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Nissan Reveals New Entry-Level Compact Crossover At Los Angeles Auto Show

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Nissan North America

Nissan debuted a sub-$20,000 compact crossover at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week to take advantage of a growing appetite in the U.S. for small, affordable utility vehicles.

Starting at under $19,000, the entry-level 2018 Nissan Kicks is priced to compete with popular crossovers such as the Honda HR-V and Kia Soul. The Kicks, which arrives at dealerships in June, is the sixth model in Nissan's sport-utility portfolio and its first new nameplate in eight years.

Nissan is calling the Kicks the “gateway” to its SUV and crossover lineup, which tops out with the $45,600 Armada large SUV. “Kicks is designed to fit the needs of singles or couples looking for expressive styling, personal technology, smart functionality and advanced safety features at an affordable price,” said Dan Mohnke, Nissan North America’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.

The Kicks will be powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive. Nissan says the crossover will deliver an estimated 33 mpg combined.

Nissan’s smallest SUV will take a cue from rivals, including the Toyota CH-R and forthcoming Volvo XC40, and come in a range of two-tone color combinations designed to appeal to younger consumers. The Kicks will be offered with an orange roof and gray body, a white roof and blue body, or a black roof with a white, orange, or red body.