and rounded rear hatch looked more like a squatting frog than an actual automobile.

Owners can express their personalities through the many exterior colors (and their names) including two-tone options like Fresh Powder with Deep Blue Pearl. My test vehicle was the top-trim SR model draped in two-tone Cayenne Red with Super Black. Inside ruins some of the vibe with charcoal being the only color available. SR models also receive orange contrast stitching, contoured prima-tex seating, and a pleather dash to break up the monotony of the black surfaces.

Fit and finish stand on par with a vehicle of this caliber, and I like the presence of different textures found throughout. While the leather-wrapped steering wheel felt particularly thin, the combination of orange contrast stitching and the D-shaped wheel provides a sporting flair. Trunk space is a standout feature, managing a cavernous 716 liters with the seats up and over 1,500 liters with them down, and almost best-in-class showing just behind the Honda HR-V. One unexpected annoyance, however, is the lack of fold-flat rear seats, and the trunk floor dips lower than the seat cushions, which can make loading large objects cumbersome.

By and large, Nissan has done a great job with the Kicks and among its immediate competitors, demonstrates good value. At an as-tested price of 24.903 USD, our loaded SR model comes just a thousand dollars less than the mid-range Mazda CX-3, and well under the 26.000 USD starting price of the Honda HR-V. Yes, the Mazda comes with more gruff from its larger engine, and the HR-V bests the Kicks’ storage capacity (only just), but the Kicks straddles a fine line between price and street performance, offering what most young audiences will want in a small urban SUV. Either way, you slice it, the Kicks kicks ass.