Compare the2025 GMC TerrainVS 2024 Nissan Kicks

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

Safety

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The Terrain AWD has 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 Terrain AWD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Kicks doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Terrain and Kicks have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Terrain has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (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 Terrain 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The GMC Terrain weighs 695 to 913 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.

Warranty

The Terrain’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Kicks’ (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 54 percent more GMC dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Terrain’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Terrain 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 Terrain has a standard 760-amp battery. The Kicks’ 510-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Terrain FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 53 more horsepower (175 vs. 122) and 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Terrain AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 53 more horsepower (175 vs. 122) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (203 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Terrain’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. 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 Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks (14.8 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks (15.6 vs. 10.8 gallons).

The Terrain 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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Terrain	Kicks
Front Rotors	11.8 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.3 inches	8” drums
Opt Rear Rotors		11 inches

The GMC Terrain 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.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Terrain has larger tires than the Kicks (235/65R17 vs. 205/60R16).

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

The GMC Terrain’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 GMC Terrain 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Terrain’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the Kicks (107.5 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Terrain is 4.2 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Kicks.

Chassis

The front grille of the Terrain 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 Terrain 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.

Passenger Space

The Terrain has 4.4 inches more front hip room, 4.7 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 5.7 inches more rear legroom, 1.9 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

Cargo Capacity

The Terrain has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kicks with its rear seat up (29.8 vs. 25.3 cubic feet). The Terrain has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 32.3 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Terrain’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Terrain’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Terrain has a 800 lbs. towing capacity. The Kicks has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Terrain, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kicks doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Terrain’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Kicks doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Terrain’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Kicks has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

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

On a hot day the Terrain’s 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 Terrain’s standard Keyless Open and Start allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Ignition standard on the Kicks only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Push Button Ignition is not available on the Kicks SV/SR.

The Terrain’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 Terrain’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 Terrain’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.

When the Terrain with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kicks’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Terrain has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Kicks, and are only available on the Kicks SR. The Terrain also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kicks.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Terrain 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 Terrain 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 Terrain 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 Terrain’s optional 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 Terrain and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Terrain 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 Natural Voice Recognition, the Terrain offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls 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 GMC Terrain offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Kicks doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

The GMC Terrain outsold the Nissan Kicks by 8% during 2023.

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