Recreational off-roading is mainstream enough over in the US for automakers to offer special trims that cater to the hobby. The second-generation Nissan Kicks is the latest model to hop on this trend with the Rock Creek package, which uses the mid-tier SV trim with all-wheel-drive as its base.
For starters, it gets plenty of exclusive accessories and visual changes to show off its rugged aspirations. The redesigned front grille is reminiscent of bigger Nissan off-roaders like the Navara and the upcoming Xterra thanks to the line of rectangles on the nose, and the roof rails with cross bars are rated to carry around 74kg of top-mounted gear. The interior also gets exclusive orange detail stitching on top of Nissan’s proprietary synthetic leather material.
To support the already-present all-wheel-drive of the Kicks, the Rock Creek package adds an Off-Road drive mode which “allows for more wheel slip to help drivers maintain momentum over slippery terrain like gravel, sand, and snow.” Hill Descent Control is also added with the package for better control coming down from a slope.
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In case you didn’t know, the US-spec Kicks isn’t a hybrid. It’s powered solely by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 141hp and 190Nm of torque. This is in contrast to the e-Power hybrid system (and e-4orce all-wheel drive) it arrived with in Japan earlier this year. Certainly a bit old-school in that regard, but that likely helps it achieve the distinction of being the most affordable all-wheel-drive SUV available in America, starting at $24,290 (around P1.5 million as of writing).
The Nissan Kicks equipped with the Rock Creek package comes out to $28,840 (P1.77 million). Other Nissan models with Rock Creek options in the US include the Rogue (aka the X-Trail) and the Pathfinder.
What say you, though? Would you like to see Nissan (or other brands) offer off-road packages like the Rock Creek models? Let us know in the comments.
