A heavily camouflaged prototype of a new Nissan SUV, featuring a combustion engine under the hood, was recently spotted by our spy photographers. Based on its size, the vehicle appears to be a subcompact crossover (B-SUV) and could be the next generation of either the Juke or the Kicks.
The Nissan tester was parked alongside an Alfa Romeo Tonale, which provided a good comparison of its size. The vehicle appeared slightly smaller, placing it in the subcompact SUV segment (B-SUV). The bodywork was completely covered with black tape and vinyl, obscuring all details of the exterior design. However, the panel gaps revealed a boomerang shape of the taillights, which appeared to follow the pronounced section of the tailgate.
Read: Nissan Juke, Qashqai, And X-Trail To Transition Into Full Electric Powertrains From 2025
The plastic cladding around the wheel arches looks very similar to the current Juke and Kicks. However, it also sports new black five-spoke alloy wheels, along with a muscular rear shoulder design, a large rear spoiler, and a visible exhaust pipe. Another prototype of the same model was recently spotted testing on public roads in North America, revealing additional design details such as a wide grille and futuristic LED headlights.
The overall styling seems to be more conservative, akin to the Kicks, rather than the unconventional shape of the Juke. However, it’s still unclear whether this prototype is the next generation of the Kicks or Juke, as there are conflicting reports from different sources.
The second generation of the Nissan Juke debuted in 2019, with the electrified Juke Hybrid following in 2022. On the other hand, the Nissan Kicks appeared back in 2016, receiving a comprehensive facelift in 2021 and another upgrade in Japan in 2022. Both of the upcoming subcompact SUVs will ride on the CMF-B architecture.
According to Nissan officials, the third generation of the Juke will arrive after 2025 and feature a fully electric powertrain. The model will be sold alongside the e-Power hybrid for a certain period of time. Meanwhile, the second generation of the Nissan Kicks is expected to arrive as early as 2024 and will likely be offered with both ICE-only and hybrid powertrains, similar to the outgoing model. This is because the Kicks is targeted more towards the North/South American and Asian markets, rather than the EU-focused Juke
As the release date for the new Nissan SUV approaches, we can expect to learn more about the prototype and its features.. With luck, some of the heavy camouflage will be removed, allowing us to see the new design elements more clearly.
