Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2025 Nissan Kicks

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles built after July 2024

2025 Nissan Kicks 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: updated test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Standard system

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use
+

Key

  • Good
  • Acceptable
  • Marginal
  • Poor

Small overlap front

The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.

Driver-side

  • Rating applies to 2025 models

Tested vehicle: 2025 Nissan Kicks S 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Kicks, now classified as a small SUV was redesigned for the 2025 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 Kicks conducted by Nissan.

Overall driver-side evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN2407
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Footrest (cm) 2
Left toepan (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 1
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Upper dash (cm) 2
Lower instrument panel (cm) 4

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN2407
Head
HIC-15 166
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 0.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.55
Right 0.44
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.2
Right 1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 46
Right 33

Passenger-side

  • Rating applies to 2025 models

Tested vehicle: 2025 Nissan Kicks S 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Kicks, now classified as a small SUV was redesigned for the 2025 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 Kicks conducted by Nissan.

Overall passenger-side evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP2409
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Footrest (cm) 2
Right toepan (cm) 2
Center toepan (cm) 1
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Upper dash (cm) 4
Right lower dash (cm) 2

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2409
Head
HIC-15 131
Peak gs at hard contact no data
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 16
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 22
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.36
Right 0.53
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.0
Right 1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 31
Right 29

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2409
Head
HIC-15 79
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.30
Right 0.21
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 23
Right 44

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2025 models

Tested vehicle: 2025 Nissan Kicks SV 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Kicks, now classified as a small SUV was redesigned for the 2025 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2025 Kicks conducted by Nissan.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF2404
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 6
Left (cm) 1
Center (cm) 5
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 7
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1
Rearward (cm) -5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) -1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF2404
Head
HIC-15 212
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.3
Femur force - right (kN) 0.3
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.40
Maximum tibia index - right 0.61
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.9
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 51
Right 72

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2025 models

Tested vehicle: 2025 Nissan Kicks SV 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Kicks, now classified as a small SUV was redesigned for the 2025 model year. Two side impact tests of the Kicks were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Nissan. Ratings are based on both tests.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS2414 CES2409
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -20.5 -21.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2414 CES2409
Head
HIC-15 157 158
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3 1.2
Compression (kN) 0.3 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 27 26
Lateral force (kN) 1.4 1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34 32
Average deflection (mm) 30 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.94 2.47
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.44 0.41
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 4.4 4.1

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2414 CES2409
Head
HIC-15 102 182
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.1 0.5
Compression (kN) -0.6 0.9
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 34 38
Lateral force (kN) 1.9 1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 42 34
Average deflection (mm) 38 32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.26 2.87
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.71 0.53
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.7 3.0

About the side crash test

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims; built after July 2024
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and fair on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2025 models built after July 2024
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 111.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 75.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 68.3 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 59.6 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 55.5 m 17.7%
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 161.7 m
Straightaway left edge 132.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 79.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 72.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 62.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 57.8 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: pedestrian

Rating applies to all 2025 models

System details

  • standard Autonomous Emergency Braking
Overall evaluation
Includes high-beam assist credit

Crossing child — day

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult — night

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult — night

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams and a warning was issued 2.4 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision and a warning was issued 1.3 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2025 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationLong enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 60 seconds
Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 30 seconds
Volume
Audio frequency
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 52 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 60 dB
Difference between background and signal 7.6 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 57 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 60 dB
Difference between background and signal 3.6 dB
Dominant audio frequency 584 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2025 models

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimSV
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimSV
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 13
Clearance angle (degrees) 94
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 94
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH		 Yes

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH		 Yes

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 18
Clearance angle (degrees) 90
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 18
Clearance angle (degrees) 92
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH		 Yes

About the child seat anchor evaluation