Compare the2025 Nissan KicksVS 2025 Hyundai Kona

The Nissan Kicks has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Kicks SR offers an optional front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Kona doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Kicks and the Kona have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

There are over 28 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Kicks’ warranty.

The Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (140 vs. 132) than the Kona SE/SEL’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Kicks gets better mileage than the Kona:

The Kicks 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 Kona doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system or a tether to prevent losing the cap.

For better stopping power the Kicks’ standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona:

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 Kona doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Kicks has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Kicks flat and controlled during cornering. The Kona 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For greater off-road capability the Kicks has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona (8.4 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Kicks to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Kicks’ minimum ground clearance is .1 inch higher than on the Kona N Line/Limited (8.4 vs. 8.3 inches).

The Kicks has 1 inch more front legroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the Kona.

The Kicks has a much larger cargo volume than the Kona with its rear seat up (30 vs. 25.5 cubic feet).

The Kicks’ standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Kona’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Kicks’ optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The Kicks’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Hyundai only offers heated mirrors on the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited.