Take most reviewers with a grain of salt. Most are spoiled from driving expensive luxury & sports cars on winding canyon roads and race tracks; while forgetting the common folks driving more affordable cars to and from work, stuck in rush hour traffic. Of the reviewers, Alex on Autos is more down to earth.
In the Kicks category of cars, fuel efficiency sells better than more horsepower. Where the Kicks nails it is in the packaging of the SV & SR. You get the important stuff that make that everyday commute much more pleasant. Stuff that one would usually find in luxury cars - Smart key, blind spot alert, 360 surround cam, remote start, premium stereo, etc.
Who knows, if the Kicks is a big hit, it is likely that Nissan might add a turbo power sports version.