The 1000-km EV: Features you'd love in the Nissan Kicks e-POWER

The Nissan Kicks e-POWER electric crossover is grabbing the attention of many buyers all over the country and it’s not hard to see why.

If you don’t see what all the fuss is about, though, here are some of the fan favorite features of the Kicks that you might like.

All-electric drivetrain

As the first series-hybrid electric vehicle (EV) sold in the Philippines, the Kicks is motivated purely by electricity, using a motor that makes 136 PS and 280 Nm of torque, driving the front wheels.

But unlike normal battery EVs, the Kicks isn’t charged by a wall outlet or a fast charger.

It charges its battery – which is tiny, by the way, only having a realistic full electric range of less than 10 kilometers – using a 1.2-liter inline-3 gasoline generator.

And unlike a parallel-hybrid car like the Toyota Corolla Altis we tested, the gasoline engine doesn’t power the wheels at all – its only purpose is to charge the battery.

In other countries, this kind of hybrid system is considered an EV with a gasoline range extender, although many EV enthusiasts are averse to the use of emissions-producing fossil fuels. 

Still, the claimed combined range of the Kicks is quite impressive – 1,000 kilometers is no small feat with a tank of just 40 liters.

While the incredible range alone is worth its weight in gold to most new-car buyers, the Kicks still has quite a few features inside that the prospective buyer might like.

Safety is the first priority

The Kicks has a 360-degree camera to let you check the surroundings of the car before moving, including blindspots.

It also comes with forward collision warning and intelligent emergency braking. These are two features that, when combined, make the Kicks much safer.

Features galore

Aside from that, the Kicks also comes with a host of infotainment features very useful to the modern driver.

These include Android Auto and Apple Carplay, which make connecting and controlling your smartphone with your car easier than ever.

One-pedal drive

As a Nissan electric vehicle, the Kicks is also equipped with Nissan’s “e-Pedal” one-pedal operation mode.

In essence, what the system does is automatically apply regenerative braking when the driver lifts off the gas pedal.

Regenerative braking happens when the electric motor, instead of supplying power to the wheels, acts as a rotating load on the wheels to slow them down.

This then causes the electric motor to keep spinning without consuming electricity, generating power that is then sent to the battery for storage.

Depending on the drive mode you’ve engaged – Eco, Sport, Normal or EV – there’s a differing amount of regenerative braking involved, from none at all in Normal to a lot in Sport and EV.

It may take some getting used to and you certainly can’t rely on it to bring you to a stop at a traffic light or intersection on its own.

But once you do, it’s quite a handy tool for slowing down when commuting or even on the expressways.

All things considered, these things make the Nissan Kicks e-POWER a great car for those who want to join the EV bandwagon, but have severe range anxiety.