2026 Guide To Nissan Kicks Safety Ratings And Real-World Durability

The 2026 Nissan Kicks is a compact SUV with seating for five, flexible cargo space, and an efficient powertrain that fetches an EPA-estimated 35 MPG (Highway). It seems like the ideal family SUV, which raises the question: Are Nissan Kicks safe and reliable? Our answer is a resounding yes, supported by the strong Nissan Kicks safety and reliability ratings from various sources.

In this guide, the team from DARCARS Nissan of College Park walks you through the safety features and ratings for the Nissan Kicks SUV, including previous model-year ratings. After reading through, schedule a test drive at your local Nissan dealership to experience the safety and driver-assist technologies for yourself!

 

2026 Nissan Kicks Safety Rating

The 2026 Nissan Kicks is a compact SUV that earns favorable marks for both safety and reliability, from consumers and official administrations alike. With an advanced suite of safety and driver-assist features, its SUV design, and quality craftsmanship, the 2026 Kicks is a vehicle that you can feel confident transporting your family in.

Starting with safety ratings, the 2025 Nissan Kicks earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization with a mission to reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage from automobile accidents. Their Top Safety Pick Award is one of the highest designations a vehicle can receive. The IIHS has not yet rated the 2026 Nissan Kicks, but we expect similar ratings.

Next, we have the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which gave the 2026 Nissan Kicks a 4 out of 5-star crash test safety rating.

2026 Nissan Kicks Reliability Rating

While the safety ratings come from leading organizations, reliability ratings are primarily sourced from consumers with first-hand experience.

According to J.D. Power Consumer Reports, the 2026 Nissan Kicks has a "Great" Quality and Reliability Rating of 82 out of 100. This metric measures the level of defects, malfunctions, and design flaws experienced and reported by owners. Thus, a higher rating means fewer reported problems.

Consumer Reports is another nonprofit independent organization that provides unbiased reviews, ratings, and research sourced directly from experienced customers. The 2026 Nissan Kicks is a Consumer Reports Recommended model, which means it performed well across their overall assessment of road-test results, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, crash tests, and safety equipment. This compact SUV has a "Predicted Reliability" rating of 76 out of 100, placing it sixth among 26 car brands.

2026 Nissan Kicks Safety Features

The 2026 Kicks comes with advanced driver-assist and safety technologies that help it earn its safety and reliability ratings. These features use a combination of cameras, radar, and sonar to monitor your surroundings, and the vehicle responds in kind.

Nissan Kicks safety features start with the standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, and higher trims offer even more advanced options.

Standard safety features for the 2026 Nissan Kicks include:

• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Brake Assist
• High Beam Assist
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Blind Spot Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Intelligent Driver Alertness
• Intelligent Cruise Control
• Rear Sonar System Parking Sensors

These are some of the safety technologies available in higher trims:

• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention
• Intelligent Around View Monitor
• ProPILOT Assist
• Front Sonar System

Nissan Safety Shield 360

Some of the features listed above are part of Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of six advanced technologies that comes standard on every 2026 Nissan Kicks model. Here's how each of these technologies works:

• Automatic Emergency Braking: This feature provides audio and visual alerts when an object is detected, and it can also apply the brakes to help avoid or mitigate collisions.
• Blind Spot Warning: This system can help see what you can't, using sensors along the side of the vehicle in your blind spot areas.
• Lane Departure Warning: This feature monitors road markings and can alert you when you start to drift out of your lane without signaling.
• High Beam Assist: When it's late at night, High Beam Assist automatically dims your high beams when it senses oncoming traffic.
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert: This helpful feature monitors approaching vehicles or objects that are out of your field of view when reversing.
• Rear Automatic Braking: Working together with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, your vehicle can automatically brake when you are reversing into a potential obstacle to avoid a rear collision.

Nissan Kicks Reliability by Year

The chart below shows safety and reliability ratings for the Nissan Kicks over the past several model years. Overall, this SUV has consistently earned high marks from agencies like the NHTSA, IIHS, J.D. Power, Consumer Reports, and Kelley Blue Book.

Nissan Kicks Warranty Coverage

As if the stellar safety and reliability ratings weren't enough to help you feel confident in the 2026 Nissan Kicks, the Nissan Factory Warranty adds additional peace of mind. Every vehicle in our new Nissan inventory comes with the following coverages.

• 3-year/36,000-mile Limited Warranty
• 5-year/60,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty

Try the 2026 Nissan Kicks for Yourself at DARCARS Nissan of College Park

You can experience the safety features of the new Nissan Kicks vehicles for sale with a test drive at our Nissan dealership in College Park, MD! Visit us to get behind the wheel and see how the safety features work with a real-life road test.

When you're ready to buy, we'll help you finance a new Nissan vehicle right here at DARCARS Nissan of College Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Nissan Kicks good for everyday commuting?

The 2026 Nissan Kicks is an excellent vehicle for everyday commuting. It comes with advanced safety and driver-assist features to help keep you safe on your daily drive, and all-wheel drive is available to maintain traction even in challenging weather. Plus, the flexible seating and cargo space are ideal for work, school, or sports gear, groceries, luggage, kids, and pets.

How does the Kicks perform in bad weather?

The Nissan Kicks is a great companion for bad weather, thanks to its safety features, 8.4 inches of ground clearance, and available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. This all-wheel drive system provides enhanced traction and grip in slick conditions, while standard safety features like Blind Spot Monitoring and Brake Assist can help you monitor for and react to potential obstacles along your drive.

What safety features help with busy school drop-offs or traffic?

• Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection: Helps with crosswalks and busy intersections
• Blind Spot Warning: Helps alert you to potential obstacles in your blind spot, like when changing lanes on the highway or attempting to get out of the school pick-up line
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert: Can assist you in monitoring for oncoming vehicles or objects while reversing out of a spot in a packed parking lot or driveway

 

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