Chevrolet Trax vs Nissan Kicks

The 2025 Nissan Kicks was designed with young consumers and first-time car buyers in mind, drawing inspiration from sneaker culture to create a vehicle that exuded comfort, agility, and style. The Kicks featured a tougher appearance than most small crossovers, without crossing into sporty territory. Built on the new CMF-B platform, it was slightly larger with increased ground clearance, distinguishing it from its peers. The Kicks offered eight colour options, with two-tone configurations available on higher trims, and small design details like the Kicks logo on side-mirror supports added a unique touch. The interior boasted a variety of textures, with some cost-saving measures evident, but overall, it provided a premium feel with Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats and optional synthetic leather upholstery.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax, on the other hand, evolved from its earlier iteration into a more car-like crossover, sharing proportions with the Buick Envista. It packed personality into its compact frame, with Blazer-like headlights, a wide grille, and a sleek side profile. The Trax lineup in Canada included the 1RS, LT, 2RS, and Activ trims, each offering distinct styling elements like black-painted wheels and unique bumpers. Inside, the Trax featured a rubbery feel typical of entry-level models, but its design details were a step above, with large air vents and contrasting trim. The interior was mostly black, but the LT model added grey and blue accents for a more dynamic look. Cloth upholstery was standard, with higher trims offering suede-like Evotex or a combination of materials.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks addressed previous criticisms by introducing a 2.0-litre 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-litre engine. The Kicks offered optional AWD with torque vectoring, enhancing traction and handling. The ride was balanced, with minimal body roll and improved noise control in the cabin. However, acceleration could be sluggish at times, particularly at high elevations. The Kicks featured a Sport mode for a peppier feel and a Snow mode for better control in slippery conditions. Fuel economy was rated at 8.1 L/100 km city and 6.6 highway for FWD, with slightly higher figures for AWD.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax continued with a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. Despite its small size, the engine provided confident acceleration and minimal turbo lag. The Trax used a six-speed automatic transmission, which offered better drivability than a CVT. While not focused on performance, the Trax felt stable and car-like on twisty roads, though it exhibited some body roll and limited grip. The suspension provided a comfortable ride, and active noise cancellation improved cabin refinement. However, some tire noise and engine drone were still present.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks offered a good view of the road, though the seating position was low and required manual adjustment. The cabin was spacious, with more room allocated to passengers, especially in the second row. The panoramic moonroof added an airy feel, and the Kicks could accommodate a 65-inch TV with the rear seats folded. Cargo space was 849 litres with FWD and 676 litres with AWD, expanding to 1,699 litres and 1,418 litres, respectively, with the seats down. However, wind buffeting was an issue with only the driver’s window open.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax provided competitive interior space, with headroom similar to the Hyundai Kona and Subaru Crosstrek. It offered more rear-seat legroom than the Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks Play. Cargo space was 725 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,532 litres with them folded. The seating position was tall, offering good road visibility, though rear visibility was less clear. The front seats were positioned inboard, limiting console storage but allowing for large door pockets. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated side mirrors were standard from the 1RS trim in Canada.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks featured a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base S model had a four-speaker stereo and two USB-C ports, while higher trims added a wireless charging pad and more speakers. The SR trim boasted dual 12.3-inch screens and a Bose audio system with headrest speakers, enhancing the driving experience with crisp displays and immersive sound.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax came with an 8-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on the base 1RS model. Higher trims received an 11-inch touchscreen and a six-speaker sound system. The LT model featured a digital instrument cluster with a clear layout, though the touchscreen and controls were angled toward the driver, making them less accessible for the passenger.

The 2025 Nissan Kicks included a rearview camera and Safety Shield 360 package, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. ProPilot Assist was standard from the SR trim, offering advanced driver-assistance features. The Kicks also offered a 360-degree monitor system, rare for its class. It received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA ratings were pending.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax offered standard driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control was available on higher trims. The Teen Driver monitoring system was also included. However, the Trax received a "Poor" rating in the IIHS moderate overlap front crash test, with no NHTSA ratings available at the time.