2025 Nissan KICKS, Audi SQ8: What's new in the UAE motoring world?
2025 Nissan KICKS takes off
In stunning fashion, with smoke, lights, and all the theatrics, the all-new 2025 Nissan KICKS was unveiled for the Middle East market at the Sevens Stadium, Dubai. This popular sub-compact crossover has been transformed from a vehicle with commuter vibes to one with aspirational qualities. It is now larger and more powerful than ever before.
The bold new design ditches its rounder, hatchback aesthetics for a proper SUV stance. It's still a relatively small package but offers more visual oomph thanks to squarer surfaces and more robust geometric design cues. The front features slim LED headlamps and slatted LED DRLs below them, and the rear gets a similar setup. It is also available with a striking dual-tone colour scheme and alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 19 inches.
The 2025 KICKS is also 'designed to make every drive effortless, connected, and fun.' The all-new cabin gets the signature Zero Gravity seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a 470-litre boot. The latest ProPILOT technology, along with the 360-degree camera, is designed to make highway travel, city driving, and parking smoother and safer. Inside, the available dual 12.3-inch digital displays, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless charging keep everything at your fingertips and provide seamless connectivity. Also available is a Bose 10-speaker sound system, with 2 UltraNearfield speakers built into the front headrests.
Under the hood, the 2.0-litre engine delivers 142 horsepower and 190Nm of torque – a bump of 24 hp and 48 Nm, respectively, over the predecessor's numbers. It works with Nissan's advanced Xtronic CVT transmission to deliver a more responsive drive and is, surprisingly, claimed to be more economical as well, returning a claimed fuel economy figure of 18.5 km/L.
Here in the UAE, the KICKS is on sale at Arabian Automobiles Company showrooms across Dubai, Sharjah, and the Northern Emirates in four grades – S (Dh84,900), SV (Dh91,900), SV+ (Dh99,900), and SL (Dh114,900).
First Drive: 2025 Audi SQ8
For those who find the 340 PS Audi Q8 too tame and the 640 PS RSQ8 too aggressive or superfluous, the SQ8 represents the balanced, halfway house between the two. This sportier version of Audi's flagship SUV is nearly five-metres long, which makes it marginally shorter but wider than the full-size Q7 SUV. Interestingly, the brown paint job called Sakhir Gold Metallic that our test vehicle adorned, combined with black alloy wheels, may have been scorned a decade ago. Today, this paint scheme draws a multitude of eyes. But personally, I think it looks even more appealing in Waitomo Blue (pictured here).
No surprises inside. It has a typical Audi interior — loved for its minimalism, straight lines, and sharp cuts. But perhaps it's a tad too visually busy this time around. The A/C vents integrated into the slatted dashboard, now a common Audi feature, are present here too. The centre console houses an unusual stacked dual-screen setup — one for infotainment and the other for A/C functions. At its core, this is a luxury vehicle. With soft quilted seats, ample shoulder room, and about 3 inches of extra knee space in the rear cabin, the SQ8 is both comfy and palatial. The softly sprung suspension — despite the 23-inch wheels — delivers a plush ride. Owners who haul luggage often will also appreciate the big, square, illuminated boot.
The 'S' in the name says it all. The SUV is all about amplified performance, and making this possible is a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 — a dynamite of a motor. It delivers 508PS and 770Nm of torque, achieving 0-100km/h in a sports car-like 4.1 seconds. The 8-speed tiptronic gearbox isn't the smoothest, with slight jerks when shifting, but the rumbling exhaust is a standard delight. The Dh412,241 (inclusive of VAT) starting price is not as dizzying as some of its rivals, but is it appealing? After three days of driving, I can attest that it is. The Audi SQ8 has all the ingredients to make a fantastically sporty yet comfy family SUV but lacks the heritage — and hence remains relatively unknown — compared to some of its competitors. Perhaps some marketing magic is needed to etch its name onto the shortlist of potential buyers.
Kia MEA expands 'Cycle of Life: Seeds of Change' project beyond GCC to Africa
Kia Middle East and Africa is launching the second chapter of its 'Cycle of Life: Seeds of Change' initiative, advancing its vision of sustainable solutions beyond mobility and supporting Kia's goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.
Building on the success of chapter one in the GCC, Kia is expanding to Zambia in partnership with UAE-based The Waste Lab, the people-empowering African Education Program, and ElectricLime Films. This chapter focuses on converting food waste into nutrient-rich compost to grow crops and generate biomaterials for eco-friendly textiles while promoting sustainable food waste management and community-focused education. Chapter one, launched during Ramadan 2023, raised awareness by collecting food waste from 150 Dubai households, transforming it into compost in the UAE, and concluding with a zero-waste farm-to-table iftar in Jeddah.
Chapter two moves beyond awareness to direct environmental and social impact. Kia is sponsoring a six-month educational programme in Zambia, where 100 youth will be trained in composting, planting, and biofabrication. This hands-on initiative will equip participants to create a self-sustaining garden and produce sustainable biomaterials, reinforcing Kia's commitment to a circular economy.
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