Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4 HybridVS 2025 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 Rav4 Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Rav4 Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Kicks.

Both the Rav4 Hybrid and Kicks offer Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Rav4 Hybrid (except LE/SE/Woodland) has Parking Support Brake (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 Rav4 Hybrid and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The Toyota Rav4 Hybrid weighs 438 to 813 pounds more than the Nissan Kicks. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

There are over 14 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 52 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 17th.

Engine

The Rav4 Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 78 more horsepower (219 vs. 141) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Hybrid gets better mileage than the Kicks:

			MPG
Rav4 Hybrid
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/38 hwy
		Woodland 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/35 hwy
Kicks
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/35 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy

The Rav4 Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The Kicks can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Rav4 Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Kicks doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Rav4 Hybrid has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks’ standard fuel tank (14.5 vs. 11.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Rav4 Hybrid has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks AWD’s standard fuel tank (14.5 vs. 12.4 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Rav4 Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks:

	Rav4 Hybrid	Kicks
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	11 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Rav4 Hybrid has larger tires than the Kicks (225/65R17 vs. 215/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 Hybrid LE/XLE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid 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 Kicks 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Rav4 Hybrid’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the Kicks (105.9 inches vs. 104.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 Hybrid is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Kicks.

The Rav4 Hybrid’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the Kicks’ (61% to 39%). This gives the Rav4 Hybrid more stable handling and braking.

Chassis

The front grille of the Rav4 Hybrid 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.

Passenger Space

The Rav4 Hybrid has 3.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (98.9 vs. 95.7).

The Rav4 Hybrid has 1.9 inches more front hip room, 3.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4 Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Kicks’ rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Rav4 Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kicks with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 30 cubic feet). The Rav4 Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 60 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4 Hybrid. The Kicks doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Rav4 Hybrid (except LE/Woodland Edition) offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or, optionally on the Rav4 Hybrid Limited, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 Hybrid uses the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Kicks doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Rav4 Hybrid (except LE/SE/XLE/Woodland), the optional memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Kicks doesn’t offer memory seats.

The power windows standard on both the Rav4 Hybrid and the Kicks have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Rav4 Hybrid 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.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Kicks can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Hybrid Limited offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Kicks doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Rav4 Hybrid and the Kicks offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Hybrid Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kicks.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 Hybrid Limited 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 Rav4 Hybrid’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 Rav4 Hybrid and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Rav4 Hybrid has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kicks doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to the Nissan Kicks, the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

The Rav4 Hybrid Woodland has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Kicks doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Nissan Kicks by almost seven to one during 2023.

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