Compare the2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SportVS 2026 Nissan Kicks

The Outlander Sport has standard Active Front Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Front Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Kicks doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Outlander Sport 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, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

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 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

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

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

Mitsubishi’s powertrain warranty covers the Outlander Sport 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Kicks. 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 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

Mitsubishi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Outlander Sport for 2 years and 30,000 miles. Mitsubishi will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Kicks.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Outlander Sport has a standard 530-amp battery. The Kicks’ 510-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The Outlander Sport’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (148 vs. 141) and 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (145 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Outlander Sport SEL’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 27 more horsepower (168 vs. 141) and 27 lbs.-ft. more torque (167 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

The Outlander Sport has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks’ standard fuel tank (15.8 vs. 11.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Outlander Sport has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks AWD’s standard fuel tank (15.8 vs. 12.4 gallons).

The Outlander Sport has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Kicks. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The Outlander Sport stops shorter than the Kicks:

The Outlander Sport has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Kicks; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For superior ride and handling, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 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.

The Outlander Sport’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (59% to 41%) than the Kicks’ (61% to 39%). This gives the Outlander Sport more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Outlander Sport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kicks (8.5 vs. 8.4 inches), allowing the Outlander Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Outlander Sport has 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

The Outlander Sport’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Kicks’ intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Outlander Sport’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan offers heated mirrors for extra charge, but only on the Kicks SV/SR.

Both the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and Nissan Kicks offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Outlander Sport offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Kicks’ foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

With standard voice command, the Outlander Sport LE/SE/SEL/Ralliart/Trail Edition offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Kicks doesn’t offer a voice control system.