SUVs are the most-sold new vehicles in the U.S. at the moment, with an estimated 52% of all new vehicles sold in 2025 being SUVs. From the crossover market to the full-size luxury market, there is an SUV for every occasion now, and while body-on-frame, truck-based SUVs are becoming rarer, the unibody market is very alive and kicking.Compact SUV-wise, models like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V are two of the most popular and loved, and while they deliver all sorts of easy-driving goods, Nissan quietly turns out one of the most useful compact SUV/crossovers on the market: the Nissan Kicks. It is well-priced, handy, and holds its value well. This is how much it will cost you to buy and own a Nissan Kicks 2025 model. Depreciation In The Compact SUV Market Toyota Depreciation in the compact SUV and crossover market isn't generally as dramatic as it is in the larger, more expensive segments. These vehicles tend to sit in that sweet spot of affordability and demand, which keeps used values relatively stable compared to sedans or less popular markets.There has been an explosion of compact SUVs and crossovers in recent years; even Toyota's RAV4 is being outpaced in sales growth by the smaller Corolla Cross, and they are some of the most popular models you can get today. Most brands are making them, and when they're done right, they're done right.Toyota It is not a completely level playing field, though. Some models hold better value thanks to a strong brand reputation, high reliability, and low running costs, while others drop in value after the first five or seven years. You have to take into consideration maintenance costs, reliability history, owner feedback, fuel efficiency, and aftercare support model by model.Despite this, unless we are talking about a limited edition model or something extraordinary, findings still point towards compact SUVs and crossovers as being one of the safer bets in terms of value retention, especially compared to three-row luxury SUVs or premium offerings. The Best New Compact SUVs And Crossovers For Value Retention SubaruAccording to CarEdge, the list of SUVs with the best resale value is overwhelmingly ruled by Toyota models. In terms of compact SUVs, the Toyota RAV4 is still the best new model for value retention, with an estimated 31% depreciation rate over five years.However, the new Hyundai Venue is also estimated to only lose around 31% of its value over the first five years of ownership, which shows that the compact SUV market is not as RAV4-ruled as it used to be. Then we have the Honda HR-V, which loses around 32% of its value over the same time, and the Corolla Cross, which loses the same. Some of the other best compact SUVs and crossovers for value retention are as follows. SUVs That Lose The Most Money Jeep Then there are the SUVs that hemorrhage value over five years. Generally, we see that full-size luxury SUVs tend to lose the most, and so do the most unreliable models. Again, though, this does depend on the specific brand and model.CarEdge says that the mainstream SUV with the current highest depreciation rate is the full-sized, three-row Nissan Armada, which loses up to 66.2% of its value in the first five years of ownership. This is followed by the EV Honda Prologue, which loses 63.7% of its value, and the Dodge Hornet, which loses around 62% of its value over the same time. When it comes to luxury SUVs, some of the highest-depreciating models are as follows. What You Get From A Nissan Kicks 2025 ModelAmee Reehal | TopSpeed A 2025 Nissan Kicks was originally available in three trims with prices ranging from $23,220 to $27,570. Nissan Kicks 2025 model year trims and pricing are as follows.The 2025 Kicks is a hugely budget-friendly compact SUV, and though it is cheap and small, it should by no means be overlooked. According to J.D. Power, it has an overall rating of 84 out of 100, with a reliability rating of 82 out of 100 and a driving experience of 85 out of 100, and CarBuzz named it their best budget car of 2025. Well-Equipped Interior That Is Made For Comfort Amee Reehal | TopSpeed As a unibody crossover/compact SUV, the 2025 Kicks is built primarily for on-road use, and despite its low original price, you still get a nicely-trimmed interior. Nissan has done a good job of making the cabin feel a lot more substantial than the price tag suggests. Even the entry-level S trim doesn't feel stripped out.It comes with a 7-inch digital driver display and