Nissan has been producing the Nissan Kicks, a subcompact crossover SUV, since 2016. This crossover was unveiled to the public for the first time in 2014 at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show, where it debuted under a concept moniker that was later adopted for the final production version. Nissan claimed that the Brazilian cityscape served as inspiration for the design. Two cars that seem very similar have been given the name "Kicks," even though they were developed on different platforms and had different sizes.

When the first-generation of Kicks debuted in 2016 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, it was given the P15 chassis code. Atsugi, Japan, is home to Nissan's design headquarters. At the same time, San Diego, California, is home to Nissan Design America (NDA), and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was once home to Nissan Design America, Rio de Janeiro. The vehicle was the result of their collaborative efforts. The Kicks, which debuted in North America in 2018, was created to replace the Juke as Nissan's offering in the subcompact crossover segment in the United States and Canada. The Kicks had not yet been widely released in Latin America, but that was about to change.

The Kicks concept SUVs were displayed in cities across Brazil in the summer of 2016 to promote the Summer Olympics, for which Nissan was the main sponsor. This crossover first went on sale in China in July of 2017, replacing the Nissan Livina C-Gear. The Kicks was unveiled to the North American public on November 29, 2017 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, with a June 2018 release date initially projected. It replaced the Nissan Juke as the region's primary subcompact hatchback alternative and, by extension, the Nissan Versa Note.

The standard audio system in the Kicks is a touchscreen setup with built-in Bluetooth for wireless stereo music streaming and hands-free phone calls. The Kicks additionally features a USB interface and a screen for the backup camera located in the rearview mirror. In addition, higher-end vehicles include an improved infotainment system as standard equipment. This system supports smartphone connectivity through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Tiny speakers can be found in the front headrests of these vehicles and are part of a Bose premium amplified audio system, which is also standard equipment. As with many other modern automobiles, SiriusXM Satellite Radio is standard on most North American-market Nissan Kicks.

First unveiled in India on January 22, 2019, the B0 platform variant of the Kicks with the D15 chassis code made its debut. The company claims that building the vehicle on the platform helps reduce production costs. Because of this, it's more significant than the V-platform Nissan Kicks while sharing a similar wheelbase with the first-gen Dacia Duster and the B0-platform Renault Captur. A revised version of the classic Kicks was unveiled to the public in December 2020. The vehicle's front end was changed to mimic the Kicks e-Power. All that was altered was the grille, which was made more significant, and the headlights replaced by LED units. Minor adjustments were made to the rear fascia, primarily focusing on the bumper. The 2021 Nissan Kicks' interior has been modernized with new features like a central armrest, a larger touchscreen, and an automatic parking brake.