Compare the2026 Honda CR-VVS 2025 Nissan Kicks

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Kicks’ side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

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

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the CR-V’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Kicks doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the CR-V and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all-wheel drive, 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 Honda CR-V is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	CR-V	Kicks
OVERALL STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	211	476
Neck Injury Risk	17.1%	43.8%
Neck Stress	181 lbs.	476 lbs.
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	76 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	54%	67.5%
Neck Stress	211 lbs.	253 lbs.
Neck Compression	37 lbs.	76 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 Honda CR-V is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	CR-V	Kicks
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	72	124
Abdominal Force	115 lbs.	126 lbs.
Hip Force	347 lbs.	371 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	206
Spine Acceleration	51 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	613 lbs.	669 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	302	303
Hip Force	753 lbs.	797 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Kicks:

	CR-V	Kicks
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	138	158
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.91 in	1.02 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	245 lbs.
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	119	182
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	112 lbs.
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.5 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.34 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the CR-V is 2.4% to 4.3% less likely to roll over than the Kicks.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda fourth in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 12th.

The CR-V’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 49 more horsepower (190 vs. 141) and 39 lbs.-ft. more torque (179 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CR-V Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 63 more horsepower (204 vs. 141) and 107 lbs.-ft. more torque (247 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda CR-V is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

	CR-V turbo 4-cyl.	CR-V Hybrid	Kicks
Zero to 60 MPH	8.7 sec	7.6 sec	10.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16.7 sec	16.2 sec	17.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.4 MPH	81.5 MPH	79.7 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better mileage than the Kicks:

			MPG
CR-V
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/36 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/34 hwy
		TrailSport 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/33 hwy
Kicks
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/35 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the CR-V Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Kicks doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The CR-V has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks’ standard fuel tank (14 vs. 11.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CR-V has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks AWD’s standard fuel tank (14 vs. 12.4 gallons).

For better stopping power the CR-V’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks:

	CR-V 1.5T	CR-V Hybrid	Kicks
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	12.6 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	12.2 inches	11 inches

The CR-V stops much shorter than the Kicks:

	CR-V	Kicks
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the CR-V has larger tires than the Kicks (235/60R18 vs. 215/60R16). The CR-V’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (235/60R18 vs. 225/45R19).

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

For superior ride and handling, the Honda CR-V 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CR-V’s wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the Kicks (106.3 inches vs. 104.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Kicks.

The CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid handles at .85 G’s, while the Kicks SR AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CR-V EX-L AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Kicks SR (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

The front grille of the CR-V 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.

The CR-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Kicks doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid is quieter than the Kicks SR AWD:

	CR-V	Kicks
Full-Throttle	72 dB	77 dB

The CR-V has 10.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (106 vs. 95.7).

The CR-V has .3 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 6.5 inches more rear legroom, 2.5 inches more rear hip room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

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

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kicks with its rear seat up (39.3 vs. 30 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (76.5 vs. 60 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CR-V. The Kicks doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CR-V EX-L/Sport-L/Sport Touring has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the CR-V Sport Touring, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

The CR-V has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Kicks has no towing capacity.

The CR-V 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 5% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 10th.

When two different drivers share the CR-V EX-L/Sport-L/Sport Touring, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Kicks doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CR-V EX-L/Sport-L/Sport Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Kicks doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

On a hot day the CR-V’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance with the keyless remote or at the outside door handle. The driver of the Kicks can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CR-V EX/EX-L/Sport/TrailSport/Sport-L/Sport Touring’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 CR-V and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CR-V 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 traditional radio, the Honda CR-V’s 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. Satellite radio is only offered on the Kicks SV/SR.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda CR-V has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Kicks SV/SR offers wireless charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda CR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The CR-V was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “5Best Trucks/10Best” for 2025 and 5 more times in the last 24 years. The Kicks has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Nissan Kicks by over five to one during 2024.