2022 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Nissan Kicks underwent significant exterior changes, aligning its design more closely with other models in the Nissan lineup, such as the Armada and Rogue. The front featured a bold, double V-motion grille, complemented by thinner, longer headlights that extended down the face of the vehicle. The top-tier Kicks SR and SR Premium trims boasted LED multi-reflector headlights and standard LED fog lights. At the rear, a new bumper and LED taillight combination gave the Kicks a proportional look reminiscent of the Nissan Leaf. However, the trunk area appeared less premium, with a piece that seemed like an afterthought. The Kicks offered a variety of new paint options and maintained its two-tone paint job, enhancing its upmarket appearance.

The interior of the Kicks remained largely unchanged but featured higher quality materials, drawing inspiration from the 2020 Nissan Sentra. The SR Premium trim included Prima-Tex-appointed seating with a three-tone design and stitching. The model offered over 100 million colour combinations through the Nissan Kicks Colour Studio, allowing for extensive customization. The Kicks SR Premium also came with a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and shift knob, adding to its sporty aesthetic. Overall, the Kicks presented a stylish and substantial design that stood out in its class.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, extending its length by 4 centimetres and featuring a revised grille, front and rear fascias, and enhanced LED lighting. The new character lines and alloy wheel designs contributed to a more sophisticated look. Inside, the instrument panel and centre console were separated, creating a wider, more spacious appearance. Ambient lighting added a touch of sophistication to the front cupholders and footwells.

The Kona introduced two new trim levels: the sporty N Line and the even sportier Kona N. These trims featured unique styling elements, such as body-colour cladding and rocker panels, and new wheel designs. The N Line's interior included exclusive black seats with red stitching, a black headliner, and alloy sport pedals. The Kona N took sportiness to another level with wide fenders, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a double-wing roof spoiler. The interior featured N sport bucket seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The Kona N Line in Blue Wave with a black interior was particularly striking, with its streamlined proportions and sporty accents.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks was equipped with a single powertrain option: a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). The Kicks' electric power-assisted steering and independent strut stabilizer bar suspension contributed to its nimble handling, making it easy to navigate city streets and highways. Despite its low power, the Kicks offered a good power-to-weight ratio, providing adequate performance for its size. The Kicks SR Premium maintained stability on icy roads, although the CVT could become noisy under heavy acceleration. The Kicks came with standard 16-inch steel wheels on the S trim, while the SV and SR trims featured 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The SR Premium upgraded to 17-inch black alloy wheels. The Kicks also included standard traction control, stability control, and hill start assist, along with an auto-hold feature.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of powertrains across its lineup. The Essential and Preferred trims featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The N Line trim offered a turbocharged 1.6-litre 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 featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an N eight-speed wet DCT. The Kona N included exclusive driving features such as N Grin Shift and N Power Shift, along with performance enhancements like launch control and an electronic limited-slip differential. The Kona N Line with the 1.6-litre turbo engine and AWD provided ample power and enjoyable driving dynamics, with minor turbo lag and clunkiness in lower gears. The Kona's handling was composed, with a low centre of gravity contributing to its stability.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks made efficient use of its compact size, with easy-to-reach buttons and knobs throughout the cabin. The interior offered good small-item storage, easy-access USB ports, and multiple smartphone storage options. Climate controls were straightforward, and seat warmers provided quick warmth. The Kicks featured a D-shaped steering wheel, six-way adjustable driver's seat, and 60/40 split-folding rear seat as standard. The front seats offered best-in-class legroom, although hip room was somewhat limited. The rear seats comfortably accommodated adults, a rarity in the subcompact class. The available tonneau cover provided hidden storage in the rear cargo area.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona's front seats offered ample headroom and legroom, even with the optional sunroof. The N Line's front seats provided excellent support during spirited driving. However, rear-seat occupants faced challenges, with small door openings and limited head- and legroom. The Kona's compact dimensions meant rear-seat comfort was compromised, and three-across seating was impractical. Cargo space was limited, with 544 litres available with all seats up and 1,296 litres with the rear seats folded. Towing was not recommended with the Kona.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a competitive array of technology features. The base Kicks S included a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and three USB ports. The Kicks SV added features like Nissan Intelligent Key, automatic climate control, and satellite radio. The Kicks SR Premium boasted a class-exclusive Bose Personal Plus sound system with eight speakers, including headrest speakers, and a surround-view monitor for parking assistance.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona introduced more tech for 2022. The base Essential trim featured an 8-inch display with Bluetooth connectivity. The Preferred trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Hyundai BlueLink. The Kona N and N Line with the Ultimate Package offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base screen, while the larger screen required wired connections. The Kona's infotainment system was user-friendly, and Hyundai BlueLink provided connected services for three years.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Kicks SV and SR added adaptive cruise control and a driver alertness monitor. The 2021 Kicks received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a strong history of few recalls.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and driver attention warning. Available features included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. The Kona received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS in crashworthiness tests. The Kona's child-seat anchors received a "Marginal" rating, preventing it from achieving Top Safety Pick status.