ASEAN NCAP accidentally confirms Nissan Kicks for Philippine market

The ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) has accidentally confirmed the pending arrival of the Nissan Kicks in the Philippines. Thanks to their assessment of the vehicle, we can see that the Philippines is included in the list. More importantly, the report even goes as far as to detail the safety systems and driving assist technology that could be featured in the vehicle once it arrives in the country. It is important to note that, while Nissan Philippines has yet to release an official statement about the Kicks, we can assume that the all-new vehicle entering the local market is a very real possibility.

Thanks to its compact form factor, the Nissan Kicks could serve as a replacement for the current generation Nissan Juke being sold in the Philippines. While this has yet to be confirmed by the Japanese brand, it could be a likely scenario as the Kicks presents itself as a more affordable yet feature-packed option.

Based on the report of the ASEAN NCAP, we know that the local version of the Kicks could be offered with side and curtain airbags as an option. However, these features will likely only be available in the higher grades of the subcompact crossover. Dual front airbags will likely be the standard for the rest of its model lineup in the country. Unlike in the other markets that the Kicks is available in, the Nissan Intelligent Mobility features such as blind-spot monitoring system, and the intelligent rear-view mirror found in the Nissan Terra may not be available for the local model.

Even powertrain options are still a mystery, however, based on the engine specifications found on the vehicle for other countries, choices are plentiful. The Nissan Kicks could come into the Philippines with a hybrid drivetrain making 127hp and 260 Nm of torque, or a 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline engine making 153hp and 254 Nm of torque, or a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter motor that makes 105hp and 142 Nm of torque. 

Nissan Philippines has yet to confirm a launch date, the official specifications of the Kicks, and the pricing of the all-new model. However, what we can confirm thanks to the report of the ASEAN NCAP is that the Nissan Kicks will indeed be a safe vehicle.