Compare the2027 Chevrolet Equinox VS 2026 Nissan Kicks

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Chevrolet Equinox achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Nissan Kicks has not been tested.

The Chevrolet Equinox offers an optional Surround Vision and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Nissan Kicks doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the Equinox and Kicks have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Equinox has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Kicks’ Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Equinox and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all-wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Equinox is much safer than the Kicks:

	Equinox	Kicks
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	292/337 pounds	405/562 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Chevrolet Equinox is safer than the Kicks:

	Equinox	Kicks
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	80	158
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	245 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.3 in	1.34 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Equinox’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Kicks’ (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Equinox’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Equinox has a standard 760-amp battery. The Kicks’ 510-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 46 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

The Equinox’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 34 more horsepower (175 vs. 141) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (203 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Equinox is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

	Equinox	Kicks
Zero to 60 MPH	9.2 sec	10.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16.9 sec	17.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	81.1 MPH	79.7 MPH

The Equinox’s standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks’ standard fuel tank (14.8 vs. 11.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Equinox AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks AWD’s standard fuel tank (15.6 vs. 12.4 gallons).

For better stopping power the Equinox’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks:

	Equinox	Kicks
Front Rotors	11.8 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11.3 inches	11 inches

The Equinox stops shorter than the Kicks:

	Equinox	Kicks
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the Equinox has larger tires than the Kicks (235/65R17 vs. 215/65R16). The Equinox LT/ACTIV’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (235/65R17 vs. 225/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Equinox LT/ACTIV has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S. The Equinox RS’ optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Kicks SR.

The Equinox has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Kicks; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For superior ride and handling, the Chevrolet Equinox has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kicks 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Equinox’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Kicks (107.5 inches vs. 104.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Equinox is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Kicks.

The front grille of the Equinox uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Kicks doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Equinox uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Kicks doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Equinox has 8.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (104.3 vs. 95.7).

The Equinox has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 5.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

The Equinox has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 60 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Equinox’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Equinox’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Equinox has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Kicks has no towing capacity.

The Equinox uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Kicks uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

When two different drivers share the Equinox ACTIV/RS, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kicks doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Equinox ACTIV/RS’ optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Kicks doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Equinox’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Kicks does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Equinox’s standard Keyless Access allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Kicks only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Equinox’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kicks’ power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Equinox’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Kicks’ intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Equinox’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan offers heated mirrors for extra charge, but only on the Kicks SV/SR.

When the Equinox ACTIV/RS with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kicks’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Equinox has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Kicks, and are only available on the Kicks SV/SR. The Equinox ACTIV/RS also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kicks.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Equinox ACTIV/RS keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Kicks doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Equinox has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Kicks.

The Equinox’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kicks doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Equinox and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Equinox has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kicks SV/SR doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

With standard Natural Voice Recognition, the Equinox offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Kicks doesn’t offer a voice control system.

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the Nissan Kicks by over three to one during 2025.