When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Sportage’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Kicks doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.
Both the Sportage and Kicks have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (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 Sportage and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Nissan Kicks:
|
Sportage |
Kicks |
OVERALL STARS |
5 Stars |
3 Stars |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
3 Stars |
HIC |
299 |
476 |
Neck Injury Risk |
24.5% |
43.8% |
Neck Stress |
263 lbs. |
476 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
14 lbs. |
76 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
48/154 lbs. |
121/138 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
3 Stars |
HIC |
307 |
338 |
Chest Compression |
.4 inches |
.7 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
30.9% |
67.5% |
Neck Stress |
177 lbs. |
253 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
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 Kia Sportage is safer than the Nissan Kicks:
|
Sportage |
Kicks |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
70 |
124 |
Hip Force |
247 lbs. |
371 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
82 |
206 |
Spine Acceleration |
47 G’s |
56 G’s |
Hip Force |
581 lbs. |
669 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
270 |
303 |
Spine Acceleration |
35 G’s |
48 G’s |
Hip Force |
480 lbs. |
797 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.