Get a real kick out of the all-new Nissan KICKS e-POWER
Published on: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Published on: Sat, May 10, 2025
By: Terence Toh, FMT Lifestyles Text Size: Christiansen Ng and Irene Cho have fallen in love with their Nissan KICKS e-POWER electrified vehicles. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle) PETALING JAYA: Like many Malaysian drivers, finance analyst Irene Cho had never been behind the wheel of an electrified vehicle before. When she heard, however, that the all-new Nissan KICKS e-POWER electrified compact SUV had hit the local market in December, she decided to check it out. Stopping by an Edaran Tan Chong Motors outlet, Cho gave the vehicle a test drive – and fell in love with it immediately. 'It felt very powerful, and the price was reasonable, so I decided to take it. I'm involved with an NGO, and just a few days after getting the car, I had to go from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis for a project. I had a very, very good drive!' Cho told FMT Lifestyle. Equipped with Nissan's second-generation e-POWER system, this new SUV offers a thrilling and efficient drive, perfect for those trying out electric mobility for the first time. The revolutionary new vehicle combines style and sustainability, offering drivers remarkable 21.7km/l fuel efficiency at estimated distances of 900km per full tank. The vehicle is fully electric-motor-driven, with a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine that acts as a generator for its lithium-ion battery. This means the Nissan KICKS e-POWER never needs to be charged externally. Its innovative e-Pedal Step also allows drivers to accelerate and decelerate with a single pedal, with a unique regenerative braking system employed to help charge its battery. All this equates to a smoother driving experience – something Christiansen Ng has definitely been enjoying. The KL-based banker revealed that the Nissan KICKS e-POWER's pleasant handling once helped him stay cool-headed through a five-hour traffic jam during the festive season. 'It goes very smoothly around corners. With previous cars, my mother used to get motion sickness. But with this car, she doesn't,' Ng shared. Both Cho and Ng expressed admiration over how silent the Nissan KICKS e-POWER is. Even at highway speeds, the vehicle seems engineered for serenity, gliding like a cloud over most types of terrain. This is thanks to an extensive use of insulative materials in its engine system. They also liked having the option to switch between multiple driving modes – ECO, SPORT, STANDARD, and EV – each subtly shifting how the car behaves. It's not just about performance, but about giving the driver a bit more say in how the journey unfolds. Road safety is also a top priority for car buyers today, and this demand is clearly reflected in the design of the Nissan KICKS e-POWER. The stylish vehicle comes with a plethora of advanced safety features aimed to provide users with peace of mind. The Nissan KICKS e-POWER boasts a five-star Asean NCAP rating, the highest level of safety evaluation. This is thanks to features such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Intelligent Driver Awareness, Blind Spot Warning, and Intelligent Forward Collision Warning. 'I like Nissan's 360˚Safety Technology,' Ng said. 'There were times when there were cars that braked unexpectedly in front of me, and it was lucky I had the Autonomous Braking System. It started beeping to warn me. I'm very happy because it helped prevent what could have been an accident.' As for Cho, her favourite feature is the Intelligent Rear View Mirror. This mounted 2MP camera with a high-resolution display offers drivers wide, reflection-free views of what's behind the vehicle through clear, flicker-free images. 'I find this very useful when going down Malaysian highways; it helps me prepare for the unpredictable. With this mirror, I can see what's behind me very clearly. It helps me feel safer,' Cho said. Other highlights include its 7-inch (17.8cm) full-colour driver instrument display, a D-shaped flat-bottom steering wheel with multifunction controls, and an infotainment system with an 8-inch (20.3cm) touchscreen offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The Nissan KICKS e-POWER comes in two variants: VL and VLT. Colour options are Brilliant White Pearl, Sunrise Orange, Red Pearl, Brilliant Silver and Black Star. For those looking to make a bolder statement, the VLT variant adds a touch of flair with two-tone options featuring a Super Black roof, along with an exclusive Dark Metal Grey body colour. Prices begin at RM113,800, making this a compelling entry point into the world of electrified driving with a sporty edge.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
21 minutes ago
- The Star
Asian equities rise ahead of US-China trade talks, FX largely flat
