Nissan Kicks vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

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, athleticism, and style. The Kicks featured a tougher appearance than most small crossovers, without crossing into the realm of sportiness. Built on the new CMF-B platform, it offered increased size and ground clearance, distinguishing itself from competitors. Available in eight colours, the Kicks offered two-tone configurations on higher trims, with unique combinations like a gunmetal grey roof on a blue body and a red roof on a gunmetal grey body. Small details, such as the Kicks logo on side-mirror supports and sneaker-tread-like rocker panel trim, added to its distinctive look. The interior boasted a variety of textures, with some cost-saving measures evident, but overall, it provided a premium feel at an affordable price.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, pursued a conservative design reminiscent of the popular RAV4, scaled up to accommodate up to eight passengers and ample cargo space. The interior prioritized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. While glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces were present, the overall material quality was decent. The climate system was user-friendly, featuring large knobs for temperature adjustments, but the infotainment interface had its quirks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob. The Grand Highlander’s design aimed to provide a familiar and practical experience, appealing to those seeking a spacious and functional SUV.

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 marked a significant improvement over the previous generation's 1.6-litre engine, which produced 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. The new Kicks offered optional all-wheel drive (AWD) with torque vectoring, enhancing traction and stability. The ride was steady and balanced, with minimal body roll and improved noise control in the cabin. However, acceleration could be sluggish at times, particularly at high elevations. The Kicks offered a Sport mode for a peppier feel and a Snow mode for improved traction in slippery conditions. Fuel economy was rated at 8.1 L/100 km city, 6.6 highway, and 7.4 combined for front-wheel drive (FWD), with slightly higher figures for AWD.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 horsepower. This setup allowed for quick acceleration, aided by electric motors that eliminated turbo lag. The traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoided the droning common in CVTs. While the Hybrid Max offered impressive towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms, it came with a fuel economy trade-off, rated at 8.8 L/100 km combined. During testing, it averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city and highway route and 10.1 L/100 km on mountainous terrain. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though undulations in the road could cause vertical and lateral movement. Handling was secure at moderate speeds, but the vehicle felt large on narrow mountain roads. Visibility was excellent, aided by available camera systems, though the front camera's frequent activation could be intrusive.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks offered a good view of the road from the driver's seat, though the seating position was low and required manual adjustment. The interior was designed for convenience, with easy access to controls and a proximity lock and unlock feature from the SV trim. The redesign improved passenger space, particularly in the second row, and the panoramic moonroof added an 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, 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 window open, requiring additional windows or the moonroof to be opened for relief.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating across all three rows, with over 2,700 litres of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and supportive cushions. The rear doors were long and required ample space to open, posing challenges for parents with small children. The second-row captain’s chairs offered a pass-through or could be tipped and slid for third-row access. The third-row seats were comfortable for adults and tall teens, with ample space from the head restraint to the rear liftgate. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, expanding to 1,640 litres with the third row folded and 2,761 litres with the second row down, nearly matching the Sienna minivan's capacity.

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 the SV grade added a wireless charging pad and two extra speakers. The SR trim boasted dual 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, along with wireless connectivity and charging, and additional USB-C ports in the back row. The Bose audio system with headrest speakers in the SR grade added personality and enhanced the driving experience, making it a fun and engaging ride.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, in XLE trim, came with a 7-inch digital driver display and traditional analog gauges, while Limited and Platinum trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel. All models featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services plans provided features like automatic collision notification, SOS emergency response, and a digital voice assistant. The system was user-friendly, though the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously and the low-contrast font were drawbacks. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and surround-view camera system, with the JBL premium audio system delivering impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks came standard with a rearview camera and the Safety Shield 360 package, which included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. ProPilot Assist, available from the SR trim, offered advanced driver-assistance features like predictive forward collision warning and lane-departure prevention. The Kicks also offered a 360-degree monitor system, a rare feature in subcompact crossovers. It received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though the NHTSA had not yet crash-tested it.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver assistance technologies. Proactive Driving Assist was standard, though it could be irritating in certain situations. The safety tech operated with accuracy, though the lane keep assist system occasionally strayed too close to lane markers. The Grand Highlander earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.