2023 Honda HR-V vs. 2023 Nissan Kicks
If you’re in the market for an SUV, you might feel overwhelmed by the larger-than-life options available. Perhaps some models offer excessive space that your family wouldn’t benefit from. Those without the budget or garage space for huge vehicles often find themselves discouraged in their car-shopping journey.
Fortunately, the market has plenty of subcompact crossover SUVs to choose from. These smaller cars offer many of the same benefits as SUVs, like off-roading capabilities and cargo space, while being more affordable and easier to drive. Two popular models are the 2023 Nissan Kicks and the 2023 Honda HR-V, two vehicles that many people correlate with each other because of their similarities. Here at Ike Honda, we’ve put together a guide on the Nissan Kicks versus the Honda HR-V to help you decide.
Images via Honda AdBuilder and Nissan USA
Trim Levels
The 2023 Kicks and HR-V are each available in three trim levels. Once you choose which model you want, its selection of trim levels will give you enough variety while not overwhelming you with tons of options. Key features of the highest Kicks trim level, the SR, include 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, an electronic parking brake, and an 8-inch touchscreen display. Drivers of the highest HR-V trim, the EX-L, enjoy more advanced features like a moonroof, wireless phone charger, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Engine
Let’s take a look at how the engines in the Nissan Kicks and the Honda HR-V compare. The Nissan Kicks has a 1.6L DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine that’s standard across all three trim levels. It provides 122 horsepower at 6,300 RPM, which is more than enough juice for a subcompact SUV crossover.
The Honda HR-V is slightly more powerful, coming in at 158 horsepower to make off-roading more accessible. Like the Kicks, the HR-V features the same standard 2.0L engine across all three trim levels. This consistency helps simplify your decision, as the engines only differ across models instead of between models within the trim levels.
Fuel Efficiency
Both of these subcompact SUV crossovers have excellent fuel efficiency, meaning you can keep fuel costs low and minimize your ecological footprint. The Nissan Kicks gets an average of 31 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway for a combined mpg of 33 mpg.
If you get a Honda HR-V with all-wheel drive, expect an average fuel economy of 27 mpg. You can increase this number to 28 mpg by opting for two-wheel drive. It’s also worth noting that the HR-V’s 14-gallon fuel tank is significantly bigger than the Kicks’ 10.8-gallon tank, meaning the former will help you drive farther before you have to stop and fill up.
Seating
The Kicks and HR-V have five seats that make them excellent vehicles for small to average-sized families. The front and rear headroom in both vehicles are around 40 and 38 inches, respectively, meaning both drivers and passengers can have a comfortable ride. Taller passengers might be slightly more comfortable in the HR-V thanks to the extra 4 inches of rear leg room and the extra 2 inches of front legroom. Overall, the interior passenger volume of the HR-V is greater at 98.7 cubic feet, compared to the Kicks’ 92.6 cubic feet.
Cargo
Yet another way in which the Kicks and HR-V are similar is that they offer 60/40-split folding seats. Various configurations allow you to fit the passengers and cargo you need to get to your destination. The HR-V is slightly larger, with a cargo volume of 24.4 cubic feet. Fold the seats down, and you get up to 55.1 cubic feet of cargo space. In comparison, the Kicks has cargo volumes of 25.3 cubic feet with the seats up and 32.3 cubic feet with the seats down.
Exterior Dimensions
Seeing as the HR-V offers greater passenger and cargo space, you might think this vehicle is bulkier to drive. However, its length of 179.8 inches is only about 10 inches longer than the Kicks’ 169.6 inches. The heights also aren’t that different, as the HR-V stands at 63.4 inches while the Kicks is 63.3 inches tall. These similar exterior sizes mean the HR-V is just as easy to drive, park, and maneuver into your garage as the Kicks is.
Exterior Design
Looks aren’t everything, but it’s worth examining how the Kicks and HR-V compare in terms of their exterior designs. These cars avoid the current trend of making SUVs look like minivans, meaning each vehicle provides a sporty, off-road feel. Each also comes in various color options to help you customize your purchase.
Comfort
The Kicks and HR-V are family cars with plenty of features to keep your passengers comfortable on long journeys. Each comes with essential features like tilt and telescopic steering columns, power-lock doors and windows, and push-to-start ignitions. Both vehicles have unique comfort features, such as the Kicks’ rear-door alerts and the HR-V’s rear-window defroster.
While both vehicles offer plenty of comfort, a closer look reveals that the HR-V has a slightly more luxurious feel because of the wide availability of comfort features. For instance, heated front seats are standard on two of the HR-V trim levels, while they’re only available as an add-on for select Kicks trim levels.
Safety
The Kicks and HR-V make for great family cars because of their commitment to safety. The Kicks comes with standard features including an advanced air bag system, side-door guard beams, and a tire pressure monitoring system with easy-fill tire alerts. The HR-V’s Honda Sensing Safety and Driver-Assistive technologies are more comprehensive, as you get alerts for forward collision and lane departure warnings. Other HR-V safety features include traffic jam assistance, rear seat reminders, and a multi-angle rearview camera.
While the Kicks and HR-V are excellent options, we recommend the HR-V if you want to get the most bang for your buck. Its superior engine performance and bigger cargo and passenger volumes are well worth the investment, especially considering that it still manages to be easy to drive and park. If you’re ready to buy an HR-V or have more questions about its features, contact Ike Honda today.