Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The Smallest Rock CreekNissan introduced its Rock Creek trim back in 2021 with the Pathfinder, and the nameplate was since expanded with the Rogue. Now the Japanese automaker is about to build its smallest off-road crossover yet, the 2027 Nissan Kicks Rock Creek. This is the third entrant to the Rock Creek lineup, competing in a subcompact segment that doesn't have much off-road competition.NissanView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisement"The 2027 Kicks Rock Creek is for drivers who want more adventure from their dailydrive, with trail-ready styling and added confidence when the road ends," said MarcoFioravanti, vice president, product planning, Nissan U.S. and Canada. "With theaddition of Rock Creek to an already well-equipped lineup, the 2027 Kicks continuesto deliver the style, capability and value that have made it a favorite amongcustomers."Can It Actually Go Off-Road?The Kicks isn't suddenly a body-on-frame Wrangler competitor; you will have to wait for the upcoming Xterra revival. But Nissan says the Kicks Rock Creek touts best-in-class 8.4 inches of ground clearance, but that assumes the Subaru Crosstrek (8.7 inches) is in a larger class. The Rock Creek gets a trim-exclusive Off-Road mode with Hill Decent Control, a feature that helps bring the vehicle down slowly from steep declines.NissanView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleUnlike the Japanese version with e-Power, every Kicks is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission. Front-wheel-drive is standard, but the Rock Creek is only available with all-wheel-drive.Rugged-Ish StylingThe Kicks is a fairly sporty-looking little crossover, styled to resemble an athletic shoe, and this new Rock Creek version adopts elements from a hiking boot. It rides on 17-inch wheels with orange accents that match the orange accents found elsewhere on the vehicle. There's also a roof rack that can hold up to 165 pounds with cross bars.NissanView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementInside, Nissan based the Rock Creek package on the SV trim. It comes with TailorFit seating with accent stitching and a decent amount of standard equipment. In addition to the standard SV features, the Rock Creek adds ambient lighting, heated seats, heated mirrors, rear air ducts, and a surround-view camera.2027 PricingNissan announced full pricing for the 2027 Kicks, which is listed below, not including the $1,545 destination and handling fee:Kicks S FWD: $22,790Kicks S AWD: $24,290Kicks SV FWD: $24,490Kicks SV AWD: $26,490Kicks SR FWD: $26,990Kicks SR AWD: $28,790Kicks Rock Creek AWD: $28,840NissanView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.