2022 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Nissan Kicks underwent significant exterior changes, aligning its design more closely with the 2021 Nissan Armada, forthcoming Nissan Ariya, and 2021 Nissan Rogue. The front featured a bold, snubbed nose with a deep V-motion design, incorporating a new "double V-motion" feature. The Kicks SR trim level boasted LED multi-reflector headlights and standard LED fog lights. At the rear, a new bumper, back door finisher, and LED taillight combination gave the Kicks a proportionate look reminiscent of the Nissan Leaf. The model also introduced new paint options and maintained its two-tone paint job option, enhancing its upmarket appearance.

Inside, the Kicks retained its familiar layout but with higher quality materials, drawing inspiration from the 2020 Nissan Sentra. The interior featured new seat and door designs, a full center console armrest in the mid-range Kicks SV and SR, and Prima-Tex-appointed seating with three-tone design and stitching in the Kicks SR Premium Package. The Kicks SR also included LED headlights, LED light signature accents, and a sportier aesthetic with black heated outside mirrors, body-color bumpers, and dark chrome grille accents. Buyers could further customize their Kicks with over 100 million color combinations from Nissan Kicks Color Studio accessories.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, extending its length by 1.6 inches and featuring revised front and rear fascias, enhanced LED lighting, and sporty new character lines. The sharp body lines contrasted with lower body cladding, and new alloy wheel designs completed the exterior updates. Inside, the instrument panel and center console were separated, creating a more horizontal layout and spacious look. New ambient lighting for the front cupholders and footwells added sophistication, while a rear USB port increased convenience.

The 2022 model introduced two new trim levels: the sporty N Line and the even sportier Kona N. The N Line featured exclusive black seats with red stitching, a black headliner, and alloy sport pedals, while the Kona N boasted wide fenders, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a double-wing roof spoiler. The Kona N's interior included N sport bucket seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and shift knob. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line in Blue Wave, showcased the refreshed model's streamlined look, with the Blue Wave exterior color and N Line-exclusive 18-inch wheels standing out. The fit and finish and interior material quality were appropriate for the price point, with red accent stitching and "N" logos adding a sporty touch.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came with a single powertrain option: a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). The Kicks' electric power-assisted steering and front independent strut stabilizer bar suspension with twist beam and twin-tube shock absorbers contributed to its nimble handling. Despite being low-powered, the Kicks had a good power-to-weight ratio, making it suitable for its size. The Kicks SR tester maintained good performance on icy roads, though the CVT could get noisy under heavy acceleration.

The Kicks S trim rode on 16-inch steel wheels, while the SV and SR trims featured 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, with an option to upgrade to 17-inch black alloy wheels. All models came with all-season tires, a traction control system, stability control system, and hill start assist. The Kicks SR also included an integrated dynamic-control module with active engine brake, intelligent trace control, and intelligent ride control. The EPA rated the Kicks' fuel economy at 31 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined, with a range of 356 miles on a single tank of gas.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of engines and transmissions across its lineup. The SE and SEL trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The N Line and Limited trims had a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The Kona N, powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an N eight-speed wet DCT with paddle shifters.

Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line with the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and AWD, provided more than adequate power and a pleasurable driving experience. The Kona's torquey turbo engine and small dimensions made it easy to maneuver through city traffic, while the DCT handled shifts well, enhancing the vehicle's sportiness. The Kona's handling was composed, with a low ride height and low center of gravity contributing to its surefootedness. Noise levels inside the cabin were quieter than expected for a car at this price point.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks' small size translated into easy-to-reach buttons and knobs throughout the cabin. The interior featured good small-item storage, easy-access USB ports, and multiple storage options for smartphones. Climate controls were easy to understand and use, and the seat warmers provided quick warmth. The Kicks SR tester included a heated steering wheel, a D-shaped steering wheel, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way adjustable front passenger seat, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The Kicks had best-in-class front seat legroom, though hip room proportions made the front seats more compartmentalized for larger drivers. Adults could fit comfortably in the back seats, and the available tonneau cover provided hidden storage.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona's front-seat occupants enjoyed ample headroom and legroom, even with the optional sunroof. The N Line's front seats held occupants in place during spirited driving. However, rear-seat occupants faced challenges with small door openings, limited headroom due to the sloping roof, and compromised legroom. The Kona's cargo space was tight, with 19.2 cubic feet of space with all seats up and 45.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Towing with the Kona was not recommended.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a host of standard tech features, including a 7-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, three USB ports, keyless entry, push-button start, and Easy Fill Tire Alert. The Kicks SV added Nissan Intelligent Key, automatic climate control, a 7-inch driver information screen, satellite radio, remote engine start, and a USB-C port. The Kicks SR Premium Package included a class-exclusive Bose Personal Plus sound system with eight speakers and Bose signal processing. The Kicks also offered a surround-view monitor, a WiFi hot spot, and NissanConnect services.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona added more tech for the 2022 model year. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch display, while the SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Hyundai Blue Link. The Limited and Kona N trims included a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and traffic information, and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base 8-inch screen, while the larger screen only offered wired versions. The Kona also featured Digital Key, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless device charging, and Hyundai Blue Link services.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Kicks had 10 airbags, a driver alertness monitor, and rear door alert. The 2020 Kicks received Good marks in IIHS crashworthiness tests and a four-star overall rating from NHTSA.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona's standard safety features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, lane-following assistance, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert. Available technologies included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, Highway Drive Assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. The 2022 Kona received five stars from NHTSA for overall crash protection and Good ratings from IIHS in all crashworthiness tests. The Kona's child-seat anchors received a Marginal rating.