Compare the2026 Hyundai KonaVS 2025 Nissan Kicks Play

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Kona have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Nissan Kicks Play doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Kona are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Hyundai Kona achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Nissan Kicks Play has not been tested.

The Kona offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Kona’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

The Hyundai Kona has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Kona Limited has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Kicks Play only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Kona has a standard Bluelink, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Kona and the Kicks Play have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Kona is safer than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Kona	Kicks Play
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Hyundai Kona has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Kicks Play has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2026.

Warranty

The Kona comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Kicks Play’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Kicks Play. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Kicks Play ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Kicks Play’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Kona has a standard 150-amp alternator (130-amp - Kona 1.6 Turbo). The Kicks Play’s 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Kona SE/SEL Sport’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 25 more horsepower (147 vs. 122) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (132 vs. 114) than the Kicks Play’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Kona SEL Premium/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 68 more horsepower (190 vs. 122) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 114) than the Kicks Play’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kona SE/SEL Sport 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Kona	Kicks Play
Zero to 30 MPH	3.8 sec	4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	9.8 sec	10.5 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	6.2 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter Mile	17.6 sec	18.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	82 MPH	79 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Kona SE’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 Play doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Kona’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks Play (12.4 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Kona 1.6T’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks Play (13.2 vs. 10.8 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Kona AWD/1.6T’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks Play:

	Kona AWD/1.6T	Kicks Play
Front Rotors	12 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	8” drums
Opt Rear Rotors		11 inches

The Hyundai Kona has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Kicks Play. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Kona stops much shorter than the Kicks Play:

	Kona	Kicks Play
70 to 0 MPH	166 feet	190 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Kona has larger standard tires than the Kicks Play (215/60R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Kona SEL Premium/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks Play (235/45R19 vs. 205/60R16).

The Kona SEL Premium/Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kicks Play’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Kona SE has standard 17-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the Kicks Play. The Kona SEL Premium/Limited has standard 19-inch wheels.

The Hyundai Kona’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Kicks Play only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Kona HTRAC AWD 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 Play has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Kona has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Kicks Play’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Kona HTRAC AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Kona HTRAC AWD flat and controlled during cornering. The Kicks Play’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Kona’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Kicks Play (104.7 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Kona is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Kicks Play.

The Kona Limited HTRAC AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Kicks Play pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Kona Limited HTRAC AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the Kicks Play (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Kona has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kicks Play (8.1 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Kona to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Kona SEL Premium/Limited’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the Kicks Play (8.3 vs. 7 inches).

Chassis

The design of the Hyundai Kona amounts to more than styling. The Kona has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .302 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Kicks Play (.334 to .344) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Kona get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Kona 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 Play doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Kona has 8.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks Play (101.2 vs. 92.6).

The Kona has 3.4 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 4.7 inches more rear legroom, 3.3 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks Play.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Kona has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks Play with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 32.3 cubic feet).

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

Servicing Ease

The Kona uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Kicks Play uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Kona has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Kona’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Kicks Play 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 Kona and the Kicks Play have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Kona is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Kicks Play prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Kona’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kicks Play’s halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Kona has standard extendable sun visors. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Kona SEL/Limited’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

The Kona SEL/Limited has standard heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Kicks Play.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Kona Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Kona Limited’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Kona 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 Play doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Kona SEL/Limited’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 Play doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The Kona SEL/Limited’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Kona has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer rear vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Kona has a standard Smart Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is standard on the Kona Limited. The Kona’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a navigation system.

With standard voice command, the Kona Limited offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Compared to the Nissan Kicks Play’s traditional radio, the Hyundai Kona equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Kona SEL/Limited has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Kona Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Kona second among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Kicks Play isn’t in the top three.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Kona as the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Kicks Play has never been chosen.

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