Compare the2025 Toyota Corolla CrossVS 2025 Nissan Kicks Play

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Corolla Cross have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Nissan Kicks Play doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Corolla Cross are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Corolla Cross has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Corolla Cross offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Toyota Corolla Cross has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Corolla Cross XLE has standard Front and Rear Parking Assist to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Corolla Cross has standard Safety Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Corolla Cross and the Kicks Play have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Cross is safer than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Corolla Cross	Kicks Play
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	191	191
Neck Stress	297 lbs.	374 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	324/279 lbs.	343/312 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	32.9%	79%
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	392 lbs.
Neck Compression	36 lbs.	138 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Cross is safer than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Corolla Cross	Kicks Play
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	92	139
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	172 lbs.
Hip Force	330 lbs.	347 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	318
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	517 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are over 15 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Corolla Cross’ warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 53 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 12th.

Engine

The Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (169 vs. 122) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (151 vs. 114) than the Kicks Play’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Corolla Cross is faster than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Corolla Cross	Kicks Play
Zero to 60 MPH	8.4 sec	10.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	18 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84.8 MPH	77.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Corolla Cross’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Corolla Cross FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks Play (12.4 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Corolla Cross AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks Play (13.2 vs. 10.8 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Corolla Cross’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks Play:

	Corolla Cross	Kicks Play
Front Rotors	12 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	8” drums
Opt Rear Rotors		11 inches

The Toyota Corolla Cross has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Kicks Play. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Corolla Cross stops much shorter than the Kicks Play:

	Corolla Cross	Kicks Play
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	190 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Corolla Cross has larger standard tires than the Kicks Play (215/65R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Corolla Cross XLE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks Play (225/55R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The Corolla Cross XLE’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kicks Play’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corolla Cross L/LE has standard 17-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the Kicks Play. The Corolla Cross XLE has standard 18-inch wheels.

The Toyota Corolla Cross’ wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Kicks Play only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Corolla Cross AWD 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 Nissan Kicks Play has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Corolla Cross AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Corolla Cross AWD flat and controlled during cornering. The Kicks Play’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Corolla Cross is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Kicks Play.

The Corolla Cross’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (59% to 41%) than the Kicks Play’s (60.7% to 39.3%). This gives the Corolla Cross more stable handling and braking.

The Corolla Cross XLE AWD handles at .80 G’s, while the Kicks Play pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Corolla Cross XLE AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Kicks Play (28.2 seconds @ .57 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Corolla Cross has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kicks Play (8.1 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Corolla Cross to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Corolla Cross has 1.7 inches more front hip room and .5 inches more rear headroom than the Kicks Play.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Corolla Cross XLE offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Corolla Cross has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Kicks Play has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The Corolla Cross offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Corolla Cross’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Kicks Play has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

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

The Corolla Cross’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kicks Play’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Corolla Cross the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Kicks Play can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Corolla Cross’ LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kicks Play’s halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Corolla Cross XLE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Corolla Cross LE/XLE has standard extendable sun visors. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Corolla Cross’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

The Corolla Cross XLE has standard heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Kicks Play.

The Corolla Cross XLE has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Corolla Cross XLE’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 Play doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The Corolla Cross LE/XLE’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Corolla Cross has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer rear vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Corolla Cross has a standard Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

With standard voice command, the Corolla Cross offers the driver hands free control of the radio by simply speaking. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Compared to the Nissan Kicks Play’s traditional radio, the Toyota Corolla Cross equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Corolla LE/XLE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Nissan Kicks Play isn’t available as a sedan or four door hatchback.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Nissan Kicks Play, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Corolla Cross outsold the Nissan Kicks Play by 23% during 2024.

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