Compare the2022 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2021 Nissan Kicks

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Crosstrek has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Kicks doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Crosstrek CVT’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Kicks doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited has standard STARLINK Connected Services, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to 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 Crosstrek and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

	Crosstrek	Kicks
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	121	191
Neck Stress	304 lbs.	374 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	252/363 lbs.	343/312 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	122	326
Neck Injury Risk	44.6%	79%
Neck Stress	195 lbs.	392 lbs.
Neck Compression	52 lbs.	138 lbs.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	Crosstrek	Kicks
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	138	139
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	346 lbs.	347 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	303	318
Hip Force	428 lbs.	517 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	201	218

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 137 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Kicks last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2019.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Crosstrek’s reliability 27 points higher than the Kicks.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 17th in reliability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 5 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Crosstrek’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 30 more horsepower (152 vs. 122) and 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (145 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (182 vs. 122) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (176 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Crosstrek is faster than the Nissan Kicks (automatics tested):

	Crosstrek 2.0	Crosstrek Sport/Limited	Kicks
Zero to 60 MPH	8.8 sec	7.8 sec	10.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.7 sec	16 sec	18 sec

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Kicks doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Crosstrek CVT’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. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Kicks doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Crosstrek has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks (16.6 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Crosstrek	Kicks
Front Rotors	11.6 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.8 inches	8” drums

The Subaru Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek stops much shorter than the Kicks:

	Crosstrek	Kicks
70 to 0 MPH	169 feet	190 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Crosstrek has larger tires than the Kicks (225/60R17 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crosstrek has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S. The Crosstrek Limited’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Kicks SV/SR.

The Subaru Crosstrek’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.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Subaru Crosstrek has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Nissan Kicks has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Crosstrek has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Crosstrek flat and controlled during cornering. The Kicks’ suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Crosstrek’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Kicks (104.9 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Crosstrek is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than on the Kicks.

The Crosstrek Premium handles at .81 G’s, while the Kicks SR pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Crosstrek Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Kicks SR (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kicks S (8.7 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Crosstrek to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Crosstrek’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the Kicks SV/SR (8.7 vs. 7 inches).

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (100.9 vs. 93.9).

The Crosstrek has 4.2 inches more front hip room, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, 3.1 inches more rear legroom, 6.1 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

Cargo Capacity

The Crosstrek has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (55.3 vs. 53.1 cubic feet).

The Crosstrek’s cargo area is larger than the Kicks’ in almost every dimension:

	Crosstrek	Kicks
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	32.3”/64.2”	36”/64”
Max Width	53”	49.7”
Min Width	43”	39”
Height	30”	38.6”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek. The Kicks doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Crosstrek has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Kicks has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Kicks. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Crosstrek and the Kicks have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Crosstrek 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.

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

The Crosstrek’s standard driver power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited’s standard power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kicks’ power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Crosstrek’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Kicks’ headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Crosstrek Limited has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Kicks doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Crosstrek’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Kicks offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Crosstrek Limited has a standard 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.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is available on the Crosstrek Limited. The Crosstrek’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Kicks doesn’t offer a navigation system.

With standard voice command, the Crosstrek offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Kicks doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Crosstrek, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Kicks isn't recommended.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Nissan Kicks by 78% during the 2021 model year.