Nissan is adding a Rock Creek edition to the 2027 Nissan Kicks lineup, bringing some added rugged appeal and a bit of extra capability to the small SUV.
You may recall that Nissan presented a more adventure-focused edition of the Kicks at the Montreal Auto Show this past January. It was billed as a concept and carried only the Offroad designation on it, with no Rock Creek badging to be found. But obviously, that was an embryonic version of the Rock Creek to come. And now it has come. It becomes the third Nissan model to get the special treatment, after the Pathfinder and the Rogue.
Said Marco Fioravanti, VP for Product Planning for Nissan U.S. and Canada, “The 2027 Kicks Rock Creek is for drivers who want more adventure from their daily drive, with trail-ready styling and added confidence when the road ends.”
2027 Nissan Kicks Rock Creek – What’s new?
In this iteration, the Kicks gets some design and styling flourishes to add a more adventurous side to its look. As well, there are some modifications to actually give the urban-focused SUV some added capability outside of its traditional comfort zone.
Design of the 2027 Nissan Kicks Rock Creek
Based on the Kicks SV, this edition thus gets a unique upper front grille, various glassy black trim elements on the outside including the side mirrors and the lower front and rear fascias. The model also shines with amber daytime running lights and accent lighting.
The interior
Inside, the Kicks Rock Creek stands apart with unique seating with accent stitching, Rock Creek badging on the floor mats and a TailorFit-wrapped heated steering wheel.
Powertrain and performance of the 2027 Nissan Kicks
The Rock Creek uses the same standard 2.0L 4-cylinder engine as the regular Kicks, with output pegged at 141 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque via the aid of a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Rock Creek gets standard all-wheel drive, and comes only in that configuration.
Beyond that, an Off-Road driving mode exclusive to the Rock Creek allows for more wheel slip to help drivers maintain momentum over slippery terrain like gravel, sand and snow. The model comes with Hill Descent Control for those escapades on loose terrain.
The Rock Creek edition’s exclusive roof rails and cross bars are rated to carry 165 pounds.
Technology in the 2027 Nissan Kicks Rock Creek
Enhancements over the standard Kicks SV include interior ambient lighting, rear automatic braking and HD intelligent around-view monitor with moving object detection.
Beyond those special capabilities, what you get in the regular Kicks SV, you get here. Notably, that includes the following:
- - A standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- - An optional Bose 10-speaker Personal Plus sound system
- - Two front USB-C ports
- - Aa wireless phone charger
- - A 7-inch digital colour meter
Drive assist systems include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, intelligent forward collision warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, high beam assist, intelligent driver alertness, rear door alert and intelligent cruise control.
The 2027 Nissan Kicks Rock Creek is scheduled to arrive at brand dealer in Canada later thus summer, at the same time as the other grades in the lineup. Pricing for that lineup, including the new Rock Creek variant, is still to be announced. With the debut of the model imminent, that should be forthcoming shortly.