2022 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Nissan Kicks underwent significant exterior changes, adopting a bolder design that aligned with the new faces of the 2021 Nissan Armada, forthcoming Nissan Ariya, and 2021 Nissan Rogue. The front featured a snubbed nose with a deep V-motion design, incorporating a new “double V-motion” feature with sweeping chrome and piano black elements. The Kicks SR trim level boasted LED multi-reflector headlights and standard LED fog lights, while the rear showcased a new bumper, back door finisher, and LED taillight combination, giving it a proportionate and stylish look. The two-tone paint job option, available with most body colors, enhanced the upmarket appearance, blending seamlessly with the large windscreen and high-rising body panel.

The interior of the Kicks remained mostly unchanged but featured higher quality materials, drawing inspiration from the 2020 Nissan Sentra. The SR trim level included LED headlights, black heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Buyers could further customize their Kicks with over 100 million color combinations from Nissan Kicks Color Studio accessories. The interior also featured new seat and door designs, a full center console armrest, and Prima-Tex-appointed seating with a three-tone design and stitching in the SR Premium Package.

The 2022 Subaru Forester, available in base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trim levels, started at an MSRP of $25,195 for the base model, with the Touring trim topping out at $35,295. The Forester Wilderness, tested in Bend, Oregon, featured white paint, a dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a base price of $33,945, including destination. The Wilderness trim included a suspension lift, higher ride height, and massive protective cladding, giving it a rugged appearance. Inside, the Forester emphasized function over form, with hard plastic and soft surfaces creating a cabin that exuded quality and clarity of purpose.

The 2022 Forester Wilderness retained the model's 8-inch Starlink infotainment system, which was intuitive and easy to use. The Wilderness trim also included copper-colored stitching and accents, adding a touch of style to the functional interior. The Forester's driving dynamics were pleasing, with a re-tuned suspension for improved ride and handling. The Wilderness trim featured longer springs and shocks, raising the suspension and improving ground clearance to 9.2 inches. The Forester excelled in various driving environments, including off-road courses and forest roads, proving its capability and practicality.

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. This engine, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD), provided adequate power for its size. The Kicks featured electric power-assisted steering with vehicle-speed variable assist, making it nimble and easy to maneuver in various driving conditions. The SUV's front independent strut stabilizer bar suspension, twist beam, and twin-tube shock absorbers contributed to its handling capabilities.

Despite being FWD, the Kicks SR tester performed well on icy roads, with minimal engine noise entering the cabin. The CVT could get noisy under heavy acceleration, but this was a common trait among CVTs. 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. The Kicks also came standard with a traction control system, stability control system, hill start assist, and auto-hold. The Kicks S had a front disc/rear drum antilock braking system, while the SV and SR trims had rear disc brakes for improved stopping power. 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 at 31 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient subcompact crossovers.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine as the previous year, producing 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. All Foresters had a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Wilderness model featured a CVT design that provided a 25% increase in initial torque supply, doubling the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA rated the Forester Wilderness at 26 mpg combined, with the test vehicle averaging 25.9 mpg during the drive in central Oregon.

The Forester's engine emitted the characteristic grumble of a boxer-style engine, which was endearing to some drivers. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and included SI-Drive for a more lively response. The Wilderness trim also had Subaru’s dual-function X-Mode system, which offered various settings for different surfaces and improved speed management during hill descents. The re-tuned suspension and longer springs and shocks in the Wilderness trim improved ground clearance to 9.2 inches, with better approach, breakover, and departure angles. The Forester Wilderness excelled in various driving environments, including off-road courses and forest roads, proving its capability and practicality.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks made the most of its small size with easy-to-reach buttons and knobs throughout the cabin. It featured good small-item storage, easy-access USB ports, and multiple storage options for smartphones. The climate controls were easy to understand and use, and the seat warmers provided quick and effective warmth. The Kicks SR tester included a heated 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 the hip room proportions made the front seats feel compartmentalized for larger and taller drivers. The rear seats could comfortably accommodate adults, and the available tonneau cover provided hidden storage in the rear cargo area.

The 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized functionality, with easy entry and exit thanks to tall seating hip points. The StarTex upholstery in the Wilderness trim was water-resistant, and the SUV included standard all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable material on the rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails with integrated tie-down locations accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, making it suitable for a three-person roof tent. The Forester offered high comfort levels in both the front and back seats, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents and quick-charge ports for passengers. Storage space was decent, with various bins, bottle holders, and seatback pockets. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it, expanding to 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof) with the rear seats folded down.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a range of modern technology 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 in the base model Kicks S. 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, providing an immersive 360-degree sound experience. The Kicks also offered a surround-view monitor, a WiFi hot spot, and NissanConnect services.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services in the base trim. The Premium trim added access to a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting through an active Starlink plan. The Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen, with options for a navigation system and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera for off-roading. The test vehicle had both navigation and the Harman Kardon audio system, which produced clear, rich sound. The Forester also offered a PIN Code Access feature, allowing drivers to leave the key fob in the SUV and use a PIN code to re-enter the vehicle.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of driver-assistance and safety features including 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 also had 10 airbags, a driver alertness monitor, and rear door alert in the SV and SR trims. The 2020 Kicks received all Good marks in the IIHS crashworthiness section and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with twice the field of vision of the previous system and a new Automatic Emergency Steering system. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. The Touring trim included DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology that monitored for drowsiness and distraction. The 2022 Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and was expected to retain the 2021 model’s “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS.