Compare the2026 Nissan KicksVS 2026 Jeep Cherokee

The Nissan Kicks has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Kicks SR offers an optional front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Cherokee doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Kicks and the Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 11th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 60 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 18 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Kicks is faster than the Jeep Cherokee:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Kicks higher (7 out of 10) than the Jeep Cherokee (6). This means the Kicks produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cherokee every 15,000 miles.

The Kicks SR’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cherokee Overland’s 50 series tires.

The Kicks SR AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Cherokee Overland pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Kicks SR AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Cherokee Overland (28 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Kicks’ turning circle is 5.5 feet tighter than the Cherokee’s (34.8 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Kicks has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Cherokee (8.4 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Kicks to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Nissan Kicks may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1050 to 1300 pounds less than the Jeep Cherokee.

The Kicks is 1 foot, 4.2 inches shorter than the Cherokee, making the Kicks easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Kicks easier. The Kicks’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.9 inches, while the Cherokee’s liftover is 31.2 inches.

The Kicks’ 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 Cherokee’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

On a hot day the Kicks’ driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Kicks is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Kicks, based on reliability, safety and performance.