Compare the2024 Volkswagen TaosVS 2023 Nissan Kicks

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

Safety

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

The Taos has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, 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.

The Taos offers 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 Taos’ standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Kicks doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

Both the Taos and Kicks have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Taos has Rear Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Kicks’ Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Taos 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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available rear parking sensors.

The Volkswagen Taos weighs 430 to 745 pounds more than the Nissan Kicks. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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

	Taos	Kicks
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	32%	32%
Leg Forces (l/r)	103/74 lbs.	343/312 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	224	326
Neck Injury Risk	45%	79%
Neck Stress	135 lbs.	392 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 Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	Taos	Kicks
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	111	139
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	115 lbs.	172 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.

Warranty

The Taos comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Kicks’ 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Taos’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Kicks’ (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taos for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Kicks.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Taos has a standard 640-amp battery. The Kicks’ 510-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 36 more horsepower (158 vs. 122) and 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Taos is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

	Taos	Kicks
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	9.7 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	21.5 sec	36.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.4 sec	10.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	17.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87 MPH	80 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	110 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Taos’ 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 Taos FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks (13.2 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Taos AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks (14.5 vs. 10.8 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Taos	Kicks
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.7 inches	8” drums

The Volkswagen Taos 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 Taos stops much shorter than the Kicks:

	Taos	Kicks
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	190 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Taos has larger standard tires than the Kicks (215/50R18 vs. 205/60R16). The Taos 4Motion’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (225/45R19 vs. 205/60R16).

The Taos 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 Taos 4Motion’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Kicks SV/SR’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taos S has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S. The Taos 4Motion’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Kicks SV/SR.

The Volkswagen Taos’ 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 Taos 4Motion 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 solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Taos has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Kicks’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Taos 4Motion has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Taos 4Motion flat and controlled during cornering. The Kicks’ suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taos’ wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Kicks (105.5 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Taos is 2 inches wider in the front and .3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Kicks.

The Taos SEL 4Motion handles at .85 G’s, while the Kicks SR pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Taos SEL executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Kicks SR (28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Taos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kicks (7.6 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Taos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The design of the Volkswagen Taos amounts to more than styling. The Taos has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .31 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 Taos get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Taos has 6.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (99.5 vs. 92.7).

The Taos has .3 inches more front headroom, 3.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 4.5 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

Cargo Capacity

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kicks with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 25.3 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 53.1 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Taos’ 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 Taos and the Kicks have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Taos 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 Taos’ 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.

On a hot day the Taos’ driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Kicks can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Taos’ 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 Kicks’ power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Taos’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Kicks’ manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Taos to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Kicks doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Taos’ 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 Taos’ available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Kicks’ headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Taos SE Black/SEL has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Kicks doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Taos SE Black/SEL also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Taos SEL AWD keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Kicks doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Taos has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Kicks.

The Taos 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 Taos SE/SEL’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 Taos and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Taos offers optional 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.

The Taos SEL’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 Taos SE/SEL 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 Volkswagen Taos SE/SEL has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Kicks doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Taos outsold the Nissan Kicks by 8% during 2022.

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