The Renault Sandero had fully succeeded in getting me fed up, and I began looking around for a good replacement, making sure it truly complied with most of my needs.
Since I needed a taller car to accommodate my hips and big belly, my only option was to go for a so-called small SUV. These aren’t so small by the standards of the average car in Uruguay, and they don’t have any pretensions of being sporty.
Around the time I started my search, two new players entered the market: the Chevrolet Tracker and the Volkswagen T-Cross. I test drove both and was pretty impressed. They were the first turbos I had ever driven, not to mention they had 3-cylinder engines. The power from low revs was impressive, and acceleration was quite good, but then again, they had turbos. Both of them had, at the time, classic torque-converter 6-speed automatic gearboxes. A risk factor with the Chevrolet: it has a wet timing belt running in oil, which apparently was prone to breaking in brand-new cars every now and then.
Chevrolet Tracker
Volkswagen T-Cross
The third car I had in mind, which, as you can see, is the one I ended up getting, was the Nissan Kicks. Unlike the other two, it had a traditional, well-proven engine, but came with a CVT that had already earned a bit of a reputation for being troublesome. I began researching to see if the Nissan CVT issue from previous years was still present.
After much soul-searching and test-driving all the cars again, I found that the Kicks was slower both in standing starts and acceleration. However, it had plenty of nice soft-touch areas, was much smoother, and far quieter. Additionally, when I had the Renault appraised at various dealerships, I found that the top-line Nissan could be had for a little less than the top VW or Chevrolet. This was mainly because Nissan and Renault are one and the same, so they tend to give you a few extra cents for your trade-in. As a result, I ended up with many accessories I hadn’t originally planned on buying. These weren’t available —or were much more expensive— in the other two cars; like blind-spot detection, 360-degree cameras (which the other two didn’t offer), and automatic braking at city speeds (I’ve never tested this to its fullest extent, but a couple of times it’s warned me of objects too close to me).
While considering the Kicks, I received a very tempting call from the new Sentra. It’s a 2.0-liter, larger, more comfortable car, and its basic level was almost on par with the most expensive Kicks in terms of both price and accessories. I test drove it and was enthusiastic, but decided against it due to back concerns.
So, I was sold on the Kicks. Now it was time to sell my wife on the idea. Up ’til then, she was blissfully ignorant of my intentions because, as she says, I’m always looking at cars, whether for me or someone else. Who has the power to get her attention? Well, of course, our kids. I spoke with both of them, and they agreed to follow me in my chivalric attack. One Sunday afternoon at the end of December 2023, they came over, as if for tea. I won’t say they convinced their mom, but I will credit them with her saying, “Okay, you may go and buy whatever you want. I’ve never driven, I can’t spot any car beyond its color, and you might as well get a VW Beetle for all I care.”
I took that as a “Yes” and didn’t bring it up again. I called a salesman who was working on a Sunday due to a massive weekend sales event, and asked which colors were available. They were electric blue, white, bordeaux, silver, metallic grey, and pastel grey; those are the ones I remember. I wanted either the blue or the bordeaux. So, I sent a family WhatsApp with pictures of each to have them decide which one should be mine.
I was asked, “Which one did you like?” “Well… electric blue.” “You are out of your mind! Looks like a police or hippie car!” “Okay, what do you think of the bordeaux?” “A red car? A fire engine?”
Okay, I know when I’ve been beaten and down for the count. Why fight a lost battle when I already got the keys to the castle?
“Make it silver.” I told the salesman. “Okay, send me over the deposit, and I’ll process your order.”
In the next few days, the usual back and forth of car delivery ensued, as it has been my experience.
- “Hey, Alejandro, it’s Rafael. You said my Kicks would be available for delivery within the week, remember?”
- “Hi Rafael, cómo estás? Sure, but it’s still Thursday. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Monday…
- “Hey Alejandro, I know you’re a car salesman, but still…”
- “Don’t worry, the Kicks will be here anytime, just bear in mind it was Christmas.”
What was the issue? Christmas falling on a weekend? Do cars disappear if so? Very few people take vacations after Christmas; most everyone waits until New Year in Uruguay…
On Wednesday, he called to ask how I’d be paying for the car. We agreed I’d bring him a check and the trade-in Sandero (both my wife and I had to sign), and he’d deliver the car on Thursday.
We were there on Thursday and signed the papers. We left with my first automatic, leather-upholstered, button-started, Bose-sound-equipped, 6-airbagged, 4-star-safety-rated car. Silver, yes… It’s silver. It has 12,000 km as of today, 15 months later, and the pictures you see are not of my car because I dented it against one of the too many trees in a parking lot. It will eventually be redone to make it look new again. The only problem is a noise from the rear-left shock absorber, which the dealer told me I’ll have to wait to replace under warranty until it gets really bad. No big deal; I’d even be willing to pay for it.
