Get a real kick out of the all-new Nissan KICKS e-POWER
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.
The interior of the Nissan KICKS e-POWER boasts style and comfort. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)
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.
Christiansen Ng is fond of Nissan's 360˚Safety Technology, especially its Autonomous Braking System. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)
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.
The Nissan KICKS e-POWER's Intelligent Rear View Mirror helps Cho feel safe and secure on the road. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)
'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.
To learn more about the Nissan KICKS e-POWER, a visit to your nearest showroom – or a quick chat with someone who's driven one – might offer the kind of insight you won't find in a brochure.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
26 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
‘Yes, finally we get a P1': Muhammad Hakim Danish celebrates first MotoGP Rookies Cup win of season in Aragon
KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — The country's rising star in motorsport, Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli, repeated his achievement from last season by winning the second race of the third round in the MotoGP Rookies Cup at MotorLand Aragon, Spain yesterday. Adding to the cheers, this victory was his first win of the season and his second podium finish in the third round, after coming in second in the first race yesterday. In yesterday's second race, the 17-year-old rider, who started from seventh position, successfully overtook his opponents one by one and continued to show excellent riding skills in the last two laps to win the race with a time of 26 minutes 52.773 seconds (s). Spanish rider, Brian Uriarte, had to settle for second place, only 0.188 seconds (s) behind, while his compatriot David Gonzalez secured third place with a time of 26 minutes 52.968s. 'Yes, finally we get a P1. The race was fantastic for today and the race was quite difficult. The tyre dropped a lot but I could manage it. 'I would like to say thank my sponsors and my family and all my friends who supported me. And 'Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha' to all Malaysians,' he said immediately after the race. The victory achieved by Hakim Danish sees the Terengganu-born youngster extend his lead with 125 points, holding a 30-point advantage over Uriarte in second place. The next race will take place in Mugello, Italy on June 21 and 22. — Bernama
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Sub-regional initiatives complement AEC goals
KUALA LUMPUR: Sub-regional initiatives such as the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) and the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) have not only borne fruit significantly, but also proven to be vital complements to the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in boosting trade, investment and regional connectivity. UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said while the AEC sets a broad macroeconomic framework, prioritising sub-regional areas have also addressed developmental disparities by targeting marginalised and less-developed areas while operationalising Asean's inclusive growth agenda. 'The IMT-GT hugs the Straits of Malacca, one of the world's busiest trade routes, while the BIMP-EAGA sits along the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas, a gateway for maritime connectivity, making them natural nodes for boosting trade, investment and connectivity across Asean and beyond. 'Their strength lies in their focus on what economists call 'spatial economics' –targeting lagging regions with tailored interventions,' he told Bernama. These sub-regions were not just random patches of land, but are strategically positioned along critical maritime corridors, he added. Elaborating, Mohd Sedek said IMT-GT leans into agro-processing and tourism, capitalising on the complementarities between southern Thailand, northern Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, while BIMP-EAGA plays to its strengths in fisheries, renewable energy and ecotourism. 'This is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it is about leveraging local advantages to plug into regional and global value chains,' he said. Both sub-regional initiatives will develop special economic zones (SEZs), which act as economic rocket fuels by attracting foreign investments, sparking industrial growth and creating jobs through incentives and streamlined regulations. In the IMT-GT, zones such as Medan and Bukit Kayu Hitam in Malaysia, or Sei Mangkei in Indonesia, are already humming with activity, while BIMP-EAGA boasts over 60 SEZs from Bitung in Indonesia to Zamboanga in the Philippines. 'These zones are not just factories – they are engines of structural transformation, fostering 'agglomeration economies' – clusters where businesses, workers, and infrastructure feed off each other to drive growth. 