In 2018, two small, value-focused SUVs hit the U.S. market: the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks. Not only are the two still around, but they’re also strong sellers in their segment, and both were recently updated.
The Hyundai Kona received a redesign last year, while the Nissan Kicks is redesigned for this year. Let’s take a closer look at these two SUVs.
2025 Hyundai Kona
With its 2024 redesign, the Hyundai Kona grew in height, length, and width — all good things in the small SUV category. It is also available as an electric vehicle (EV), although that’s not part of this comparison. We are so impressed with the Kona that we named it the Best Buy Award winner in the subcompact SUV segment.
The cabin is invitingly roomy, making ample seating for up to five passengers, even on longer trips. The base 2.0-liter 147-horsepower 4-cylinder engine delivers modest performance and a respectable EPA-estimated 31 mpg combined fuel economy rating. However, if you want more zip from the go pedal, upgrade to the 195-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional with either engine.
The interior is simple yet impressive and includes a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen. Upgrade to the SEL Convenience Package, and the driver also gets a 12.3-inch gauge cluster. The two screens are housed under a single piece of glass, giving them a sleek, uncluttered feel.
Hyundai Kona Highlights
Bluelink: Hyundai provides a free lifetime subscription to its connected services for the Kona’s original owner. Those services include automatic collision notification, SOS assistance, remote start/climate settings, stolen vehicle location/slowdown, and more. This feature is standard on all trim levels.
Over-the-air updates: For the first time, Hyundai will provide over-the-air updates (OTA) for Kona software enhancements. This is a huge convenience for keeping your software up to date.
Class-leading warranty: The Kona comes with a 5-year/60,000-mile limited bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is the longest in the industry.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Kona models near you.
2025 Nissan Kicks
If you’re on the hunt for a new vehicle and searching for a low-priced option, the Kicks is a fine choice. However, don’t confuse affordability with low value. The Kicks offers quite a bit for your money, especially regarding space for the driver and passengers. It’s one of the larger vehicles in the segment. Moreover, every new Kicks arrives with a comprehensive bundle of advanced safety technology.
Power comes from a 141-hp 4-cylinder engine, which gets excellent fuel economy of up to 31 mpg in combined city-and-highway driving. It’s able to get around town and onto the freeway just fine. One big change wrought by the redesign is that all-wheel drive is finally offered as an option.
Nissan Kicks Highlights
Affordability: The Kicks, one of the most affordable SUVs in its class, starts in the mid-$20k range. Nissan offers it in just three trim levels: the S, SV, and SR. That means a fully loaded example still comes in at well under the $30,000 mark. The Hyundai Kona, however, can cost nearly $34,000.
Safety tech: Even in the base S, the Kicks comes with forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection. Also included are rear-park assist with automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning.
Room to roam: Granted it’s not a behemoth, but the Kicks won’t get lost in the crowd. Since most of our time spent in a vehicle is just short errands or heading out to dinner or a child’s event, the Kicks is perfect for tooling around town.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Kicks models near you.
Similarities
The Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks are subcompact SUVs with attractive exterior styling, good fuel economy, and plenty of interior space — for the segment.
Pricing
New 2025 Hyundai Kona Prices
|
$26,000 |
$24,723 |
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|
$27,350 |
$25,673 |
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|
$29,550 |
$28,199 |
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$31,000 |
$29,583 |
|||
|
$32,550 |
$31,062 |
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|
$33,550 |
$31,818 |
New 2025 Nissan Kicks Prices
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$23,220 |
$22,133 |
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|
$25,070 |
$23,971 |
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$27,570 |
$26,434 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors.
The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Hyundai Kona vehicles and New 2025 Nissan Kicks vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership.
These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
| 2025 Hyundai Kona | 2025 Nissan Kicks | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 141 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 140 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT/FWD | CVT/FWD |
| Fuel Economy | 29 city/34 highway/31 combined mpg | 28 city/35 highway/31 combined |
| Also Available | 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder, AWD; all-electric | AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 4-Star | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 104.7 inches | 104.6 inches |
| Overall Length | 171.3 inches | 171.9 inches |
| Width | 71.9 inches | 70.9 inches |
| Height | 62.2 inches | 64.2 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 34.8 feet | N/A |
| Headroom, Front | 39.9 inches | 39.7 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.3 inches | 38.5 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.7 inches | 42.7 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 38.2 inches | 34.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 56.8 inches | 54.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 55.2 inches | 54.7 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 25.5 cubic feet | 30.0 cubic feet |
Conclusion
In favor of the Nissan Kicks is its starting price, which is nearly $3,000 cheaper than the Hyundai Kona, and its ample cargo space. However, the Kona offers a class-leading warranty and a lifetime Bluelink subscription, plus the option for a more powerful engine or even an all-electric model. Although the Kicks redesign makes it much more competitive, we still think the Kona is the segment’s best buy.