Nissan Kicks adjudged 'Best Buy of 2017'

Muscat: Nissan Kicks, the innovative, stylish and functional crossover, has been named the ‘Best Buy of 2017’ by the prestigious magazine ‘QuatroRodas’ in Brazil.
This comes after winning six other significant awards in Brazil and Latin America, including ‘Best SUV of 2017’ from FIPA (Inter-American Federation of Automotive Journalists), ‘Best Crossover of Latin America’ by America's, ‘Best Compact SUV’ by L'AutoPreferita's (Brazil), ‘Best Imported SUV’ from Top Car TV, ‘Best SUV of the Year’ and ‘The Best’ by Car and Driver magazine in Brazil.
A spokesperson for Nissan Oman, from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA), said, “We are delighted with this global recognition but we are not surprised. In Oman too, Nissan Kicks is gaining more and more popularity. Nissan Kicks was developed with the aim of delivering the most innovative, stylish and functional crossover in its class. The crossover has class-leading fuel efficiency, thanks to its advanced 1.6-litre engine and lightweight platform. Power is rated at 88kW (118HP) and torque of 149Nm. These features make it a sales success all over the world.”
To win the recognition, Nissan Kicks 1.6 SV beat the shortlisted models because according to the panel of technical journalists: "The Nissan Kicks offers well-balanced features and price. It is one of the most economical vehicles in its category to run and own, and it has one of the cheapest parts and servicing costs under 60,000km."
Production of Kicks in Brazil began in June at the Nissan Industrial Complex in Resende, Rio de Janeiro State. With the local production, the brand's best-selling model in the domestic market now offers additional trim versions, new standard features, first-in-segment equipment, and new two-tone body colours.
Amazing functionality
The car’s advanced chassis control technology allows it to deal with the rough and tumble of the urban jungle while the drivers will love the ease of parking thanks to the Around View Monitor and the amazing functionality of the 7-inch colour touchscreen.
The newcomer is aimed squarely at urban driving environments and combines a robust exterior and elevated driving position with compact dimensions for agile performance and manoeuvrability. The body features an advanced aerodynamic design, which optimises fuel consumption and minimises noise. Nissan Kicks is also one of the first models to realise the concept of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, initially presented at the Geneva Auto Show in 2016.
Nissan Intelligent Mobility uses smart, relevant technology to make the driver’s life easier while also making advances towards Nissan’s long-term goal of zero emission and zero fatality motoring. Nissan Kicks targets young people who are early adopters of such technology and who appreciate and embrace the way it can both simplify urban driving and connect them more easily to what matters. The Intelligent Mobility technology present in Kicks aims to reduce stress for drivers through innovations such as the Around View Monitor (AVM) and the Moving Object Detection system (MOD).
Using four cameras, placed at the front and rear of the car and in both door mirrors, AVM creates a bird's eye 360-degree view of the car, which can be displayed on the central monitor and used as a parking aid.
When the MOD system detects a moving object – a pedestrian, for example – a warning is sounded to alert the driver to the hazard and prevent a potential accident.
Technology-loving Nissan Kicks owners will relish the convenience and simplicity of the suite of systems that are accessible via the centrally mounted 7-inch colour touchscreen. These functions include navigation, audio, and Bluetooth phone connections. Complementing the touchscreen, and ideally located in front of the driver, a further screen in the main cluster of dials relays information from the onboard drive computer, audio system and navigation systems, as well as displaying warnings. Vehicle settings can be easily adjusted using the four-way selector on the steering wheel.
Among a host of comfort and safety technologies included in Nissan Kicks, its chassis control, supported by advanced electronic systems known as Active Trace Control, Active Ride Control and Active Engine Brake, is a truly outstanding feature.
Active Trace Control is an innovation that intervenes during driving through corners to ensure the intended trajectory is maintained by discreetly applying brakes to wheels individually. This has the effect of preventing a sudden loss of grip or stability.
Similarly, Active Ride Control applies the brakes for a split-second after the car has encountered large undulations in the road, to reduce the "bounce" effect on the suspension. This simple, effective solution is lighter and less complex than expensive and heavy adaptive damping systems.
To counter the "coasting" effect often associated with automatic and CVT gearboxes, Nissan Kicks is equipped with Active Engine Brake. When the accelerator is released, typically approaching a corner, engine braking is applied to stabilise the speed.
In terms of its visual appeal, Kicks features established Nissan design signatures such as the V-motion grille, which dominates the car’s front end. Also present are the boomerang head and taillights, and the “floating” coupé-style roof with a “wrap-around visor” look to the windscreen and side glass. The spacious interior too is instantly recognizable as a Nissan design thanks to the “gliding wing” shape stretching the width of the dashboard.
Underlining the car's crossover stance and inherent strength is its generous ground clearance (200mm), which helps provide a commanding driving position and a high eyepoint for excellent all-round visibility.
SBA is largely committed to supporting Nissan’s growth in the Sultanate through a major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman.