Oh look, it’s the teased-in-Malaysia-but-not-here-yet 2022 e-Power hybrid! It’s just been launched in Vietnam, making the little SUV’s presence slightly greater in South East Asia. Prices for it start at VND 789 million (~RM 150,500) to VND 858 million (~RM 163,200), imported (CBU) from Thailand.
Set to take on the , , and in the country, Nissan Vietnam’s introduced two variants of the Kicks e-Power there, the E and V. It’s also got the honour of being the first hybrid model in its segment there.
The main draw of the Kicks e-Power is its, uh, e-Power full-hybrid powertrain. Claimed fuel efficiency for this is a ridiculous 2.2-litres/100 km, something we think the Vietnamese will be pleased about because RON 95 is around RM 4.60 there now.
For what it’s worth we think this number isn’t pulled out of thin air – we drove the Nissan Note e-Power here before, and it scored 2.8-litres/100 km.
Unlike the Honda e:HEV and Toyota Hybrid System (THS) series-parallel systems, the e-Power is a full-hybrid. Meaning the engine doesn’t drive the wheels, only used as a generator to charge the high voltage (HV) battery. In series-parallel hybrids, the engine can both drive the wheels and charge the HV battery.
Paired to the Kicks’ electric motor is a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, capable of 134 PS and 280 Nm of torque. In terms of overall package it gets e-Pedal step (the single-pedal driving mode), and the safety suite encapsulates 360-degree cameras, 6 airbags, and traction control.
Exterior kit includes full-LED lighting, 17-inch wheels, and 6 colour choices, while the interior gets Zero Gravity seats, a semi-digital instrument cluster, and an Android Auto- and Apple CarPlay-ready headunit.
As for the Nissan Kicks e-Power’s future in Malaysia, it hangs in the balance. We’ve been writing about it since 2020, and while Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) themselves have teased it in their 2021 Chinese New Year ad…another year goes by without it here. Maybe next year, or maybe even never, but you’ll hear about it here first.
Keyword: Vietnam launches Nissan Kicks e-Power hybrid; 2.2L/100 km, price equals to RM 150k