2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson had a more conventional styling compared to its futuristic successor. Its upright layout provided a commanding view of the road, and the interior featured a modern, attractive dash design. Tech features were seamlessly integrated, making buttons and dials easy to find. The Tucson came in six trims: SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate. The base SE trim included 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, a digital driver information display, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like LED headlight accents, heated side mirrors, roof rails, and more advanced tech and comfort options.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks underwent significant exterior changes, adopting a bolder design in line with other new Nissan models. It featured a deep V-motion design, thinner and longer headlights, and a new bumper and LED taillight combination at the back. The Kicks SR trim level included LED multi-reflector headlights and standard LED fog lights. The Kicks offered a variety of new paint options and a two-tone paint job option with a floating roof. The SR trim also featured black heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, a rear roof-mounted spoiler, and dark chrome grille accents, giving it a sportier look. The interior was upgraded with higher quality materials, new seat and door designs, and a full center console armrest in the mid-range trims.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and had standard front-wheel drive (FWD) with optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at higher speeds, while the 2.4-liter engine provided a livelier performance. The Tucson had a comfortable and refined ride, with a towing capacity of up to 1,500 pounds for the base engine and 2,000 pounds for the 2.4-liter engine.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came with a single powertrain option: a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). The Kicks featured electric power-assisted steering with vehicle-speed variable assist, making it nimble in various driving conditions. Its handling was aided by a front independent strut stabilizer bar suspension with twist beam and twin-tube shock absorbers. The Kicks had a good power-to-weight ratio, providing adequate power for its size. It came with standard 16-inch steel wheels on the base model, while the SV and SR trims had 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The Kicks also featured a traction control system, stability control system, hill start assist, and auto-hold. The EPA rated its fuel economy at 31 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient subcompact crossovers.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it offered adequate space for weekend bags or large boxes. Higher trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The Tucson had solid front-seat headroom and legroom, with comfortable and supportive seats for long trips. The rear seats were less spacious but still accommodating for adults. The interior featured plenty of cubbies and compartments for small items.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks made the most of its small size with easy-to-reach buttons and knobs throughout the cabin. It offered good small-item storage, easy-access USB ports, and multiple storage options for smartphones. The climate controls were user-friendly, and the seat warmers provided quick warmth. The Kicks had a D-shaped steering wheel, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way adjustable front passenger seat, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat as standard. It also featured an electronic parking brake, freeing up center console space. The Kicks had best-in-class front seat legroom, though the hip room proportions made the front seats more compartmentalized. Adults could fit comfortably in the back seats. The available tonneau cover provided hidden storage, covering about two-thirds of the rear cargo area.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim featured an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was user-friendly with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Additional available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a host of standard tech features, including a 7-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, three USB ports, keyless entry, push-button start, and Easy Fill Tire Alert. The Kicks SV added Nissan Intelligent Key, automatic climate control, a 7-inch driver information screen, satellite radio, remote engine start, and a USB-C port. The Kicks SR Premium Package included a class-exclusive Bose Personal Plus sound system with eight speakers and Bose signal processing. The Kicks also offered a surround-view monitor, a WiFi hot spot, and NissanConnect services.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Upper-tier trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Kicks had 10 airbags, a driver alertness monitor, and rear door alert as standard on the SV and SR trims. The 2020 Kicks, which is mechanically similar, received all Good marks in IIHS crashworthiness testing. The 2020 Kicks also received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.