'By linking these SEZs to cross-border trade and investment, IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA are building bridges to Asean's broader economic cohesion,' he said. Mohd Sedek said Asean could leverage IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA in sectors such as tourism, agrobusiness, renewable energy and manufacturing. Tourism remains a high-impact sector with strong growth in eco and halal tourism. For example, IMT-GT is promoting cross-border tourism under its Vision 2036. BIMP-EAGA focuses on community-based ecotourism and multi-country tourism circuits aligned with Asean standards, with strategic sites such as the Heart of Borneo and the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion, further enhancing the value of regional tourism offerings. Mohd Sedek said both sub-regions aim to build integrated value chains in the agrobusiness sector, with IMT-GT leading in agro-processing like palm oil and rubber, while BIMP-EAGA serves as Asean's food basket (shrimp, rice and seaweed), adding that halal food industries also benefit from this regional complementarity. He highlighted the potential of geothermal energy in Kalimantan as well as ocean energy and biodiesel, saying that the clean energy transition is important due to rising energy costs, which could benefit other Asean countries. The same applies to the manufacturing sector, where export-oriented industries in SEZs such as Medan, Sei Mangkei and Lhokseumawe are driving structural transformation and deeper integration into regional value chains. Mohd Sedek said both sub-regions have become critical platforms for advancing Asean's inclusive development agenda by targeting economically lagging and geographically marginalised regions. He said their interventions have helped narrow intra-national development gaps and improve spatial equity as well as challenges not fully addressed by the AEC. 'For instance, IMT-GT's economic corridors such as the Penang-Medan corridor has facilitated US$4.2bil (RM17.8bil) in trade in 2024, while the Malaysia-Thailand cross-border infrastructure projects have significantly enhanced connectivity. 'Similarly, BIMP-EAGA's Vision 2025 has catalysed US$2.8bil (RM11.87bil) in infrastructure investments, including major upgrades to the Davao and Bitung ports, reinforcing regional resilience and supporting Asean's broader connectivity goals under the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity 2025,' he said. Beyond infrastructure, Mohd Sedek said both sub-regional initiatives have boosted local economies by developing SEZs and strengthening regional value chains. He cited Thailand's Southern Economic Corridor – supported under IMT-GT – which generated over 15,000 jobs in 2023, with projects that not only attract foreign investment and integrate entrepreneurs into regional supply chains but also promote sectoral complementarity in agriculture, energy and tourism. Their bottom-up, project-driven approach complements Asean's top-down mechanisms, acting as decentralised building blocks of integration. 'By reinforcing trade linkages, fostering human capital development and enhancing cross-border governance, IMT-GT and BIMP-EAGA help Asean hedge against global supply chain risks and advance a more resilient, balanced and people-centric regional growth trajectory,' he further added.
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Let laundromats use subsidised gas tanks too, group urges govt
Using commercial LPG cylinders will add to the financial pressure faced by laundromats, said the Malay Unified Laundry Association. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A group representing laundromat operators has urged the government to allow them to use subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, in addition to micro- and small-sized food and beverage traders. The Malay Unified Laundry Association (Mula) said it was disappointed that the domestic trade and cost of living ministry's review of 2021 regulations pertaining to LPG cylinders was only focused on these F&B traders. It said the laundromat subsector mostly comprised small- and medium-sized enterprises that depend on the subsidised gas tanks for their dryers. This applied to both on-premise or coin-operated laundromats. 'Using commercial LPG cylinders will add to the financial pressure faced by laundromat operators who generally only serve domestic users. 'Also, most of them are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic and face other increases in operational costs,' it said in a statement. The association suggested that the ministry engage industry players to get a clear picture of their situation, saying an inclusive policy regarding LPG cylinders would benefit everyone. Currently, any business using over 42kg of LPG at any one time must apply for a scheduled controlled goods permit. Yesterday, domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said the Control of Supplies Regulations (Amendment) 2021 will be reviewed with a focus on the needs of micro- and small-sized F&B businesses, and to ensure clarity regarding the regulation. Until the review is finalised, no legal action will be taken against micro- and small-sized businesses in the F&B sector regarding the use of subsidised cooking gas tanks. However, the ministry will continue to combat the illegal use of subsidised LPG cylinders by non-eligible industries and the decanting of gas from subsidised cylinders to non-subsidised ones before being sold at a profit. Commercial LPG cylinders cost nearly RM70 each – almost three times the rate of subsidised gas tanks.
