Compare the2024 Buick EnvistaVS 2023 Nissan Kicks

Both the Envista and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 Envista’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Kicks’ (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 82 percent more Buick dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Envista’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Envista has a standard 130-amp alternator. The Kicks’ 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Envista has a standard 760-amp battery. The Kicks’ 510-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 13th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 58 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 4 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Envista’s 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.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Envista’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. The Kicks doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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

The Envista has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Kicks doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

The Buick Envista 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.

For better traction, the Envista has larger standard tires than the Kicks (225/60R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Envista’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (245/45R19 vs. 205/60R16).

The Envista’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kicks SV/SR’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Envista has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S. The Envista’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Kicks SV/SR.

The Buick Envista’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 a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Envista’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Kicks (106 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Envista is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Kicks.

The front grille of the Envista 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 Envista 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 Envista has 4.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (97.5 vs. 92.7).

The Envista has 1.4 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 5.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Envista offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 23% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 18th.

The Envista’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 Envista’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’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Envista’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Kicks doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost NissanConnect Services can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Envista’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Kicks’ manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Envista’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 Envista’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 Envista Avenir’s standard rear view mirror and optional 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 Envista Avenir 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 quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Buick Envista offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Kicks doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.