Nissan has confirmed that the Kicks e-Power will launch in Europe, the UK, and Turkey, with production based at its Sunderland plant in England. The automaker also announced two additional EVs for European customers: the Pixo urban hatchback and the next-generation Juke.
The current Nissan Kicks debuted in North America in 2024, while the Kicks e-Power is scheduled to arrive in Japan in 2026. Bringing the electrified model to Europe gives customers a hybrid option suited to the region’s strict emissions rules and strong demand for hybrid vehicles.
Review: The 2026 Nissan Kicks Isn’t Bad, It’s Just Surrounded By Good Choices
At 4,365 mm (171.85 in) long, the Kicks will rank among Europe’s larger B-SUVs, exceeding the 4,210 mm (165.8 in) length of its Juke sibling. Its rivals include the Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Kona, and Volkswagen T-Roc, all of which are also available with self-charging hybrid powertrains.
Nissan has not released detailed specifications for the European Kicks, but the model is expected to closely match, or possibly be identical to, the Japanese version. The subcompact crossover uses Nissan’s third-generation e-Power system, in which an electric motor drives the wheels while a combustion engine operates as a generator.
In Japan, the Kicks e-Power uses a 1.4-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine producing 97 hp (72 kW / 98 PS), along with a front electric motor rated at 141 hp (105 kW / 143 PS). An optional rear motor adds 67 hp (50 kW / 68 PS), with the system supported by a lithium-ion battery. Nissan has yet to confirm whether Europe will receive both FWD and AWD e-4ORCE versions, or the adventurous Rock Creek trim.
UK Production
Nissan will manufacture the European Kicks e-Power in Sunderland alongside the Juke, Qashqai, and Leaf, supported by a £170 million ($229 million) investment. The plant marks its 40th anniversary this year and has produced 12 million vehicles since the first Nissan Bluebird left the assembly line there in 1986.
Sunderland will become the fourth production site for the second-generation Kicks, which is currently built in Japan, Mexico, and Brazil. A hybrid-equipped facelift of the first-generation Kicks remains available in certain markets, including Thailand. Nissan has sold more than 1.8 million examples in over 70 countries since the original model launched in 2016.
Two New EVs
Alongside the Kicks’ European launch, Nissan confirmed that it will reveal a new electric city car next week. The model will carry the Pixo name and act as a Nissan-specific-styled twin to the Renault Twingo and Dacia Spring.
Nissan also said the all-new third-generation Juke will enter production at Sunderland in 2027 and switch to an entirely electric powertrain. That makes the Kicks e-Power a hybrid alternative for Europe ahead of the zero-emission Juke’s arrival.
Massimiliano Messina, Chairperson of the Nissan AMIEO Region, said: “Electrification with choice is what European customers want, and the introduction of Kicks will further demonstrate how Nissan has options for all.”
Buick’s Chinese lineup is about to gain a smaller Electra GS plug-in hybrid, highlighting the kind of electrified sedan GM lacks in America.
Kia honored Rafael Nadal with a full-size EV4 GT sculpture made using clay from the courts where the tennis legend earned his “King of Clay” nickname.
Toyota is preparing a specially equipped bZ electric crossover for Waymo’s driverless ride-hailing fleet, with operations planned to begin in Japan in 2027 before expanding to the UK and other supported markets.
Nissan’s SEMA lineup now totals six concepts, led by an especially radical open-top Armada built for extreme off-roading.
Nismo Nick is bringing two radically different ladder-frame Pathfinder projects—the Trackfinder and Trailfinder—to SEMA in celebration of the nameplate’s 40th anniversary.