At the 2026 Philippine International Motor Show, Nissan showcased four electrified models set to arrive in the country this year. Last week, we got behind the wheel of two of them. We took the Nissan X-Trail e-Power and Kicks e-Power on a lengthy drive up north, traveling from Quezon City to Zambales to Bolinao in Pangasinan, before heading back to Metro Manila via the expressways. The entire journey covered around 700 kilometers over three days. We already know what’s new with these cars, so it was time to find out how they actually feel on the road.

The Nissan X-Trail e-Power is simply a boss magnet. Anyone riding in the second row will appreciate the creature comforts on offer. There’s individual temperature control, rear air vents, USB-C ports, a sunshade, and nicely contoured seats that keep you comfortably in place. Even the center armrest gets some attention, with its own cupholders and phone holder.

I also appreciate the elevated seating position in the second row. It takes some strain off my legs, and despite the long drive to Zambales, I experienced very little fatigue as a passenger.

Things change once the boss takes the throne. The front seats are comfortable too and I like that the e-Pedal system has a dedicated button. That’s unlike the Kicks, where it’s automatically activated in Eco and Sport modes.

What stood out, however, was the X-Trail’s limited driver assistance technology especially when compared to the Kicks. It only gets standard Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning, with no Lane Keeping System. Those who are chauffeured around all the time may not mind, but if you’re driving yourself and frequently tackling the highways, it’s something worth pondering on.

Then there’s the quirky e-Pedal system. In Eco mode, pedal response feels vague and inconsistent. Its behavior depends on your speed, so at low or crawling speeds, the effect is barely noticeable. Pick up the pace and it becomes more pronounced, but the response also changes depending on whether you ease off the pedal gradually or lift your foot quickly—even if you release it by the same amount.

Things improve in Sport mode, where the system feels more predictable. But that begs the question: if Sport mode delivers the experience you want, what’s the point of Eco mode?

Thankfully, the X-Trail shines where it counts. On our drive from Solaire North to Zambales and Pangasinan, it returned an average of 16 km/L. That figure included city driving, NLEX traffic, idle time, fast highway runs, overtaking, rural roads, uphill climbs, and just about everything in between. Still, I couldn’t help wondering how much better that figure might have been had we kept the X-Trail in Eco mode and used e-Pedal throughout the trip.

The Nissan X-Trail e-Power has the power and space but what really stuck with me was just how comfortable the X-Trail remained over long distances. Despite its size, it’s not difficult to drive, even through tight streets. The 360-degree camera system also made maneuvering much easier. But I’d still vote for the second row as the best place to be in the X-Trail.

The Nissan Kicks carries over the same powertrain package from its original Philippine launch. This time, Nissan focused on the safety features and design—two areas that were already strengths of the previous model. The V-motion design is now more subtle up front, while the extended taillight detailing around the rear corners is a nice touch.

Surprisingly, the Kicks has a more convincing e-Pedal system than the X-Trail. Eco mode is actually usable, offering more predictable feedback and making it easier to take advantage of coasting when you want to. It would’ve been even better if the regenerative braking could be adjusted independently.

The safety features are another major improvement. The Kicks get Intelligent Cruise Control, and a Lane Keeping System—both missing from the X-Trail. It also offers 16 Advanced Driver Assist features, with several available across the lineup. Features such as Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are also available even on the base variant.

The Kicks’ second row, however, may be a different story depending on how long your journey is. There are no rear air vents, but cabin ventilation is still decent thanks to the positioning of the dashboard vents. I also appreciate the USB-C ports at the back of the center console.

The more polarizing aspect is comfort—or the lack of it. The second-row seat base feels short on cushioning, and after a while, you can feel the seat frame pressing against you. During our four-hour drive back from Pangasinan to Quezon City, I found myself constantly shifting around in search of a comfortable position.

To be fair, I didn’t experience the same discomfort during the two-hour drive to our lunch stop. Perhaps the Kicks’ second-row comfort is something you’ll appreciate more on shorter trips. Of course, my experience also comes with the caveat that I’m a heavy guy.

Despite that setback, the Nissan Kicks remains impressive. It returned 17.5 km/L during our time with it. In fact, I’d argue that it makes a stronger case as the current flag bearer of Nissan’s e-Power system than the X-Trail. This short king proves that bigger isn’t always better.

There’s something mesmerizing about Nissan’s e-Power system that only becomes apparent once you experience it for yourself. Neither car is perfect, but both proved easy on the wallet and relatively worry-free over long distances.

We didn’t have to think about refueling or charging during our 700-kilometer journey over three days. Even after all that driving, we returned to Quezon City with around half a tank remaining in the car that had the least fuel left. For that kind of convenience and efficiency, some of the shortcomings of these two e-Power models become easier to forgive.