Compare the2025 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.

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:

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:

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

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:

The CR-V stops much shorter than the Kicks:

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 AWD (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28 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:

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 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.

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/Sport’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.

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.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Kicks has never been chosen.

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