2021 Toyota RAV4 vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 featured a rugged-looking exterior reminiscent of a traditional SUV, with boxy fender flares, chiseled taillights, and a scowling front end. This aggressive styling set it apart from previous RAV4 generations and most other compact crossovers. Despite its bold exterior, the RAV4 was built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, shared with many other Toyota models, which provided a solid but ordinary mechanical foundation. The RAV4 Adventure and TRD Off-Road models offered additional styling options, such as unique wheels, LED fog lights, and interior accents, enhancing its rugged appeal.

Inside, the RAV4's cabin featured functional touches like large rubberized knobs and door handles, distinguishing it from other Toyota models. Material quality was decent on lower trims but didn't improve significantly with higher trims. The TRD Off-Road model had SofTex upholstery, which Toyota claimed was lighter and more durable than leather, but genuine leather was not available even on the top-tier RAV4 Limited trim.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks underwent significant exterior changes, adopting a bolder design in line with other Nissan models like the Armada and Rogue. The front featured a snubbed nose with a deep V-motion design, while the rear had a new bumper, back door finisher, and LED taillights, giving it a proportionate and stylish look. The Kicks SR trim level came with LED multi-reflector headlights, standard LED fog lights, and Intelligent Auto Headlights. New paint options were introduced, and the two-tone paint job with a floating roof added an upmarket look.

Inside, the Kicks maintained its compact size, making buttons and knobs easily accessible. The cabin featured higher quality materials, with new seat and door designs and a full center console armrest in the mid-range Kicks SV and SR. The Kicks SR Premium Package offered Prima-Tex-appointed seating with a three-tone design and stitching. The interior was designed to maximize space, with good small-item storage, easy-access USB ports, and multiple smartphone storage options.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The engine achieved 40% thermal efficiency, a level typically found in racing engines, and delivered impressive output for a naturally aspirated four-cylinder. However, the transmission often hesitated to shift, and the steering lacked feel, making the driving experience less dynamic. The RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime offered more power and better fuel economy.

On the highway, the RAV4 provided a comfortable ride with low cabin noise and a suspension that absorbed road imperfections well. Off-road capability was a focus for the Adventure and TRD Off-Road models, which featured a torque-vectoring rear axle, 8.6 inches of ground clearance, and a 3,500-pound towing capacity. However, the RAV4's off-road performance was limited by its lack of suspension articulation and shallow approach, departure, and breakover angles.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). The Kicks' electric power-assisted steering and front independent strut stabilizer bar suspension made it nimble and easy to handle in various driving conditions. Despite its low power, the Kicks had a good power-to-weight ratio, providing adequate performance for its size.

The Kicks SR tester maintained good handling on icy roads, with minimal engine noise entering the cabin. The CVT could get noisy under heavy acceleration, but this was typical for many CVTs. The Kicks S trim rode on 16-inch steel wheels, while the SV and SR trims had 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, with an option to upgrade to 17-inch black alloy wheels. The Kicks also featured standard traction control, stability control, hill start assist, and auto-hold.

The Kicks SR included an integrated dynamic-control module with active engine brake, intelligent trace control, and intelligent ride control. Adaptive cruise control was standard. The Kicks had an EPA fuel economy rating of 31 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient subcompact crossovers.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 offered a tall, upright roof providing good headroom in both rows and decent outward visibility. However, legroom was slightly behind competitors. The front seats were comfortable, but the rear seats had flat, hard cushions, making long trips less appealing. The RAV4 had a 60/40 split-folding rear seat but lacked the sliding feature found in some competitors. Cargo space was 37.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place, above average but still behind the Honda CR-V. The oversized knobs and steering-wheel controls were easy to use, but the center-console storage was limited.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks' small size made buttons and knobs easily accessible. The cabin featured good small-item storage, easy-access USB ports, and multiple smartphone storage options. Climate controls were easy to use, and the seat warmers provided quick warmth. The Kicks had a D-shaped steering wheel, six-way adjustable driver's seat, four-way adjustable front passenger seat, and 60/40 split-folding rear seat as standard. The Kicks offered best-in-class front seat legroom, though hip room was limited for larger drivers. The rear seats could comfortably accommodate adults. The available tonneau cover provided hidden storage in the rear cargo area.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Most trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Limited model had an 8-inch screen, and the RAV4 Prime offered a 9-inch screen. Up to five USB ports were available, and a JBL premium audio system was optional. The infotainment system was user-friendly but not particularly flashy, with a well-positioned touchscreen and easy-to-read graphics. However, the gasoline RAV4 lacked the head-up display available on the RAV4 Prime.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a host of standard tech features, including a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, 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 had a surround-view monitor, WiFi hotspot, and NissanConnect services.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it missed the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating due to mixed headlight scores. The NHTSA gave the RAV4 a five-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side crash tests. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 bundle included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking, 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 as standard on the SV and SR trims. The 2021 Kicks had not been crash-tested by the IIHS, but the 2020 model received all Good marks in crashworthiness. The NHTSA had not tested the 2021 Kicks, but the 2020 model received a four-star overall rating. The Kicks had a strong history of few recalls.