Nissan Kicks vs Toyota bZ

The 2025 Nissan Kicks was designed with young consumers and first-time car buyers in mind, drawing inspiration from sneaker culture to create a vehicle that exuded agility, style, and comfort. The Kicks featured a tougher appearance than most small crossovers, without pretending to be sporty, thanks to its new CMF-B platform. This platform, previously used in Europe for the Juke, made the Kicks slightly larger with increased ground clearance, helping it stand out. The Kicks offered nine color options, with the base trim limited to five, while the mid and top trims featured two-tone configurations. Notable design elements included the Kicks logo on side-mirror supports and sneaker-tread-like rocker panel trim, adding a distinctive touch. The interior boasted a variety of textures, with some cost-saving measures evident, but overall, it provided a premium feel. The Kicks featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats, available in cloth or synthetic leather, with optional heated front seats on higher trims.

The 2026 Toyota bZ was available in XLE and Limited trims, offering single-motor FWD or dual-motor AWD configurations with two battery size options. The larger battery provided more power, performance, and range, with prices ranging from $36,495 to $46,895. The XLE test vehicle featured FWD and the optional larger battery, transforming it into the XLE Plus. The bZ's design improved over its predecessor, with body-color trim enhancing its appearance. Inside, the dashboard and center console were redesigned for a cleaner look, and the fabric seats featured an upscale pattern. The center touchscreen grew to 14 inches, integrating climate control with user-friendly features. However, the digital driver display remained a point of contention due to its placement and information overload. Despite these issues, the bZ offered a comfortable and quiet ride, with standard safety features enhancing its appeal.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks addressed previous shortcomings by introducing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a new CVT, delivering 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. This marked a significant improvement over the previous generation's 1.6-liter engine, which produced 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. The new powertrain allowed the Kicks to keep pace with traffic while maintaining good fuel economy. AWD was introduced as an option, enhancing the Kicks' SUV-like feel and making it more suitable for challenging weather conditions. The AWD system utilized torque vectoring and braking to optimize traction. The Kicks' ride and handling improved, with minimal body roll and better noise control in the cabin. However, acceleration remained sluggish at times, particularly at high elevations. Sport mode provided a slight boost in performance, while Snow mode improved traction in slippery conditions. Fuel economy ratings were 28 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined for FWD, and 37 city, 34 highway, and 30 combined for AWD.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered a choice between a single electric motor with a 57.7-kWh battery, producing 165 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque, or an optional 74.7-kWh battery, increasing power to 224 hp. The XLE FWD achieved an EPA-estimated range of 236 miles with the smaller battery and 314 miles with the larger one. Dual-motor AWD models, equipped with the 74.7-kWh battery, delivered 338 hp and offered ranges of 288 miles for the XLE and 278 miles for the Limited. The bZ's charging capabilities included compatibility with Tesla Superchargers and a CCS adapter for versatile charging options. Efficiency tests showed favorable results, with the bZ averaging 4.5 miles per kWh in Eco mode and 3.9 miles per kWh in Normal mode. The bZ's instant torque provided quick acceleration, but the FWD model struggled with traction in certain situations. Overall, the bZ offered a comfortable and quiet ride, though it lacked the handling prowess for spirited driving.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks provided a good view of the road from the driver's seat, though the seating position was low and required manual adjustment. The proximity lock and unlock feature on higher trims added convenience. The Kicks' redesign improved cabin space, particularly in the second row, with a panoramic moonroof enhancing the sense of openness. The Kicks offered best-in-class cargo space, accommodating up to 30 cubic feet (23.9 cubic feet with AWD) or 60 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, wind buffeting was a drawback when driving with the driver's side window down.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on a skateboard-style EV platform, offered easy entry and exit with 8.1 inches of ground clearance. Both front seats featured standard height adjustment, with eight-way power adjustment available on higher trims. The bZ lacked a traditional glove compartment but compensated with ample storage options, including a large bin under the center armrest and a sizable tray beneath the center console. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous legroom, though foot space was limited. The bZ provided 27.7 cubic feet of cargo space (25.8 cubic feet with Limited trim) and 56.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded (55 cubes in the Limited trim).

The 2025 Nissan Kicks featured a base infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a four-speaker stereo. The SV trim upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity and charging, while the SR offered dual 12.3-inch screens and a Bose audio system with headrest speakers. The SR's setup was praised for its crisp screens and easy-to-use controls, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2026 Toyota bZ came standard with a 7-inch digital driver display and a new 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The driver display's placement and information overload were drawbacks, but the 14-inch display offered a user-friendly experience with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system lacked a home screen for simultaneous data display and had low-contrast colors in daytime mode. However, the Intelligent Assistant voice command system worked well, enhancing the bZ's tech offerings.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks came equipped with a rearview camera and the Safety Shield 360 package, which included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. ProPilot Assist, standard on the SV trim, added advanced driver-assistance features. The Kicks also offered a 360-degree monitor system, a first for a subcompact crossover. However, it had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist provided subtle braking and steering inputs for added safety. The Limited trim offered additional features like Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park Assist. The bZ received mixed safety ratings from IIHS, with Good ratings for front-crash avoidance but Poor ratings for headlights and Acceptable ratings for frontal-impact crash tests.