a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, along with cloth upholstery, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote keyless entry, and Nissan's Safety Shield 360 suite. It is entry-level in most senses of the word, but it does give you everything basic you could need.Amee Reehal | TopSpeed The mid-range SV trim feels more upscale inside. It gets upgraded dual 12.3-inch displays, wireless smartphone charging, and Intelligent Around View Monitor. Cloth material remains standard fare, but the seat material is noticeably more upscale thanks to a patterned woven finish with contrast stitching. Soft-touch trim is used more extensively across the upper door panels and armrests, while the dashboard gets higher-quality surfaces and metallic-looking accents.At the top of the range is the SR, which comes with synthetic leather and cloth seats, sportier contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, ambient lighting, and a Bose Personal Plus audio rig. All models also get Nissan's Zero Gravity seats up front. For a very affordable small SUV, the Kicks does a good job. Small Stature But With Space Inside Nissan The Kicks is one of the smallest SUVs on the market, and while it may not be as grand-looking or roomy as others, its small dimensions of 171.9 inches by 70.9 inches by 64.2 inches make it very easy to drive around a city with, whilst hiding a surprisingly roomy interior.The 2025 Kicks is equipped for seating for up to five people over two rows. You get 60:40 split-folding rear seats and a total passenger volume of 125.6 cubic feet. Cargo capacity does vary by trim, which is as follows.Nissan Space for yourself and passengers is also reasonable. The rear may be a little cramped for taller passengers, but the front row has an impressive amount of legroom for the size of the vehicle. Interior passenger dimensions for the Nissan Kicks 2025 model year are as follows. Low Prices For The 2025 Nissan Kicks Are Holding WellAmee Reehal | TopSpeed Prices for the 2025 Nissan Kicks were never high, and while the average depreciation rate is low, the slight reduction of price makes the 2025 model look even more appealing for what you get. CarEdge says that the Kicks will hold 73.8% of its value after the first year, 72.3% after two years, 72.1% after three years, 65.7% after four years, and 64.8% after five years.After 10 years, though, and with 135,000 miles on the clock, CarEdge does say that it will only hold onto 27.8% of its value. To put that into perspective, a RAV4 holds on to roughly 49% of its value after the first ten years. Currently, the average used fair purchase price for a one-year-old Kicks S is $20,900, $23,300 for an SV, and $25,200 for an SR.NissanUsing CarEdge's estimates, after five years, a base-trim 2025 Kicks S will be worth approximately $16,800 after two years, $16,740 after three years, $15,255 after four years, $15,047 after five years, and around $6,455 after 10 years. One Engine Option But It Is Efficient Nissan As an entry-level small SUV, most things for the Kicks are kept simple. This same thought has been given to powertrain options; there is just one, and you get a choice between front-wheel drive as standard, or all-wheel drive. 2025 Kicks engine specifications are as follows.0–60 times have been clocked in the 9 to 10-second range, and it isn't rated for any sort of towing, but the aim of the game here is fuel-efficiency. FuelEconomy.gov says that the most efficient model is the FWD model, which can achieve 31 combined mpg (28 mpg city/35 mpg highway), costing you $2,200 a year for gas.AWD models can still achieve 30 combined mpg (27 mpg city/34 mpg highway), and will cost you $2,250 a year for gas. FuelEconomy.gov also says that the tank range for the FWD model is 369 miles, while the AWD model is estimated to get you 372 miles from a full tank (because it has a slightly larger tank). Average fueling costs for the 2025 Kicks are as follows.To put fueling costs into perspective, the 2026 Corolla Cross equipped with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four can achieve up to 32 combined mpg (31 mpg city/33 mpg highway), costing you between $2,100 and $2,250 a year for gas. Crucially, though, it will cost you at least $25,235 to buy one. Maintenance Costs Rival The Segment's Best Nissan The compact SUV is generally pretty good when it comes to maintenance costs, both over the short and long term. The Kicks looks to be no different. According to CarEdge, the ten-year maintenance cost is $7,791.This