The 2026 Nissan Kicks facelift will be launched in Thailand in March this year, reports Autolife Thailand, two years on from the debut of the P16 second-generation model. The model that will be updated in the Land of Smiles isn’t of the same generation that is currently on sale in the US market, however, but will be the P15-generation model with the styling of the Nissan Kait for Brazil.
For exterior dimensions, the 2026 Kicks facelift measures 4,304 mm long, 1,760 mm wide and 1,611 mm tall with a 2,620 mm wheelbase, which are identical numbers to those of the Kait, which, in turn is similar in size to the pre-facelift Kicks. Rolling stock is a set of 17-inch alloy wheels.
Relative to the current P15 Kicks, this update with the exterior styling overhaul from the Kait brings the Brazil-market model’s slim LED headlamps which are joined by the upper front fascia trim with the Nissan logo, daytime running light assemblies at each corner and a grille with horizontal slats.
The Kait-sourced exterior revision also applies to the rear of the 2026 Kicks for Thailand, where the crossover gets the simplified lines of the Kait, as well as its tail lamp assemblies with horizontally-oriented elements. Like on the Kait, the 2026 Kicks for Thailand gets its rear license plate relocated from the tailgate to the bumper.
According to the imagery on the Autolife Thailand site, the updated 2026 Kicks for Thailand will also get its interior from the Kait, which appears to make this essentially a right-hand drive version of the Brazil-market Kait. This would bring a dashboard that no longer has the slight hump for the top-mounted air-conditioning vents, which are angular and more flush with the dashboard than the circular outlets of the pre-facelift model.
According to Autolife Thailand, advanced safety and driving assistance functions for the Kicks facelift are expected to be carried over, namely to include intelligent cruise control with stop and go, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, AEB, driver fatigue warning and driver attention assist, auto high beam assist, 360-degree cameras, and moving object detection.
Powertrain of the 2026 Kicks facelift in Thailand will be carried over, according to Autolife Thailand; the Kait that lends its styling is offered in Brazil with a HR16DE 1.6 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four flex fuel engine, producing 110 PS/146 Nm when on petrol, or 113 PS/149 Nm on ethanol.
The 2026 Kicks facelift for Thailand gets the e-Power drivetrain comprised of the HR12DE 1.2 litre three-cylinder engine with 79 hp and 103 Nm which functions as a generator to feed to 2.06 kWh battery, and thus does not have a mechanical connection to directly drive the wheels.
That job goes to the EM47 electric motor, which outputs 136 hp and 280 Nm, similar output numbers to those of the Kicks e-Power in Malaysia, which propels the crossover from 0-100 km/h in 9.5 seconds, and 100-120 km/h in four seconds.
In Malaysia, we currently get the first-generation Kicks e-Power, which has been joined by a dressed-up variant in the Impul Edition that became available last July. When might we get this facelift, or indeed, its P16-generation successor?
GALLERY: 2026 Nissan Kait for Brazil
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tan chong should quickly abandon nissan bankrupt sinking ship, and pivot to distributing ccp brands
ETCM already expanded their dealership with other car makers long ago. Nissan is no longer their sole bread and butter car maker.
while the Kait looks a bit “ah beng”, but at least it looks much more refreshed and modern than the Kicks we are getting right now. I do prefer the 2-toned interior though.
Model ini ada kait dengan X-trail ke?
We will definitely receive the Kait style facelift to compete with more modern looking rivals.
ETCM needs to offer even better interior tech for the facelift.
Its a good product, its just the interior is uninspired.
The P16 2nd is a completely different platform that can support AWD if specced.
It is significantly bigger as well.
Weight difference is 190-230kg compared to the P15. That is why it is powered by a 2.0 ICE instead of a 1.6.
1.2 litre e power might not be enough.
Could be a totally different class of product if it comes with AWD and serena’s 1.4 epower powertrain instead.
hope this model wont go fly “kait”