Compare the2023 Nissan KicksVS 2022 Ford EcoSport

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Kicks SV/SR are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Kicks has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The EcoSport doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Kicks has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The EcoSport doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Kicks’ lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Kicks SR has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The EcoSport only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kicks has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the EcoSport and isn't available on the not available.

The Kicks SV/SR’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Kicks and the EcoSport 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, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras and available daytime running lights.

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

	Kicks	EcoSport
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	191	250
Neck Injury Risk	32%	36%
Neck Stress	374 lbs.	403 lbs.
Neck Compression	27 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	343/312 lbs.	495/441 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 Nissan Kicks is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	Kicks	EcoSport
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	517 lbs.	685 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	37 G’s
Hip Force	535 lbs.	549 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Kicks is 3.6% to 4.9% less likely to roll over than the EcoSport.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, its standard front crash prevention system, its “Acceptable” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kicks the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 180 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The EcoSport has not been fully tested, yet.

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 Kicks’ reliability 16 points higher than the EcoSport.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 9 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the Nissan Kicks is faster than the Ford EcoSport:

	Kicks	EcoSport
Zero to 60 MPH	10.5 sec	10.7 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Kicks gets better fuel mileage than the EcoSport (31 city/36 hwy vs. 23 city/29 hwy).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Kicks higher (7 out of 10) than the Ford EcoSport (5). This means the Kicks produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the EcoSport every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Kicks has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Kicks SV/SR’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the EcoSport are solid, not vented.

The Kicks stops much shorter than the EcoSport:

	Kicks	EcoSport
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Nissan Kicks SV/SR’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford EcoSport only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Kicks has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The EcoSport doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Kicks has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The EcoSport doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Kicks’ wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the EcoSport (103.1 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

The Kicks SR handles at .83 G’s, while the EcoSport Titanium pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Kicks SR executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the EcoSport SE (28.7 seconds @ .55 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Kicks’ turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the EcoSport’s (34.1 feet vs. 35.1 feet).

Chassis

The Nissan Kicks may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 600 pounds less than the Ford EcoSport.

Passenger Space

The Kicks has .8 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more rear headroom and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the EcoSport.

Cargo Capacity

The Kicks has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the EcoSport with its rear seat up (25.3 vs. 20.9 cubic feet). The Kicks has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EcoSport with its rear seat folded (53.1 vs. 50 cubic feet).

The Kicks’ liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The EcoSport’s swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

Ergonomics

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

The Kicks has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Kicks detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The EcoSport doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Kicks SV/SR has a standard Intelligent Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The EcoSport doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Recommendations

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

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its March 2019 issue and they ranked the Nissan Kicks SR higher than the Ford EcoSport SE.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Kicks third among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The EcoSport isn’t in the top three.

The Nissan Kicks outsold the Ford EcoSport by 69% during the 2021 model year.