Comparing The New Nissan Kicks Against 5 Key Rivals

The 2025 Nissan Kicks has arrived, and the Japanese brand has armed it with a host of new features to compete in one of the hottest segments in the American automotive market. Nearly 20 subcompact SUVs and crossovers are available in the USA, with some brands offering even two cars in the same category. Kia sells both the Soul and the Seltos, while Hyundai will happily sell you a Venue or a Kona. And then there’s the mighty Subaru Crosstrek, the go-to for most customers looking for a crossover that works perfectly well in the suburbs but isn’t afraid of getting a bit dirty.

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Reveal: 2025 Nissan Kicks Levels Up For the Next Generation

We checked out the all-new Nissan Kicks and liked what we saw.

With the Kicks being the new kid on the block, we decided to explore what it has to offer and see how it stacks up against the competition. Since there are nearly 20 models in this segment, we had to narrow it down to five rivals. The Subaru Crosstrek is here because it’s the best-selling subcompact SUV on the market, while the other four were chosen because they stand out in the segment as top contenders based on their BuzzScore. The Hyundai Venue and Kia Seltos are exceptional value for money, the Honda HR-V is the most practical thanks to its Magic Seat layout, and the CX-30 is the most fun to drive because of its responsive front end and decently tuned chassis.

Let’s dive in and see how the new Kicks compares to all the vehicles we highlighted above.

Drivetrain: Nissan Kicking It Old-School

The outgoing Kicks was powered by a lackluster naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder, mated to a CVT transmission that sent the power to the front wheels only. The new Kicks is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-pot that produces 141 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. The CVT transmission has been carried over, and front-wheel drive is standard, but for the first time, all-wheel drive is available as an option. It’s not for serious off-roading, however. The optional AWD system simply broadens the Kicks’ appeal, especially in cold-weather states.

While it’s not the most powerful engine in the segment, Nissan included three driving modes as standard, so the driver can get the most out of the engine. FWD models come with Normal, Eco, and Sport modes, while the AWD adds Snow.

Our only concern is the peaky nature of the engine. Maximum power is only produced at 6,000 rpm, which is also the maximum engine speed. The 140 lb-ft of torque is only available from 4,000 rpm. Traditionally, CVT transmissions work best when mated to an engine with loads of low-end torque and that’s not the case here. However, until we drive it, we’re willing to give Nissan the benefit of the doubt.

Dimensions: They’re Called Subcompact For A Reason

As mentioned, these cars cater to a younger audience. Said audience may be at different stages in their life, but the Kicks is perfect for both. If a customer is single, they don’t need anything bigger than this. The same goes for a young married couple without kids. If they want to go on an extended vacation, they can simply drop the rear seats down to create a massive trunk.

A young couple with one child is slightly trickier. Kids come with a lot of accessories, so it’s nice to see that the FWD Kicks has one of the biggest trunks in the segment. It comfortably beats all the main rivals we included here.

Safety: Most Important Features Are Standard

Research has shown that safety is one of Gen Z’s biggest concerns when shopping around for a new car. The IIHS is also making its criteria even stricter, making it harder for automakers to secure the coveted Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards. By law, all cars are required to have at least ABS, traction and stability control, and a rearview camera. Everything above that is a bonus, but Nissan has always been good when it comes to standard safety kit.

All models in the Kicks range get Nissan Safety Shield as standard, which includes all the items you see in the table below. To keep the playing field even, we only compared the base model in each range.

The top-spec Kicks SR ships standard with additional safety features, including lane-departure prevention, emergency lane-keep assist, blind-spot intervention, front parking assist, traffic sign recognition, intersection assist for oncoming traffic, and ProPilot assist.

Conclusion: Nissan Has A Winner

All signs point to Nissan having a winner. The pricing is not available yet, but we suspect it will compare well with the other cars here, which sell for between $19,000 to $25,000. The only outlier is the Mazda CX-30, which can also be ordered with a turbocharged engine, which pushes the price up to beyond $30k.

The base Nissan Kicks S does have a few problems, however. It only has one USB port and a seven-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have become the default operating systems for most customers, making it a dealbreaker if a car is not equipped with these features. If you want wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and more than one USB port, you have to go for the mid-spec SV or top-spec SR.

The Kicks does make up for it by offering a larger trunk and the most standard safety features out of all the cars listed here, and it will be interesting to see how the market responds to it.