The Nissan Kicks has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 Niro doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.
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 Niro doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.
The Kicks offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
The Kicks SR has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Niro only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.
Both the Kicks and the Niro have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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 and driver alert monitors.
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 Kia Niro:
|
Kicks |
Niro |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
124 |
182 |
Chest Movement |
.7 inches |
1 inches |
Abdominal Force |
126 lbs. |
246 lbs. |
Hip Force |
371 lbs. |
424 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
206 |
392 |
Spine Acceleration |
56 G’s |
81 G’s |
Hip Force |
669 lbs. |
919 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
11 inches |
13 inches |
HIC |
303 |
474 |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.