Nissan Kicks vs Chevrolet Bolt

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 suggesting it was sporty. Built on the new CMF-B platform, the Kicks was slightly larger with increased ground clearance, distinguishing it from its competitors. It offered eight colour options, with two-tone configurations available on higher trims, and small details like the Kicks logo on side-mirror supports added a unique touch. The interior featured a mix of textures, with some cost-saving measures evident, but overall, it provided a premium feel with comfortable Zero Gravity seats and optional synthetic leather upholstery.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look with minor styling changes, resembling a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV. The Bolt EUV body style was the only option for 2027, offering a tall and narrow stance that prioritized utility and interior space. The interior saw a more significant makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The cabin was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, but the RS trim offered Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. Despite its budget feel, the Bolt provided adequate space and comfort, with a flat floor and ample headroom in the rear seats. Cargo capacity was modest, but the Bolt offered clever storage solutions, including a large bin under the cargo floor.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks addressed previous generation flaws, offering a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque, paired with a new CVT. This was a significant improvement over the previous 1.6-litre engine, providing better performance and maintaining good fuel economy. AWD was available, featuring torque vectoring and a multi-link suspension for improved handling. The Kicks offered a balanced driving feel with minimal body roll and improved noise control in the cabin. However, acceleration was sometimes slow, particularly at high elevations, and Sport mode only slightly improved performance. Fuel economy was rated at 8.1 L/100 km city and 6.6 highway for FWD, and 8.4 city and 6.9 highway for AWD.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack and a motor from the Equinox EV, delivering 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. The Bolt's acceleration was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, with a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. One-pedal driving was available, and the ride was firm but not overly stiff. The Bolt was agile on curvy roads, thanks to its low centre of gravity. It offered an estimated range of 422 kilometres on a full charge, with a charging speed of 150 kW, allowing for a quick recharge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks provided a good view of the road, though the seating position was low and required manual adjustment. The interior offered more space for passengers, particularly in the second row, with a panoramic moonroof enhancing the airy feel. 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. However, wind buffeting was an issue with the driver's side window down, creating an unpleasant pressure force field.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt had an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants, though taller drivers might have wished for more telescopic extension from the steering wheel. The rear seats offered plenty of headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor reducing the penalty for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt's cargo capacity was 459 litres, with a large bin under the floor for additional storage. The rear seats folded flat with the cargo floor, and there was ample storage for personal items up front, including a large bin with movable dividers and a deep centre armrest bin.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks came with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base S model had a four-speaker stereo and two USB-C ports, while the SV grade added a wireless charging pad and extra speakers. The SR grade featured dual 12.3-inch screens, wireless connectivity, and a Bose audio system with 10 speakers, including headrest speakers. The screens were crisp and well-integrated, and the Bose system added personality to the Kicks.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, but Bluetooth pairing allowed for personal music library access. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, digital rear-view mirror, and wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and sharp graphics, and the navigation system helped drivers find charging stations along the route.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks came standard with a rearview camera and Safety Shield 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. ProPilot Assist was standard on the Kicks SR, offering advanced driver-assistance features. The Kicks also offered a 360-degree monitor system, standard from the SR trim. It received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, but the NHTSA had not yet crash-tested it.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not available, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on the 2023 Bolt EUV. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and more. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, digital rear-view mirror, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost.