Compare the2026 Hyundai KonaVS 2025 Nissan Kicks

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Kona’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Kicks doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Kona and Kicks have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Kona has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Kicks’ Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Kona and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Kona is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	Kona	Kicks
OVERALL STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Kona is much safer than the Kicks:

	Kona	Kicks
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	199	307
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	22/22 pounds	135/157 pounds
Thigh Forces L/R	22/22 pounds	135/157 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Kona is 2% to 4.7% less likely to roll over than the Kicks.

The Hyundai Kona has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Kicks is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Kona comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Kicks’ 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Kicks. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Kicks ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Kicks’ (7 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 2 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Kona SE/SEL Sport’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (147 vs. 141) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Kona SEL Premium/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 49 more horsepower (190 vs. 141) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kona SEL Premium/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

	Kona	Kicks
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	10.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	17.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.2 MPH	79.7 MPH

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Kona AWD/1.6T’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks:

	Kona AWD/1.6T	Kicks
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	11 inches

The Kona stops much shorter than the Kicks:

	Kona	Kicks
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Kona SEL Premium/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (235/45R19 vs. 225/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Kona SE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Kona is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Kicks.

The Kona Limited HTRAC AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Kicks SR pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Kona Limited HTRAC AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Kicks SR (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the Kona uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Kicks doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Kona SEL Premium HTRAC AWD is quieter than the Kicks SR AWD:

	Kona	Kicks
At idle	33 dB	39 dB
Full-Throttle	73 dB	77 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	73 dB

Passenger Space

The Kona has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (101.2 vs. 95.7).

The Kona has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 3.7 inches more rear legroom, 2.3 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Kona’s rear seats recline. The Kicks’ rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Kona has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 60 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Kona Limited’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Kona’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Servicing Ease

The Kona uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Kicks uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Kona and the Kicks have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Kona is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Kicks prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Kona’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Kicks only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Push Button Start is not available on the Kicks SV/SR.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Kona Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Kicks doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Kona SEL/Limited’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kicks doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Kona and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Kona SEL/Limited has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kicks doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to the Nissan Kicks, the Hyundai Kona eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Compared to traditional radio, the Hyundai Kona’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Kicks SV/SR.

The Kona Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Kicks doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Kona, based on reliability, safety and performance.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Kona as the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Kicks has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Nissan Kicks by 9% during 2024.

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