Compare the2021 Chevrolet TrailblazerVS 2021 Nissan Kicks

The Trailblazer offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kicks doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Kicks doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Trailblazer has standard OnStar®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Kicks doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Trailblazer and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

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

The Trailblazer’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Kicks’ (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Trailblazer’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 13th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 12th in reliability, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

The Trailblazer’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder produces 15 more horsepower (137 vs. 122) and 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (162 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Trailblazer’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder produces 33 more horsepower (155 vs. 122) and 60 lbs.-ft. more torque (174 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Trailblazer 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Trailblazer’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Kicks doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Trailblazer has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks (13.2 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Trailblazer’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks:

The Chevrolet Trailblazer has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Kicks. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Trailblazer stops much shorter than the Kicks:

For better traction, the Trailblazer has larger standard tires than the Kicks (215/65R16 vs. 205/60R16). The Trailblazer LS/LT/ACTIV’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (225/60R17 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Trailblazer RS has standard 18-inch wheels. The Kicks’ largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Kicks S only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Trailblazer is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Kicks.

The Trailblazer RS 4x4 handles at .80 G’s, while the Kicks SR pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Trailblazer RS 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Kicks SR (28.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Trailblazer has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kicks S (8 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Trailblazer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Trailblazer’s minimum ground clearance is 1 inch higher than on the Kicks SV/SR (8 vs. 7 inches).

The front grille of the Trailblazer 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.

The Trailblazer has 1.4 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 6 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

The Trailblazer has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (54.4 vs. 53.1 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS’ power liftgate can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Trailblazer has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Kicks has no towing capacity.

The Trailblazer’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch. The Kicks has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Trailblazer’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Kicks’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Trailblazer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Kicks doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Trailblazer’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Kicks’ headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Trailblazer offers an optional center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Kicks doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

With optional voice command, the Trailblazer ACTIV/RS offers the driver hands free control of the radio by simply speaking. The Kicks doesn’t offer a voice control system.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Trailblazer ACTIV/RS offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Kicks doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Kicks doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.