SUVs has become the most popular type of automobile purchased in the US over the past twenty years or so. They are useful vehicles for large families, or for smaller families who are constantly ferrying their family members and friends around, or large amounts of luggage or cargo.

The Nissan Kicks and the Honda HRV are two very similar yet excellent SUVs popular on the US market today. People looking to purchase a new SUV often come down to a direct Nissan Kicks vs Honda HRV choice, and then end up scratching their heads or tossing a coin between the two.

Put that cap back on and that coin back in your pocket! With our Nissan Kicks vs Honda HRV comparison, you’ll easily be able to make up your mind.

Comparing the Nissan Kicks vs Honda HRV – Which is the Better Sport Utility Vehicle?

The latest iteration of the Nissan Kicks comes in three trims – S, SV and SL. It’s the smaller of Nissan’s premier pair of SUVs (the other being the Rogue Sport) but it still manages to provide a decent amount of crucial storage space – 25.3 cubic feet with the seats up, and 53.1 feet with the seats folded down.

The Kicks has FWD (AWD is not available) powered by a 1.6 liter 4-cylinder engine. The 122 hp the engine provides doesn’t make the Nissan Kicks the most powerful SUV available, but it is speedy enough. Fuel consumption is usually more important than pedal-to-the-metal speed when it comes to smaller SUVs and here the Kicks is among the best in its class – 31 MPG in the city and a rocking 36 MPG on the highway.

The cabin of the Kicks is spacious and has a 7-inch infotainment screen as standard. Trims beyond the S have an 8-inch screen, adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera for extra safety.

There are plenty of compact crossover SUVs available to US car purchasers at the moment. If you are looking at the purchase of a compact crossover SUV, then two vehicles that you have probably considered are the Nissan Kicks and the Kia Seltos. Both are popular automobiles and decent sellers, but which is the better vehicle?

Hopefully, we can help you to make the correct choice with our exclusive Nissan Kicks vs Kia Seltos comparison. Which of these is likely to be the best purchase for you? Read on to find out!

Nissan Kicks vs Kia Seltos – Your Direct Comparison in Terms of Performance and Power

The Nissan Kicks is Nissan’s most affordable SUV and the smallest in terms of stature, but there is still plenty to admire about it. Despite the diminutive appearance, the Nissan Kicks is deceptively roomy, with 25.3 cubic feet of capacity when fully loaded with passengers. You can more than double that capacity simply by folding the rear seats down.

This popular SUV gets its power from a 1.6 liter inline-4 engine paired to a continuously variable transmission making it capable of 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. The Nissan Kicks is FWD only as there is no AWD option but it gives exceptional fuel economy ratings of 31 MPG city and 36 MPG highway.

Some trims of the Kia Seltos do come with AWD as an option, but unless you are driving your Seltos over rugged terrain on a regular basis, that’s not important. The Seltos is slightly more powerful than the Kicks, which also makes it speedier but that comes at a cost of worse fuel economy figures.

Nissan and Kia make reliable vehicles that have served people well over the years. They are easy on the pocket and not that hard to maintain too. This makes these brands very popular amongst everyday Americans. Their offerings in the subcompact car market have always been popular but across a dilemma. When buying a car, many people will come across the Nissan Kicks vs. Kia Soul argument. One needs to look on a model-by-model basis and see which option would be the best for them.

Safety Features

No family SUV would be complete without several standard safety features. The Kicks has automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, high-beam assistance, and automatic rear braking. You can also take advantage of a rearview monitor, lane-departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. You'll have to pay extra if you want a Soul featuring lane-departure assistance, rear cross-traffic monitoring, and collision avoidance assistance. While the Kicks and Soul will let you know when your tires aren't safe to drive on, only the Kicks' tire pressure monitor keeps track of tire inflation, ensuring that you don't overinflate the tires.

Handling

With the Kicks, you can take advantage of speed-sensitive variable-assist power steering that makes it easier to park, gives you more control when driving at highway speeds, and delivers an excellent road feel. Unfortunately, the Soul does not offer variable-assist power steering. The Soul's 34.8-foot turning diameter is larger than the Kicks' 34.1-foot turning diameter, making the Soul more challenging to maneuver.

Engine

The Nissan Kicks might be limited to a single engine, but it does the job. It has a better mileage rating than the Soul and has active safety features. Emergency braking, blind-spot warning, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on the Kicks. To get the same features on the Kia Soul, you will have to shell out at least $3k more than the base price.

Interior

Both the Kicks and Soul maximize utility with foldable seating, armrest storage, and five-passenger capacities. At the same time, both have an impressive cargo volume; the Kicks inches slightly past the Soul in legroom and headroom. Though the differences are slight, they all add up, making the Kicks a more comfortable ride for its additional space. The Soul features a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, wireless smartphone charging on certain trims, and a roomy cabin. The Kicks also features automatic climate control, heated mirrors, and a steering wheel on higher trims.

