Compare the2023 Toyota Corolla HatchbackVS 2023 Nissan Kicks

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Corolla Hatchback has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL 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 Corolla Hatchback has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Kicks doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Corolla Hatchback and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 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 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	Corolla Hatchback	Kicks
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	191
Neck Injury Risk	27%	32%
Neck Stress	243 lbs.	374 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	330/310 lbs.	343/312 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	79%
Neck Stress	165 lbs.	392 lbs.
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	138 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/156 lbs.	370/209 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 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	Corolla Hatchback	Kicks
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	92	139
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	172 lbs.
Hip Force	330 lbs.	347 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	318
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	517 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches

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 Corolla Hatchback is 5% less likely to roll over than the Kicks.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla Hatchback the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Kicks last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2018.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla Hatchback for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Kicks.

There are over 15 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Corolla Hatchback’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 15th.

Engine

The Corolla Hatchback’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (169 vs. 122) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (151 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Corolla Hatchback is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

	Corolla Hatchback	Kicks
Zero to 60 MPH	8.6 sec	10.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	18 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.9 MPH	77.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla Hatchback gets better mileage than the Kicks:

		MPG
Corolla Hatchback
	SE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
	XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
Kicks
	1.6 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/36 hwy

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

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Corolla Hatchback	Kicks
Front Rotors	11.5 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.5 inches	8” drums

The Toyota Corolla Hatchback 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 Corolla Hatchback stops much shorter than the Kicks:

	Corolla Hatchback	Kicks
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	190 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Corolla Hatchback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (225/40R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The Corolla Hatchback SE’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 Corolla Hatchback’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Kicks SV/SR’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corolla Hatchback offers optional 18-inch wheels. The Kicks’ largest wheels are only 17-inches.

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

The Corolla Hatchback’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (59.4% to 40.6%) than the Kicks’ (60.7% to 39.3%). This gives the Corolla Hatchback more stable handling and braking.

The Corolla Hatchback XSE handles at .85 G’s, while the Kicks SR pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The design of the Toyota Corolla Hatchback amounts to more than styling. The Corolla Hatchback has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the Kicks (.334 to .344) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Corolla Hatchback get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Corolla Hatchback has 3 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

Ergonomics

The Corolla Hatchback’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 power windows standard on both the Corolla Hatchback and the Kicks have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Corolla Hatchback 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 Corolla Hatchback’s front and rear power windows all 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 Kicks’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Corolla Hatchback the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Kicks can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Corolla Hatchback’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kicks’ standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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 Corolla Hatchback’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Kicks’ headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

The Corolla Hatchback’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Kicks SV/SR.

The Corolla Hatchback 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.

The Corolla Hatchback XSE’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 Corolla Hatchback and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Corolla Hatchback XSE has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kicks SV/SR doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

With standard voice command, the Corolla Hatchback 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Corolla XSE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Kicks doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Nissan Kicks isn’t available as a sedan or four door hatchback.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Corolla Hatchback and the Nissan Kicks, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Nissan Kicks by over five to one during 2022.