Most emerging Asian equities rose on Monday ahead of the crucial trade talks between the U.S. and China in London later in the day, while regional currencies remained subdued against a steady dollar. Top trade representatives from Washington and Beijing will meet for talks aimed at defusing the high-stakes trade disputes between the world's two largest economies, which have flared up in recent weeks. The second round of meetings comes four days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke by phone, their first direct interaction since Trump's January 20 inauguration. "The U.S. and China will be holding formal talks around hashing out their differences and trying to reach a trade deal has provided some positive sentiment to markets in the region", said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at ANZ. MSCI's gauge of Asian emerging market equities rose as much as 1% to its highest level since October 2024. Taiwan stocks rose 0.7% and Singapore shares added 0.2%. Chinese stocks gained 0.3%. South Korean shares climbed 1.7%, supported by post-election policy optimism under newly elected President Lee Jae-myung. The benchmark index had gained 4% last week. A positive session on Wall Street on Friday, driven by better-than-expected U.S. jobs data, helped ease concerns over a potential U.S. recession and is lifting investor confidence today, Goh added. Data showed that nonfarm payrolls increased by 139,000 jobs last month fewer, than the 147,000 jobs added in April but exceeding the 130,000 gain forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. Regional currencies were largely flat, with the Singapore dollar rising 0.2% and the Malaysian ringgit falling 0.2%. The dollar slipped 0.1%, retracing part of the 0.5% gain it posted on Friday, as initial enthusiasm over a strong U.S. employment report gave way to caution ahead of key U.S.-China trade talks. Analysts at Nomura expect markets to remain choppy and range-bound through summer amid ongoing tariff uncertainties. "Market attention remains fixated on the expiration of the 90-day pause on tariffs (subject to court rulings)". Markets in Indonesia were closed for a public holiday. HIGHLIGHTS: ** South Korea president calls for measures to respond to rising prices ** BOJ must ensure fiscal considerations don't overtake mandate, deputy governor says - Reuters
New Straits Times
23 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Asian equities rise ahead of US-China trade talks, FX largely flat
SINGAPORE/HONG KONG: Most emerging Asian equities rose on Monday ahead of the crucial trade talks between the US and China in London later in the day, while regional currencies remained subdued against a steady dollar. Top trade representatives from Washington and Beijing will meet for talks aimed at defusing the high-stakes trade disputes between the world's two largest economies, which have flared up in recent weeks. The second round of meetings comes four days after US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke by phone, their first direct interaction since Trump's January 20 inauguration. "The US and China will be holding formal talks around hashing out their differences and trying to reach a trade deal has provided some positive sentiment to markets in the region", said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at ANZ. MSCI's gauge of Asian emerging market equities rose as much as 1 per cent to its highest level since October 2024. Taiwan stocks rose 0.7 per cent and Singapore shares added 0.2 per cent. Chinese stocks gained 0.3 per cent. South Korean shares climbed 1.7 per cent, supported by post-election policy optimism under newly elected President Lee Jae-myung. The benchmark index had gained 4 per cent last week. A positive session on Wall Street on Friday, driven by better-than-expected US jobs data, helped ease concerns over a potential US recession and is lifting investor confidence today, Goh added. Data showed that nonfarm payrolls increased by 139,000 jobs last month fewer, than the 147,000 jobs added in April but exceeding the 130,000 gain forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. Regional currencies were largely flat, with the Singapore dollar rising 0.2 per cent and the Malaysian ringgit falling 0.2 per cent. The dollar slipped 0.1 per cent, retracing part of the 0.5 per cent gain it posted on Friday, as initial enthusiasm over a strong US employment report gave way to caution ahead of key US-China trade talks. Analysts at Nomura expect markets to remain choppy and range-bound through summer amid ongoing tariff uncertainties. "Market attention remains fixated on the expiration of the 90-day pause on tariffs (subject to court rulings)". Markets in Indonesia were closed for a public holiday.
The Star
33 minutes ago
- The Star
Cabinet to decide on cannabis vape factory issue, says Health Minister
KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet will make a collective decision regarding the controversy surrounding a US-based vape company manufacturing "cannabis hardware" in Johor, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. "I will address this issue later. We have to present it to the Cabinet and from there, we will make a collective decision," he said. He added that several ministries and agencies are involved, such as the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority among others. "So, we will table this in the Cabinet meeting and reach a collective decision," said Dr Dzulkefly after attending the opening ceremony of the 31st Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) conference at the KL Convention Centre on Monday (June 9). On Thursday (June 5), Perikatan Nasional health committee chair Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi called for a police investigation into the vape factory in Senai, Johor operated by Ispire Technology Inc, a Nasdaq-listed company based in California, US. "The manufacturing licence for Ispire's factory in Senai was issued by Mida. However, questions arose as to whether Mida approvals cover the manufacturing of cannabis-related products, which is clearly illegal under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952," said the Kuala Langat MP. The licence granted by Mida to Ispire is touted as Malaysia's first federal licence to produce nicotine products. The sale of nicotine liquids is regulated under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act.
