Compare the2025 Kia SeltosVS 2025 Nissan Kicks

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia Seltos achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Nissan Kicks has not been tested.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Seltos’ standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Kicks doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Seltos and Kicks have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Kicks’ Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Seltos and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	Seltos	Kicks
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	112	476
Neck Injury Risk	22.2%	43.8%
Neck Stress	242 lbs.	476 lbs.
Neck Compression	52 lbs.	76 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	308	338
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	38.4%	67.5%
Neck Stress	239 lbs.	253 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	387/46 lbs.	234/256 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Seltos is much safer than the Kicks:

	Seltos	Kicks
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	135	307
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Seltos is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	Seltos	Kicks
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	79	124
Hip Force	346 lbs.	371 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	177	206
Hip Force	447 lbs.	669 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	227	303
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	620 lbs.	797 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Seltos is 1% to 4.7% less likely to roll over than the Kicks.

Warranty

The Seltos comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Kicks’ 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Kicks. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Kicks ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Seltos second among small suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Kicks isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 6th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 3 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Seltos’ standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (146 vs. 141) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Seltos X-Line/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 more horsepower (195 vs. 141) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Seltos is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

	Seltos 4 cyl.	Seltos X-Line/SX	Kicks
Zero to 60 MPH	8.3 sec	6.9 sec	10.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	15.4 sec	17.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.5 MPH	91.2 MPH	79.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Seltos has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks’ standard fuel tank (13.2 vs. 11.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Seltos AWD’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks:

	Seltos AWD	Kicks
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	11 inches

The Seltos stops much shorter than the Kicks:

	Seltos	Kicks
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (235/45R18 vs. 225/45R19).

The Seltos’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kicks S’ standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Seltos has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S.

Suspension and Handling

The Seltos S AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the Kicks SR pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Kicks SR (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Seltos has 3.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (99 vs. 95.7).

The Seltos has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 2.7 inches more rear hip room than the Kicks.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Seltos’ rear seats recline. The Kicks’ rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Seltos is 1 inches lower than the Kicks (18” vs. 19”). The Seltos’ rear step up height is 1.2 inches lower than the Kicks’ (17.8” vs. 19”).

Cargo Capacity

The Seltos has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 60 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Seltos EX AWD/SX’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Seltos’ power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Seltos and the Kicks have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Seltos is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Kicks prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Seltos SX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Kicks doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Seltos and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Seltos has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kicks doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to the Nissan Kicks, the Kia Seltos eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Seltos, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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