At the Nissan Kicks e-Power media drive, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) revealed that the long-awaited B-segment SUV will be available in Malaysia with two variants. The Kicks will be Nissan’s debut e-Power model here though prices will only be announced during its launch in December.

Two variants will be available here: VL and VLT. The latter is offered with a single-tone or dual-tone exterior colour option.

Standard features on the base Kicks e-Power VL are:

• Automatic LED headlights
• Auto-folding side mirrors
• Speed-sensing wipers
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Tyre repair kit
• Fabric Zero Gravity seats
• Electronic parking brake (EPB) with auto hold
• 8-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 7-inch TFT display meter
• 6 speakers
• 7 airbags
• e-Pedal step
• Intelligent Forward Collision Warning + Intelligent Emergency Braking (IFCW+IEB)

The VLT variant adds the following features:

• 2-tone brown and black leather Zero Gravity seats
• 360-degree camera
• Intelligent Rear View Mirror
• Intelligent Cruise Control
• Blind spot warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert

Both variants are offered with the e-Power hybrid powertrain, which consists of a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine (80 PS/108 Nm) and an electric motor (129 PS/280 Nm). The engine merely acts as a generator for the motor, hence the latter's higher output.

As such, the Kicks e-Power feels like an electric car but does not need to be plugged in to recharge. One simply refuels it like a normal internal combustion engine (ICE) and it has a claimed fuel consumption of 21.7 km/L and a maximum range of 900 km on a single tank.

The Kicks e-Power will present itself as a challenger among hybrids within its segment like the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and Honda HR-V e:HEV. We will be sharing our thoughts on Nissan’s much-anticipated B-SUV but in the meantime, you can check out our first impressions below.

Also read: Review: The 2024 Nissan Kicks e-Power might be late to the party, but it comes with future-proof tech