Compare the2025 Dodge HornetVS 2025 Nissan Kicks

The Hornet has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Kicks doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Hornet. But it costs extra on the Kicks.

Both the Hornet and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The Dodge Hornet weighs 463 to 1153 pounds more than the Nissan Kicks. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 2 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Hornet’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Dodge higher than Nissan.

The Hornet GT’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 127 more horsepower (268 vs. 141) and 155 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Hornet R/T’s standard 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 147 more horsepower (288 vs. 141) and 243 lbs.-ft. more torque (383 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Hornet running on electricity gets better mileage than the Kicks:

			MPGe
Hornet
	AWD	R/T Electric Motors	77 city/77 hwy
Kicks
			MPG
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/35 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy

The Hornet R/T can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Kicks can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Hornet R/T’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Kicks doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Hornet GT’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks AWD’s standard fuel tank (13.5 vs. 12.4 gallons).

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

	Hornet GT	Hornet R/T	Kicks
Front Rotors	12.1 inches	13.5 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	10.9 inches	12.1 inches	11 inches

For better traction, the Hornet’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks (235/40R20 vs. 225/45R19).

The Hornet’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kicks SR’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Hornet GT has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kicks S. The Hornet’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Kicks SR.

For superior ride and handling, the Dodge Hornet 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.

The Hornet offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Kicks’ suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Hornet’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Kicks’ (61% to 39%). This gives the Hornet more stable handling and braking.

The Hornet has 2.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks (98 vs. 95.7).

The Hornet has 1.9 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 3.5 inches more rear legroom, 3.4 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Hornet’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Hornet 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 three different drivers share the Hornet, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and radio stations. The Kicks doesn’t offer a memory system.

The power windows standard on both the Hornet and the Kicks have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Hornet is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Kicks prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the Hornet the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Kicks can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Hornet’s standard Keyless Enter-N-Go allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Kicks only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Push Button Start is not available on the Kicks SV/SR.

The Hornet’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Kicks’ standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Hornet offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Kicks doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Hornet’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan charges extra for heated mirrors on the Kicks.

Both the Dodge Hornet and Nissan Kicks offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Hornet features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Kicks’ foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Hornet 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 Hornet’s standard 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 Hornet and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Hornet has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kicks doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to the Nissan Kicks, the Dodge Hornet eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the driver’s visor.

The Hornet’s optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Kicks doesn’t offer an automated parking system.