Nissan has revealed a new compact SUV called the Kait that is aimed at markets in the Latin America region, with Brazil being the first country to welcome it. Brazil is also home to Nissan’s Resende Industrial Complex where the Kait will be produced and exported to over 20 markets in the region.
The Kait is built on Nissan’s V platform that is also used by the first-generation (P15) Kicks, which we get here in facelifted form with an e-Power hybrid system. Measuring 4,304 mm long, 1,760 mm wide, 1,611 mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2,620 mm, the Kait is similar in size to the P15 Kicks. The boot space of 432 litres is identical for both models.
Design-wise, the Kait has a more upright stance and sharper styling compared to its platform buddy, with notable cues at the front being slim LED headlamps, daytime running light bars and a wide grille with horizontal slats. Moving towards the rear, we find a rising beltline, roof rails and a gently sloping roof leading into a raked rear windscreen.
Inside, the Kait’s dashboard is different from the P15 Kicks, as it lacks the “hump” over the central air vents. The corner outlets are also of a more angular design to match the door cards too, but the switchgear and steering wheel look to be carried over.
In Brazil, the Kait joins a line-up that already has the P15 Kicks (marketed as the Kicks Play there), which is also sold alongside the second-generation (P16) Kicks that is built on a different platform, the Renault–Nissan CMF-B HS. However, it has been reported that the newer Kait will replace the Kicks Play.
This will certainly be the case when looking at the pricing, as both the Kait and Kicks Play start from 117,900 Brazilian real (about RM91k). At the upper end of the variant line-up, the Kait tops out at BRL152,990 (RM119k) while the Kicks Play’s most expensive variant is BRL150,190 (RM116k). The P16 Kicks is a more premium offering ranging from BRL166,990 to BRL199,000 (RM129k to RM154k).
The Kait is offered in four variants in Brazil, all with a HR16DE 1.6 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four flex fuel engine making either 110 PS (108 hp or 81 kW) and 146 Nm of torque when running on petrol, or 113 PS (111 hp or 83 kW) and 149 Nm on ethanol. Drive is sent to the front wheels via Nissan’s Xtronic CVT.
Higher-end variants come with an ADAS suite that includes functions like autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and prevention, adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. According to Nissan, the Kait is set to be an important model in Nissan’s portfolio alongside the latest Kicks and Magnite which have marked a turning point since their introduction in the region.
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