Cargo Space

While the Kicks and the Soul seat five people, the Nissan gives you more cargo space. The Kicks' cargo holds and measures 25.3 cubic feet compared to the Soul's 24.2-cubic-foot cargo hold. As you can see, the 2022 Nissan Kicks gives you so much more than the 2022 Kia Soul. Test drive the Kicks today.

Technology

The 2022 Nissan Kicks has two-row seating and tons of tech features to keep everyone entertained and connected while on the road. You can use the large, user-friendly 8-inch touch-screen display that boasts Apple CarPlay^® Integration. Access your favorite apps, play your saved music playlist, and perform a myriad of other functions with ultimate ease.

2022 Nissan Kicks vs. 2022 Kia Soul: Which is Better?

Both vehicles are a good choice for anyone searching for a budget-friendly subcompact SUV. However, the Kicks outshines the Soul regarding safety, price, fuel economy, and cargo space. The Kicks is among U.S. News & World Report’s safest vehicles, with a 9.4/10 rating. The Soul, while reliable, has a lower safety rating of 8.8/10. On top of this, the Kicks is roomier head-to-toe. So, whether you need it for a daily commute or weekend road trips, the ride will be much more comfortable. Lastly, the Kicks beats out the Soul in fuel economy by six additional MPG in the city and five extra MPG on the highway. Even with the turbocharged engine on upgraded Soul trims, the Kicks still beats it out with an additional 4 MPG both city and highway. For these reasons, we’d vote that the better buy is the 2022 Nissan Kicks.

Ready to test drive your brand new 2022 Nissan Kicks vehicle? Come by and see the expert sales team at Charlie Clark Nissan in Brownsville, TX. Let us help you get behind the wheel and drive one home! Our sales team is standing by to help!

Looking to buy a small and inexpensive crossover SUV? The 2022 Nissan Kicks might be worth checking out! Nissan currently produces three trim levels with attractive pricing, starting under $20K for the Kicks S model. Despite the low price point, the small crossover has interesting looks aimed directly at younger buyers. Kicks offers a long list of the standard and available features that have helped attract young, enthusiastic new buyers to both the vehicle and the Nissan brand.

Trimline MSRP Pricing

Currently, the S model begins at $19,700 and comes with 16-inch steel wheels, a keyless entry system, and power windows and locks. The mid-level Kicks SV starts at $21,550 and has additional body color components, silver roof rails, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Sitting at the top of the range is the Kicks SR, which begins at $22,240. It features a lightly revised exterior with LED headlights, a dark satin chrome grille, integrated turn signals in the mirrors, and a rear spoiler. Customers can opt for a $1,200 Premium Package upgrade to the SR trim line that adds Prima-Tex^® upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and an eight-speaker Bose^® audio system.

Fuel Economy

The standard fuel capacity is 10.8 gallons, which should provide around 330 miles of driving range per tank of fuel. Having an EPA rating of 31mpg city/36mpg highway/33mpg combined, the 2022 Kicks sips on fuel more like an economy car than an SUV, tying ratings with the comparable Toyota C-HR.

Best in Class Technology Features

Nissan’s infotainment system is intuitive and easy to learn; less daunting than the Honda HR-V’s system. Kicks features a 7-inch driver information display, a USB Type-C port, 8-inch infotainment system in SV and SR trims. All trim lines come standard with Apple CarPlay^® and Android Auto™, as well as available NissanConnect^® Services that includes available Wi-Fi hotspot and remote vehicle commands. Adding the premium package upgrade to the SR trim adds the Bose^® Personal Plus System, something no other competitor in its class offers.

Best in Class Safety Features

The Kicks earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It also earned a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Key safety features include lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, automatic collision notification, and for peace of mind, standard Nissan SafetyShield^®360 with class-exclusive rear automatic braking.

Best in Class Interior Dimensions

The 2022 Nissan Kicks has more front row legroom than the Kia Soul, the Ford EcoSport, and the Toyota C-HR. Drivers of the Kicks will find it's not just their legs that have ample room but with more front row head room than these competitors the Kicks is roomier from head to toe. In addition to comfort and space for up to five people, the 2022 Nissan Kicks also offers more cargo space behind the second row than these competitors.

Come Test Drive Your 2022 Nissan Kicks Today

Now is the right time to visit Charlie Clark Nissan in Brownsville, TX and take a test drive. We're ready to help you find the vehicle that best suits your needs, plus our team is ready to show you what other services we provide. Contact us today with questions at (956) 303-1790.