Nissan Kicks vs Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

The 2025 Nissan Kicks was designed with a youthful audience 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 the sporty territory. Built on the new CMF-B platform, the Kicks was slightly larger and had increased ground clearance, distinguishing it from its competitors. The vehicle was available in nine colors, with the base trim offering five more subdued shades, while the mid and top trims featured bolder two-tone configurations. Small details, like the Kicks logo on the side-mirror supports and sneaker-tread-like rocker panel trim, added a unique touch to the design, enhancing its premium feel despite its affordability.

Inside, the Kicks offered 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, known for their comfort and support, with options for cloth or synthetic leather upholstery. Heated front seats were available on higher trims, but all seats were manually adjustable. The Kicks came standard with LED exterior lighting and 16-inch steel wheels, with options for 17- or 19-inch alloy wheels. Overall, the Kicks presented a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering a more refined and stylish experience.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid was available in the Rugged Woodland trim and three Sport grades, including the SE, XSE, and the new GR Sport, which was exclusive to the PHEV. The sixth-generation RAV4 maintained the same footprint as its predecessor, but the new trims featured buffer bumpers that increased the vehicle's length. The RAV4 adopted a boxier, truck-like design, consistent with Toyota’s other new SUVs, with square wheel arches and bulging fenders. The Woodland trim emphasized the boxiness with a wide front fascia and solid panels replacing fog lights, while the Sport trims featured gloss black accents and racier elements like red brake calipers and a wide mesh grille.

Inside, the RAV4 PHEV offered a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen, with a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen available on top trims. The interior was optimized for storage, with multiple shelves and deep door pockets. The vehicle seated four passengers comfortably, although five was a squeeze, and the panoramic sunroof reduced headroom. The RAV4 PHEV had 37.8 inches of rear legroom, which was spacious but fell short of larger models. The cargo area offered 33.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The RAV4 PHEV maintained its reputation for comfort and practicality, with enhancements that improved its overall appeal.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks addressed previous criticisms of being loud and harsh by introducing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a new CVT, delivering 141 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. This was a significant improvement over the previous generation's 1.6-liter engine, which produced 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. The new powertrain allowed the Kicks to keep pace with traffic while maintaining good fuel economy. The introduction of all-wheel drive (AWD) across the lineup enhanced the Kicks' SUV-like feel and made it more suitable for winter conditions. The AWD system used torque vectoring to distribute traction effectively, and the multi-link suspension and retuned steering contributed to a balanced driving experience.

The Kicks offered a steady ride with minimal body roll and improved noise control, thanks to added insulation. However, it was slow to accelerate at times, particularly when passing at high elevations. Sport mode provided a slight boost in performance by recalibrating the engine and transmission response, but it did not affect suspension or steering tuning. The Kicks was rated for 28 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, while AWD models achieved 37 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 186 horsepower, paired with a larger 22.7-kwh battery pack. The PHEV's power increased to 324 hp, making it the most powerful RAV4 to date. All-wheel drive was standard, with a front motor rated at 203 hp and 201 lb-ft of torque, and a smaller rear motor for assistance and traction. The RAV4 PHEV offered an estimated range of 52 miles in EV mode, with seamless power transitions and paddle shifters for manual control.

The RAV4 PHEV's handling was enhanced by a strengthened chassis and new suspension mounts, providing a calmer and quieter ride. The GR Sport trim featured a lower ride height, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and summer performance tires, resulting in improved handling and reduced body roll. Despite its 4,500-pound weight, the RAV4 PHEV maintained its class-typical performance, with the GR Sport trim offering a sportier driving experience.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks provided a good view of the road from the driver's seat, although 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 on higher trims. The Kicks' redesign improved cabin space, particularly in the second row, and the panoramic moonroof added an airy feel. The vehicle offered best-in-class cargo space, with up to 30 cubic feet available (23.9 cubic feet with AWD) and 60 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, the Kicks experienced wind buffeting with the driver's side window down, which could be alleviated by opening another window or the moonroof.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid's base SE trim was well-equipped with a power driver's seat, heated front seats, and multiple USB ports. The interior dimensions remained similar to the previous generation, with clever storage features like shelves and deep door pockets. The RAV4 PHEV seated four passengers comfortably, with 37.8 inches of rear legroom, but the panoramic sunroof reduced headroom. The cargo area offered 33.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The RAV4 PHEV maintained its reputation for comfort and practicality, with enhancements that improved its overall appeal.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks featured a base infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a four-speaker stereo. The SV trim upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless connectivity, and a six-speaker stereo. The SR trim offered dual 12.3-inch screens, wireless charging, and a Bose audio system with 10 speakers, including headrest speakers. The SR's setup was well-integrated and easy to use, enhancing the driving experience with its crisp displays and immersive sound system.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid came standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen, with a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen available on top trims. The touchscreen featured customizable tiles and a quick menu for easy access to settings. Toyota's new operating system, Arene, improved responsiveness and loading times, while the Voice Assistant responded to a wide range of prompts. The RAV4 PHEV also included a built-in dash cam that recorded clips from exterior cameras, with adjustable sensitivity settings.

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 was standard on the SV trim, offering advanced driver-assistance features like predictive forward collision warning and lane-departure prevention. The Kicks also offered a 360-degree monitor system, a first for subcompact crossovers, providing a detailed view of the vehicle's surroundings.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features. The system included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and more. The RAV4 PHEV's safety enhancements improved responsiveness and detection, contributing to its strong safety record. The vehicle was expected to perform well in crash tests, with improvements addressing previous shortcomings.