Compare the2025 Chevrolet TrailblazerVS 2025 Nissan Kicks

Both the Trailblazer and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

There are almost 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Trailblazer’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 6th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 15th.

The Trailblazer’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder produces 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (162 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Trailblazer’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder produces 14 more horsepower (155 vs. 141) and 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (174 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Trailblazer 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

The Trailblazer has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks’ standard fuel tank (13.2 vs. 11.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Trailblazer higher (7 out of 10) than the Nissan Kicks (6). This means the Trailblazer produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Kicks every 15,000 miles.

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

The Trailblazer stops much shorter than the Kicks:

For better traction, the Trailblazer has larger standard tires than the Kicks (225/60R17 vs. 215/60R16). The Trailblazer RS’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (245/45R19 vs. 225/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Trailblazer LS/LT/ACTIV has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S.

The front grille of the Trailblazer 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 Trailblazer AWD 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.

The Trailblazer has 2.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (98.2 vs. 95.7).

The Trailblazer has .3 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 4.5 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear hip room than the Kicks.

The front step up height for the Trailblazer is 2 inches lower than the Kicks (17” vs. 19”). The Trailblazer’s rear step up height is 1.6 inches lower than the Kicks’ (17.4” vs. 19”).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Trailblazer ACTIV/RS, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

The Trailblazer’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 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Trailblazer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Kicks doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, 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.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Trailblazer, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer outsold the Nissan Kicks by 32% during 2024.