beats the SUV market average by $721 over the same time, while they also say that there is a 22.95% chance that it will require a major repair in the first 10 years, which again beats the market average by 1.02%. Over the first ten years of service, the Nissan Kicks will have the following average maintenance costs.Up against one of the most famously cheap to maintain SUVs, the RAV4, it does fall slightly behind in maintenance costs and costs are far less steady as the years roll on. The RAV4 is estimated to cost $261 for maintenance in the first year, $551 in the fifth year, and $887 in the tenth year.However, it is estimated to cost you less to maintain a Nissan Kicks than a Mazda CX-30, with CarEdge reporting that it will cost you $7,837 for maintenance and repairs after the first ten years, or $320 a year after the first year, $717 in the fifth year, and $1,174 in the tenth year. How Insurance Adds Up Over The Years Nissan Based on CarEdge's data for a 40-year-old driver with full coverage and good credit (which they use as a base range), it is estimated to cost you around $2,254 a year for insurance. This assumes a 13,000-mile mileage count a year, no recent accidents, and a single-car policy.This is estimated to beat the average SUV market rate by $102 a year, while its yearly premium places it in 59th position of the cheapest vehicles to insure per year. For a 40-year-old with a recent at-fault accident to their name, it is estimated to cost $3,310 a year, and for a 40-year-old with poor credit, $3,873. Other age brackets' insurance averages are as follows. Should You Buy A 2025 Nissan Kicks In 2026? Nissan A 2026 Nissan Kicks has a price range of $22,730 to $27,656, so Nissan hasn't messed around with the prices too much compared to last year's model. However, that is still slightly more expensive for a compact SUV that gets the same trim levels and the same engine choice. The ambient lighting has been removed from the top-range SR trim for 2026, but they are functionally the same vehicle.This leaves the Nissan Kicks 2025 model year in a good position. The 2025 redesign brought far more than a fresh face, and it introduced available AWD, a nice interior, better tech, and a more well-surrounded feel overall. It took the Kicks from being a budget-minded compact SUV to being a genuinely competitive compact SUV.Nissan Because the Kicks is estimated to lose value steadily rather than rapidly, waiting another year or two could mean paying slightly less for a decent little SUV with good tech and cheap running costs. Though paying the low price of a 2025 model today still isn't terrible. On the flip side, the Kicks doesn't have the greatest resale value over the long term, like the RAV4 does, so if you hold onto one for eight or ten years, you could save money on ownership, but potentially lose out on resale value.We think, yes, though. Buying a 2025 Nissan Kicks in 2026 is still a sound idea. You get a very handy interior, easy dimensions for urban driving, low average running and maintenance costs, plenty of pace inside, low used prices across the board, an understressed engine that gets the job done without too much fuss, good rates of reliability, and a modern-looking design that doesn't feel out of place on today's roads.Sources: Nissan, CarEdge, J.D. Power, FuelEconomy.gov, and RepairPal.FAQQ: Is the 2025 Nissan Kicks a good car to buy?The 2025 Nissan Kicks is an excellent budget-friendly choice if you need a daily city commuter with modern tech, an eye-catching design, and available all-wheel drive (AWD). However, it lacks highway passing power and overall cabin refinement, making it less ideal for long road trips.Q: What is the most common problem with Nissan Kicks?The most common and widely reported issues with the Nissan Kicks involve malfunctioning electronics (specifically false dashboard warning lights and backup camera glitches) and CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) performance issues. Owners have also noted minor mechanical faults like faulty EGR valves and sensitive AC/heating components. Q: Which is better, Nissan Kicks or Toyota Corolla Cross?The Nissan Kicks and Toyota Corolla Cross are both excellent subcompact SUVs, but they cater to different needs. The Kicks is the better choice for urban commuters and tech-lovers on a budget, while the Corolla Cross is ideal for families and drivers wanting higher reliability and more traditional SUV utility.
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