Nissan Kicks vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The Nissan Kicks subcompact crossover is fully redesigned for 2025, and Nissan has managed to make it a much better vehicle for not much more money. The Kicks wears its accessible entry-level price like a badge, and its agreeable personality is likely to win over young and first-time shoppers.

In the Canadian market, the new Nissan Kicks is a direct replacement for the Nissan Qashqai, which was discontinued at the end of 2022. Like the Qashqai did, the new Kicks offers available all-wheel drive (AWD) and more upscale features and finishes. The front-wheel drive (FWD) budget subcompact crossover formerly known as the Nissan Kicks carries over into 2025 in Canada under a new name, Nissan Kicks Play.

Verdict: The 2025 Nissan Kicks is poised to put rivals on notice with its fantastic value, great standard features, and premium options.

If you have more than a couple of kids, chances are good that a regular Toyota Highlander won’t be big enough for all your needs. For many shoppers like you, the Kia Telluride and its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Palisade, have become the obvious choices. Those three-row crossovers are newer, bigger, and incredibly nice to drive.

But now there’s a new Highlander. A bigger Highlander. A Grand Highlander. This all-new midsize SUV takes a popular nameplate (which, don't worry, isn’t going anywhere) and adds a little extra space. But what separates the Grand Highlander from the field is the availability of not one, but two different hybrid powertrains. This all-new model offers plenty of space, good fuel efficiency, and the automaker’s sterling reputation for reliability. So, is the 2024 Grand Highlander an immediate three-row SUV threat to the hot-selling Kia Telluride?