Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2022 Nissan Kicks

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Kicks’ airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

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

Both the HR-V and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

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

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 Honda HR-V is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

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

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Kicks has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 8 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The HR-V’s 1.8 SOHC 4-cylinder produces 19 more horsepower (141 vs. 122) and 13 lbs.-ft. more torque (127 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda HR-V is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

The HR-V 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 HR-V’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks:

The Honda HR-V 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 HR-V stops much shorter than the Kicks:

For better traction, the HR-V has larger standard tires than the Kicks (215/55R17 vs. 205/60R16). The HR-V Sport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (225/50R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The HR-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kicks S’ standard 60 series tires. The HR-V Sport’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Kicks SV/SR’s 55 series tires.

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

The Honda HR-V’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.

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

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Kicks SR pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The HR-V EX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Kicks SR (27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

The HR-V Sport/EX/EX-L uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Kicks doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The HR-V has 7.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (100.1 vs. 92.7).

The HR-V has 2.2 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 5.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

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

The HR-V has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (58.8 vs. 53.1 cubic feet).

The HR-V’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. 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 HR-V’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kicks’ power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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

The HR-V Touring’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Kicks’ available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

With standard voice command, the HR-V Touring 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.

The Honda HR-V outsold the Nissan Kicks by 58% during the 2021 model year.