Nissan Kicks S vs SV+: Which Variant Offers Better Value in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia: In Saudi Arabia’s highly competitive compact SUV segment, the Kicks, from Japanese automaker Nissan, makes quite an impression. It is a well-equipped and affordable SUV in its segment, taking on some well-entrenched rivals like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, and Mitsubishi Xforce, among others, and targeting smaller families, first-time SUV buyers, and professionals who need a dependable daily driver. 

If you are looking to buy one, choosing between the two primary variants is largely about figuring out how much comfort and safety you want to pay for. The S, which starts at SAR 89,599, and the SV+, at SAR 101,399, have an SAR 11,800 difference, nearly 13% more. Both variants share the same 2.0L engine that promises 142 hp and is paired with an identical CVT transmission. The mechanical package is nothing but almost the same. The key difference lies in safety features, convenience tech, and how the used market will treat them three years from now.

The S has a clear goal of keeping the price lower and hence directly appeals to those buyers who are looking for an affordable compact SUV for their daily commute and family needs without spending much. The SV+, on the other hand, tries to provide a better experience with extra safety systems, infotainment upgrades, and convenience features that improve long-term satisfaction. These additions can also help with resale value later, as top-end variants mostly command a better market and price. There is a clear difference between them; if you are planning to keep the car for a longer duration in your ownership, paying more upfront may reduce regret later. For strict-budget buyers, the S still makes practical sense.

What the Extra SAR 11,800 Actually Buys You

The SV+ adds eight features over the base S. Here's what matters:

Key additions on SV+

• Rear camera with parking sensors
• Alloy wheels (17-inch)
• Roof rails
• Remote engine start
• Forward collision warning
• Intelligent high beam assist
• Lane departure warning system
• Rear cross traffic alert

The rear camera alone justifies a substantial premium in Saudi parking conditions. Mall parking lots, tight residential streets, and the chaotic parking situations in Riyadh and Jeddah make reversing without a camera genuinely stressful. The S variant forces you to rely entirely on mirrors and neck-craning.

Remote engine start sounds useful but has limited practical value. You need to be within 50 metres for it to work. That defeats the purpose if you are shopping inside a mall or working in an office building. By the time you reach the car, the cabin hasn't cooled much anyway.

The safety features, including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and rear cross traffic alert, are genuinely useful in Saudi traffic. These are not just marketing claims or gimmicks to attract attention or jack up the price. They intervene in real scenarios that happen weekly on Riyadh's highways and Jeddah's congested routes.

Comparing What Both Variants Share

Here's what doesn't change between S and SV+:

Feature	S	SV+
Engine	2.0L, 142 HP	2.0L, 142 HP
Transmission	CVT	CVT
Infotainment	8-inch touchscreen	8-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto	Yes	Yes
Climate Control	Automatic	Automatic
Wireless Charging	Yes	Yes
Cruise Control	Yes	Yes
Zero Gravity Seats	Yes	Yes
Airbags	6	6
ABS/Traction Control	Yes	Yes

Looking at both the variants, it is pretty obvious that your core ownership experience will not change at all. You interact with the same infotainment system daily, with the same seats and similar climate control, along with the driving dynamics. The SV+'s additions are important, but their usage depends on various situations, as they matter most when parking, in heavy traffic, or when selling.

Safety Tech That Actually Matters

If you are someone who is not going to compromise on safety or doesn’t mind paying more when it comes to getting better safety, then pay attention. The S gives you six airbags, ABS, traction control, and blind spot monitoring. That's acceptable for basic safety. The SV+ gets additional features like active intervention systems that prevent accidents before they happen.

Forward collision warning monitors the vehicle ahead and alerts you if a collision is imminent. In stop-and-go Riyadh traffic, this matters because we all know drivers here brake suddenly without warning. The system gives you that extra second to react.

Lane departure warning keeps you from venturing into the other lane on highways; this could be useful for long drives to Dammam or Jeddah when you are mostly tired. Similarly, the rear cross-traffic alert warns you when backing out of parking, which is vital in places like crowded malls.

These features do not necessarily help in preventing every accident, but their main job is reducing collision probability in common scenarios. The other benefit is the way insurance companies recognise this, and some offer modest premium reductions for vehicles with these systems, though the savings are small.

The Resale Value Reality

There is no doubt in this department; the SV+ pulls ahead decisively, and it is not hard to know why. When you sell the Nissan Kicks three years from now, buyers will compare your car against other used Kicks. The SV+'s rear camera and safety features become major selling points.

Saudi Arabia's used car inspection standards are getting quite stringent, and cars without rear cameras face harder inspection. More importantly, buyers actively filter for these features when searching, and a base S variant sits longer on the market and commands lower prices.

Looking at the current market scenario, the SV+ maintains approximately 6-8% better residual value after three years. That translates to roughly SAR 5,000–7,000 more when you sell. While this may not be sufficient to fully recover the upfront premium, it does significantly narrow the gap.

Nissan's overall market position complicates this. The brand lacks Toyota's prestige and can't compete with the Chinese alternatives in Saudi Arabia on pure value. The result makes it slightly tricky in the market. However, within the Kicks lineup, the SV+ consistently outperforms the S in the used market.

Which one should you consider?

Buy the S if

• The SAR 11,800 difference genuinely too much for you
• You are buying a second car for limited use
• You plan to keep the car for 8+ years 
• If you are fine parking without a rear camera

Buy the SV+ if

• You drive daily in Riyadh or Jeddah traffic
• You plan to sell within 4-6 years
• Parking in tight spaces is part of your routine
• You want active safety systems for family members who drive the car

Now it is not difficult to say that for most Saudi buyers, the SV+ is the most ideal pick for various reasons. The top-end SL variant is SAR 111,399, where you get a sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, and lane tracing assist for another SAR 10,000. That's subjective, based on affordability and what you need, but at times harder to justify. These features add minimal resale value and limited practical benefit for most buyers.

When it comes to ownership and service cost, there is not much difference. Both variants require similar routine maintenance as per the Car Maintenance Guide for Saudi Drivers. As you might already be aware, Nissan's service network in Saudi Arabia is well-established in major cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, which have multiple authorised service centres. Smaller cities face longer wait times and potential parts delays. The routine service costs run SAR 800-1,200 for 40,000 km intervals, depending on what the service advisor finds during inspection. The three-year/100,000 km warranty covers major issues initially. After that, you're paying market rates for repairs. The SV+'s additional electronics don't significantly increase maintenance costs unless something breaks.

The Final Take

If you have now almost made up your mind to buy the Kicks and just need to decide on variants. This won’t be really that hard. The SAR 11,800 gap between S and SV+ isn't trivial, but it's justified for most buyers in the Saudi market of compact SUVs. The benefits and advantages are quite clear, and the extra price is worth it during your ownership and even when you decide to sell it after 4-5 years. Therefore, if you can afford the higher price for the SV+ variant, of course, without financial strain, it is any day the smarter choice. The S remains adequate for buyers with tight budgets or those keeping the car long enough that resale value becomes irrelevant.

Also Read: What to Expect from the Upcoming Mitsubishi Destinator in Saudi Arabia