It is safe to say that Nissan India hasn’t received the kind of success that it was hoping for from the Kicks. That’s truly surprising because the SUV in question offers a potent overall package at a competitive price. In order to enhance its charm further, the Japanese carmaker has now made some noteworthy changes to Kicks’ portfolio. The first one is the introduction of an entry-level, diesel-only XE trim. With a price tag of Rs 9.89 lakh (ex-showroom India), it costs Rs 34,000 more than the petrol XL variant and Rs 1.2 lakh less than the diesel XL variant.

In terms of features, the newly introduced variant gets the same level of equipment as the petrol XL variant. That means it gets 16-inch steel rims with wheel covers, LED DRLs, height-adjustable driver’s seat, automatic climate control with rear AC vents, a cooled glovebox, two 12-volt power outlets and a double-din music system with Bluetooth. The safety kit packs rear parking sensors, dual airbags, seatbelt reminder for front occupants, ABS with EBD and BA, and NissanConnect with 50+ connected car features.

Nissan has also enhanced the list of features in the rest of the SUV’s range. The XL trim now also gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a multifunction steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC). The XV’s list of features has been beefed-up with stuff like LED projector headlamps, push-button start-stop, smart card for keyless entry, electrically adjustable & foldable ORVMs, cruise control and two tweeters. Lastly, the XV Premium trim gets added gizmos like a 360-degree around-view camera, side airbags, leather seats and a dual-tone black & brown interior theme.

All-in-all, the Nissan Kicks is now available in four trim levels – XE, XL, XV and XV Premium. The XV Premium Option trim has now been discontinued. The Kicks is in offer in a total of eleven exterior colours, including four dual-tone finishes. Lastly, the SUV is now covered under warranty for a period of 5 years or 1,00,000k, whichever comes earlier.

In India, the Nissan Kicks faces stiff competition from the likes of the Hyundai Creta and Renault Captur. Kia’s first product for India, the Seltos, will soon join the party.