Nissan Kicks vs. The Competition for Sale in West Springfield, MA
Overview
The 2020 Nissan Kicks is a subcompact crossover that, as its name indicates, was made for fun times. Although it’s small enough to fit into that last little downtown parking space that other drivers had to pass by, it’s been designed to maximize its interior space to fit more cargo than most of its competitors. New for 2020, Nissan has put standard driver-assist features on all Kicks trim levels. Although the 2020 Nissan Kicks proves to be one of the best values around, it faces stalwart competitors such as the Kia Soul, Ford EcoSport, Subaru Crosstrek, and Toyota C-HR. Let’s see how they compare.
Starting Price and Other Basics
One of the most 2020 Nissan Kicks’ most attractive qualities is its starting MSRP of $18,870. The Soul, at $17,490, is the only competitor mentioned here that has a lower base price – but then you’re not getting as much car for that number. The EcoSport starts its pricing at $19,995, the Crosstrek starts at $22,145, and the C-HR starts at 21,295. Any of these small crossovers powertrain leaves it unclear whether fully loaded will hover around $30,000.
The powertrain in the 2020 Nissan Kicks models is a 1.6-liter 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Although it’s not among the most powerful vehicles in this class, it makes up for it with its class-leading fuel efficiency, getting an EPA-estimated 31 mpg city and 36 mpg highway for a combined 33 mpg. Of the competing 2020 subcompact crossovers mentioned here, the Crosstrek has the second-best fuel economy at 27 mpg city/33 mpg highway.
Comfort, Convenience and Safety
The 2020 Nissan Kicks may be labeled as a subcompact crossover, but its interior is far from small. It has plenty of room for five passengers, with more front row leg room than all of the competitors listed on this page. It has 43.7 inches of front row leg room, while the Soul has 41.1 inches, the EcoSport has 42.9 inches, and the CH-R has 43.5 inches. Passengers on the taller side are also pleased by the Kicks’ front and rear headroom, where it beats out the EcoSport and C-HR. It also has more total passenger volume than the EcoSport and C-HR and the most cargo space in this comparison (25.3 cubic ft. behind the second row).
All trim levels of the 2020 Nissan Kicks come standard with a full suite of advanced active safety features, including several that don’t come standard on the aforementioned competitors. For instance, even the base trim gets automatic emergency braking, which none of the base versions of the rival vehicles mentioned here comes with. The Kicks’ standing rear automatic braking feature, which activates the brakes when it detects an object behind the vehicle as it’s backing up, is also exclusive to this segment.