2021 Kia Sportage vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Kia Sportage struck a balance between quirky and sophisticated. Kia's tiger-nose grille and uniquely shaped headlights gave the Sportage a memorable front fascia, often described as frog-like by some. Despite this unconventional look, Kia claimed a “Euro-focused” design philosophy. The compact crossover had a short wheelbase and minimal overhangs, making it ideal for urban driving. Buyers had options ranging from 17- to 19-inch wheels, enhancing its versatility. The interior featured an 8-inch touchscreen flanked by air vents, with physical buttons and knobs for user-friendly control. Though not the most tech-savvy or fashionable interior by Kia standards, it was pleasant and functional.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Kicks received notable exterior updates, aligning it more closely with models like the 2021 Nissan Armada and the Rogue. It sported a bold V-motion design with a chrome and piano black double V-motion feature. The headlights were thinner and elongated, extending down the front face, with the SR trim offering LED multi-reflector headlights and fog lights. The rear boasted a new bumper and LED taillights, but the placement of the trunk release, rearview camera, and license plate lights felt a bit off. The Kicks offered a variety of vibrant paint options, including new shades like Electric Blue Metallic and Scarlet Ember Tintcoat with two-tone designs making a striking impression. Its floating black roof added to the upscale look, accentuating the vehicle's proportional design.

The 2021 Kia Sportage presented various powertrain options across its trims (LX, EX, SX Turbo) with either FWD or AWD. The base LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo upped the ante with a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI engine delivering 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission was consistent across all trims. Fuel efficiency varied with the 2.4-liter engine yielding 23 mpg in the city, 30 on the highway, and 26 combined in FWD setup. The numbers dropped slightly for AWD versions. The turbocharged model saw a further dip in fuel economy to 20/28/23 for FWD and 19/24/21 for AWD. The Sportage handled city and highway driving smoothly, though the steering could have been more responsive.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks featured a single powertrain—a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque—matched with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT and FWD. This setup was modest in power but matched the Kicks’ lightweight frame, making it nimble for city driving and manageable on highways. Its handling was enhanced by electric power-assisted steering with vehicle-speed variable assist and an independent strut suspension with twin-tube shock absorbers. Despite being labeled as low-powered, the Kicks offered decent power for its weight and size, maintaining stability even on icy roads. The Kicks’ fuel economy was a notable highlight, delivering 31 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined, making it one of the most efficient in its class.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, though on the smaller end of the compact crossover spectrum, offered good interior space for occupants. The SX Turbo models provided excellent comfort with a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 8-way power passenger seat, both heated and ventilated. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was less competitive, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and a total of 60.1 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks made efficient use of space within its compact size. With user-friendly button and knob placement, the cabin featured handy storage spots and numerous USB ports. The Kicks had a D-shaped steering wheel, a six-way adjustable driver seat, a four-way adjustable front passenger seat, and a conveniently splitting 60/40 rear seat. It provided best-in-class front seat legroom, though hip room was a bit tight for larger occupants. Rear seats comfortably accommodated adults, a rarity in the subcompact class. The cargo area was more versatile with an available tonneau cover for additional hidden storage.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen managing the infotainment system that was efficient and user-friendly. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports, supplemented by Kia’s UVO Link connected services in most trims. Higher trims, like the SX Turbo, also offered wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. Despite being conventional in tech offerings, the Sportage's system was intuitive and functional.

In the 2021 Nissan Kicks, the base S model came with numerous tech features, including a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and multiple USB ports. Moving up to the SV trim added perks like Nissan Intelligent Key, automatic climate control, a 7-inch driver information screen, and remote engine start. Notably, the Kicks SR Premium Package featured an exclusive Bose Personal Plus sound system, delivering immersive audio via speakers integrated into the headrests. The Kicks also offered cutting-edge tech like a surround-view monitor, a WiFi hot spot with over-the-air updates, and NissanConnect services, augmenting its competitive edge.

The 2021 Kia Sportage’s safety credentials were impressive. Standard across all trims were advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The top-tier SX Turbo trim also featured adaptive cruise control. The Sportage earned Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS for its upgraded headlights on certain trims and performed well in NHTSA’s crash tests.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks prioritized safety with Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard across all models, featuring automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. With 10 airbags standard, higher trims added a driver alertness monitor and rear door alert. Crash test data for the 2021 model year was pending, but the similar 2020 model scored well in IIHS and NHTSA evaluations. Also, the Kicks had a solid recall history, reflecting its reliability.