The Nissan Kicks is a five-seater car marketed as a compact crossover SUV. It is one of Nissan's best offerings in this segment. A popular family car that is dabbling within the territory of a full-size sedan and SUV. You might get to think, can the Kicks tow, and how much can it do so? We have scoured the internet and asked the experts the same question, and right here are the answers.
Nissan does not recommend you to use the Kicks for towing, in fact, they do not release a towing capacity rating for this specific car. This is because Nissan did not design the Kicks to be a towing car but only a passenger car. But if you were to tow with the kicks in an emergency, based on its 3,660-pound gross vehicle weight, you can expect to pull an estimated 900 to 1400lbs. This already includes all the passengers, the drivers, and their luggage.
Interested to learn more about the Nissan Kicks? Stay tuned as we discuss related questions such as which Nissan SUV is good for towing, which Nissan is the best for towing, how long does a Nissan Kicks last, and many more questions that will surely help you understand the topic better.
Can a Nissan Kicks tow?
We advise that you follow the recommendation of Nissan to not use the Kicks for towing. The company even went as far as not publishing a tow rating on their website for the vehicle.
This is because the Kicks do not have the facilities for such undertaking. You would need a tow hitch, which the vehicle does not have. You can tow a Nissan Kicks with its factory-installed tow bar, but you cannot pull with it, as it is usually placed in the front bumper of the car.
Even though the Kicks is marketed as an SUV, it is still a compact crossover. Meaning, these are smaller SUVs and have lesser engine power. Most of the time, the motors equipped in these types of vehicles are only rated to carry the passengers and are not designed for heavier loads such as trailers and campers.
If you will be towing with your kicks, you should only tow very light objects like a small motorbike. For other recreational purposes, you always have to install a bicycle rack at the back of the car or at the roof to carry them.
There would be serious consequences if you force the Kicks to tow heavy objects such as a boat trailer or a mini camper. One is an overheating or even worse, a blown engine, as pulling something heavy will put unnecessary extra strain on the engine of the Kicks.
Since there are no provisions for towing, there will be no proper mount for a hitch. This makes it impossible to pull a trailer. You can also damage some parts of the vehicle, especially if you use it as an alternate hitch.
If you find yourself needing to always tow something, maybe the Kicks is not the vehicle for you. We suggest that you get a dedicated vehicle that is rated to pull heavy objects. In this way, you will avoid damaging your car and spend thousands of dollars on repairs for it.
Do you need a tow hitch to tow?
Yes, you do. They are found in vehicles that are designed and designated for towing. If you notice that your vehicle is not equipped with one, then there is a big possibility that it is not meant to do such.
A tow hitch will help your payload be stable and give more efficiency when you are pulling. This is especially true when you are pulling heavy objects such as a fifth wheel or a gooseneck.
Which Nissan SUV is good for towing?
If you are looking for a Nissan SUV that can do more in terms of towing, then the Nissan Pathfinder could be of service to you as it has a towing capacity of 6,000 lbs. Good enough for mini trailer campers.
Another good option for you is a Nissan Armada that has a higher towing capacity at 8,500 lbs. This SUV is not only a good family hauler but can also drag your boat trailer or your trailer camper for family outings.
Which Nissan is the best for towing?
Your best bet for a towing machine is going for Nissan's half-ton truck, the Nissan Titan, and the higher trim Titan XD. Since they are pickup trucks, you can be assured that they are up to the task, especially when it comes to towing.
Under its hood, the 2021 Nissan Titan is equipped with a 5.6-liter V8 that can produce 400 horsepower and output an impressive 413 lb-ft of torque. Pair this with a nine-speed transmission and surely you are getting a very capable and strong vehicle that can pull strongly even on steeply inclined roads.
The Titan's tow rating is at 9,310 lbs, which makes it one of the best towing half-ton trucks available in the market. If you opt to upgrade to the Nissan Titan XD, you can have a higher tow rating capacity of 11,040 lbs.
Though currently Nissan only offers half-ton trucks as their lineup for the full-size truck segment, the Titan is already more than capable to do the task that is common for the majority of people who buy pickup trucks. With the Titan, you can already pull a fifth wheel, trailers, and even a small gooseneck.
Of course, you should still be mindful and cautious as you might go over the rated tow rating. If you see yourself towing much heavier loads, you might have to switch manufacturers. With other brands like Ford, GM, and RAM, they offer heavy-duty trucks such as quarter-tons and one-ton trucks that are capable of towing as much as 37,000 lbs!
What is tongue weight?
The tongue weight is simply the static force or the weight that the trailer tongue is putting on the trailer ball or hitch ball of the vehicle. An easy way to measure the tongue weight of your tow is by looking at the gross weight of your vehicle. This is indicated on the sticker on the driver-side door.
After finding the gross weight of your vehicle, find the gross weight of your trailer. It is usually indicated in a sticker or embedded in the body of the trailer. Subtract the vehicle's weight and the trailer's weight; the difference between the two will be your tongue weight.
You could also calculate it by using this method: For example, a 1000 lb trailer has a load of 300 lbs of cargo. Your tongue weight should be anywhere between 130 lbs-195 lbs, which would fall as 10%-15% of the total weight of the trailer and the cargo, with 10% and 15% being the constant to measure the tongue weight (1000 lbs weight of the trailer plus 300 lbs weight of cargo equals 1300 lbs).
Knowing if your tongue weight is already above the limit of your hitch is imperative. If your hitch collapses mid-ride, it could cause grave accidents along the road. Safety is the number one concern, especially if you will be driving on a busy highway where an accident like this can cause someone's life.
Even without knowing these processes, some superficial telltale signs such as excessive squatting of your vehicle or even worse, your front wheel is already above the ground are all sure ball indications your trailer tongue weight is already over its limit and can break any time soon.
This is why it is important to know the proper way of mounting your load as shown in the video below. This can also affect your tongue weight and stability while driving. Safety should always be our number one concern.
How long does a Nissan Kicks last?
On average, you can expect at least 200,000 miles of driving out of your Nissan Kicks. Assuming that you drive the national average of 15,000 miles per year, you will have the Kicks at a minimum of 13 years, barring no major accidents and repairs that can shorten the lifespan of the vehicle. You can easily surpass these numbers with careful use and proper maintenance.
Are Nissan reliable cars?
According to Repairpal's reliability ranking, Nissan cars are a solid 4 out of 5 in reliability score. This ranks 9th out of the 32 car brands that they have reviewed. A great example of Nissan reliability is a million-mile 2007 Nissan Frontier from Ringwood, Illinois.
In Closing
The Nissan Kicks is not meant to be used for towing. This is evident as Nissan themselves did not release a tow rating for the vehicle. For your safety, avoid using this vehicle for towing purposes, especially for heavy loads. It is best to have a dedicated vehicle like a Nissan Titan or a Nissan Pathfinder that is rated to pull trailers and campers with ease.
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