Compare the2025 Hyundai KonaVS 2025 Nissan Kicks

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

Both the Kona and Kicks have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Kona 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 Kona and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Hyundai Kona has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Kicks has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Nissan pays for maintenance for the Kicks (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 4 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 long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai higher than Nissan.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 2 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Kona SE/SEL’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (147 vs. 141) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 49 more horsepower (190 vs. 141) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kona N Line/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

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

The Kona stops shorter than the Kicks:

For better traction, the Kona N Line/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (235/45R19 vs. 225/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Kona SE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Kona is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Kicks.

The Kona Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Kicks SR AWD (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

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 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Kona N Line AWD is quieter than the Kicks SR AWD:

The Kona has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (101.2 vs. 95.7).

The Kona has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 3.7 inches more rear legroom, 2.3 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

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

The Kona has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 60 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 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Kona uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Kicks 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.

The power windows standard on both the Kona and the Kicks 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 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Kona’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Kicks only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Push Button Start is not available on the Kicks SV/SR.

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 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Kona SEL/N Line/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 doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Kona and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited 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 Hyundai Kona 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 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 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Kona, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Nissan Kicks by 9% during 2024.