2025 Nissan Kicks vs 2025 Porsche Cayenne

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 comfort, agility, and style. The Kicks designers aimed to make the vehicle appear tougher than other small crossovers without crossing into sporty territory. Built on the new CMF-B platform, the Kicks was slightly larger and had more ground clearance, distinguishing it from its competitors. It offered eight colour options, with two-tone configurations available on higher trims, and featured thoughtful details like a debossed Kicks logo and sneaker-tread-like rocker panel trim, enhancing its premium feel despite its affordability.

Inside, the Kicks boasted a variety of textures that mostly complemented each other, although some cost-cutting measures were evident in areas like the headliner and lower console surfaces. The vehicle featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats, providing comfort and support with standard cloth or optional synthetic leather upholstery. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, though all seats were manually adjustable. The Kicks also included LED exterior lighting and offered a choice of 16-inch steel wheels or 17- and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne, available as a standard SUV or a sporty Coupe, offered a range of trims from the base model to the high-performance Turbo E-Hybrid. The GTS trim, with its high gloss black trim and specific front fascia, featured larger air intakes and tinted headlights. Red brake calipers were visible through 21-inch anthracite grey wheels, and the Coupe version included an adaptive rear spoiler. Inside, the Cayenne allowed for extensive customization, from interior colours to seat belts, though these options could become costly. The cabin was well-organized, with mechanical controls for essential features and a dashboard-mounted shifter toggle for additional storage space.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks addressed previous criticisms of noise and harshness with a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), delivering 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. This was a significant improvement over the previous generation's 1.6-litre engine, which produced 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. The new Kicks offered optional all-wheel drive (AWD) with torque vectoring and a multi-link suspension, providing a balanced driving experience with minimal body roll. Fuel economy was rated at 8.1 L/100 km city and 6.6 highway for front-wheel drive, and slightly higher for AWD.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a variety of engines, with the base 3.0-litre V6 producing 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. The GTS trim featured a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 with 493 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed transmission and all-wheel drive. The Cayenne could accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds with the Sport Chrono package, reaching a top speed of 275 km/h. The GTS trim offered precise steering and a low centre of gravity, enhanced by Pirelli P Zero tires and an active suspension system. The Cayenne also featured optional carbon ceramic brakes, providing ample stopping power once broken in.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks provided a good view of the road, though the seating position was low and required manual adjustment. The cabin offered more space for passengers, particularly in the second row, and featured a panoramic moonroof from the SV Premium trim. The Kicks could accommodate a 65-inch TV with the rear seats folded, offering 849 litres of cargo space with FWD and 676 litres with AWD, expanding to 1,699 litres and 1,418 litres respectively with the seats down. However, wind buffeting was an issue with only the driver’s side window open.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered limited standard features, with eight-way power-adjustable seats and two-zone climate control. Higher trims included a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner, with options for leather or Race-Tex interiors. The Cayenne could tow up to 3,500 kilograms and accommodate over 635 kilograms of payload. Cargo space was 772 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,708 litres with the seats folded, though the Coupe version offered less space. The PHEV models had reduced cargo capacity due to the battery.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks featured a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base S model included a four-speaker stereo and two USB-C ports, while higher trims added a wireless charging pad and additional speakers. The SR trim offered dual 12.3-inch screens, wireless connectivity, and a Bose audio system with headrest speakers, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne boasted a curved 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for media control and video streaming. The Cayenne included a head-up display, night-vision assist, and four high-speed USB-C charging ports, with a cooled wireless charging area to prevent phone overheating.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks came standard with a rearview camera and Safety Shield 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. ProPilot Assist was standard from the SR trim, offering advanced driver-assistance features. The Kicks also offered a 360-degree monitor system, a rare feature in subcompact crossovers, and received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne included standard parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, but adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist were optional. The advanced InnoDrive system was not tested due to regional specifications. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had rated the 2025 Cayenne for safety.