Elsewhere in the drivetrain, Nissan recommends changing the CVT lubricant at 100,000 km (about 60,000 miles). Some mechanics at the dealership said it could go as high as 150,000 km. My own mechanic, however, told me I should stay on the safe side and change it every 50,000 km or two years, warning me that it is much more expensive than the engine oil. I’ll follow my mechanic’s advice.
The dashboard, seats, interior in general, are good in terms of fit and finish. The seats are extremely comfortable for any price level, and could be comfortable for long distances in any car. Instruments are easily seen, although you have to be skillful with the controls to change the half left of the screen, which is configurable. I can’t vouch for the Bose sound system (which has speakers in the driver’s headrest), just because I’m not a great listener of anything other than the news.
Something I really don’t like is the position of the emergency brake; much too forward, and too slow to apply as compared to a mechanical action handbrake. It’s a gimmick for its own sake. The auto-hold is comfortable when driving in heavy traffic, though the release of the brakes, when you touch the accelerator, is a little jumpy.
The little button protruding from the gear lever is the Sport Mode, which essentially revs up the engine when you step on the accelerator. At very moderate city avenue speeds, up to 75 km/h, which is where I have tried it, it’s definitely a bonus that helps you pass other vehicles more quickly. I don’t think it’s useful on the freeway, and I always forget to try it.
I don’t know why, but this car doesn’t have enough good-sized cupholders. It’s nothing terrible, but uncomfortable. And the steering wheel is adjustable for rake and reach.
Well, this has been all for now; I’m very grateful to all the CCers who have been kind enough to read my column, to comment on it, and to share thoughts. Particularly, I’m grateful to Ric, who solved many picture problems in what I submitted and helped in many ways, and to Paul, who is CC itself.
Epilogue
A couple of years ago, my now full-grown son (he was about 3 last time you saw him, checking under the hood of our Fiat Elba), who doesn’t care at all about cars, told me: “I’m thinking of getting my first car; be warned that I’ll pay for it but you’ll choose it” OK. In that same period, my daughter and her fiancé told me that they wanted to buy a car, and asked me what I would recommend.
In both cases, I told them to get a Chevrolet Onix. I’ve always wanted to have a bow-tie to drive, just because of nostalgia. Seriously, the Onix is the only car in Uruguay’s market to have 5 stars in its class, even in its lowest trim level. Anyway, the three decided they wanted the top trim, which is the only one with an automatic. It’s a 3 cylinder, 1 liter, turbo, around 115 hp and 170 Nm of torque. I have borrowed my son’s while my Nissan is undergoing a little bit of cosmetic surgery.
On one side, my son, on the other, my daughter and her fiancé, both with just delivered Onixes, (note the lack of license plates, and the dealer info on the windshields). I’m not a fan at all of publishing family pictures (I don’t even use social networks), but I thought it would be a nice touch this time.
My father in law, laughing at the compact engine and explaining to his grandkids what’s what, 28 years later since the Fiat Elba photo…
I’ve much enjoyed this series, Rafael, and thank you for it.
Thank you so much for your kind Words, Justy!
The Nissan Kicks has gotten a new model update for 2025.
Interestingly, the previous 2024 model will continue to be sold as the Nissan Kicks ‘Play’. The difference is it will only be offered in the most basic FWD ‘S’ version with no options, but the price will be the lowest, too.
Unfortunately, the 2025 Kicks ‘Play’ is still a cool $1100 more than the latest Chevy Trax LS, which would seem to be the better buy.
Good choice; I rather like these, especially in the bolder colors.
CC’s Jim Klein reviewed it and had quite a lot of positive things to say:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/new-car-review/curbside-review-2021-nissan-kicks-sr-the-kids-might-say-it-slaps/
And thank you Rafael for this most interesting look at automotive life in a very different part of the world. It’s been a fascinating insight into how the market has changed in places like Uruguay. Thanks for sharing it all, and for being such a loyal CC reader.
Like Justy and Paul above, I’ve really enjoyed these articles, both for the cars and for the perspectives of car-buying in Uruguay. Good luck with the Kicks!
And thanks for the updated pictures of your kids with their cars. In the spirit of such things, I’ll share mine. This month I started teaching one of my daughters to drive. Here she is as a baby “playing” at the wheel of our minivan, and then as a teenager actually driving it. Time sure does fly.
I liked reading about your automotive journey Rafael and especially was interested in how the progression went from cars I had never seen to this last one which would I would see in my own neighborhood. I especially enjoyed the FIAT content
We get the Kicks in the US too as a replacement for the more challenging looking Juke. I prefer Mazda but you apparently don’t get them in Uruguay. My CX-5 was also my first car with pushbutton starting, Bluetooth, and an electric parking brake. Mazda’s is behind the shifter and frees up console space. I’m still considering selling it after 8 years.
My children favor older stuff, our daughter drive a Buick slightly older than she is and our son’s daily drivers are almost as old as he is. I should post a pic of his HiAce that he imported, it’s his nicest car so far, and admonishes him in Japanese every time he starts it because it has no card for automated tolls.