Compare the2025 Kia SeltosVS 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
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Seltos 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.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia Seltos achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Nissan Kicks Play has not been tested.

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

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Seltos’ standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

The Kia Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX 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 Seltos SX has standard 911 Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to 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 Seltos and the Kicks Play have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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, rear parking sensors 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 Kia Seltos is safer than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Seltos	Kicks Play
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	112	191
Neck Injury Risk	22.2%	32%
Neck Stress	242 lbs.	374 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	308	326
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	38.4%	79%
Neck Stress	239 lbs.	392 lbs.
Neck Compression	135 lbs.	138 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	387/46 lbs.	370/209 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 Kia Seltos is safer than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Seltos	Kicks Play
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	79	139
Abdominal Force	167 lbs.	172 lbs.
Hip Force	346 lbs.	347 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	177	318
Hip Force	447 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

The Seltos comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Kicks Play’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Seltos 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Kicks Play. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Kicks Play ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Seltos has a standard 150-amp alternator (130-amp - Seltos X-Line/SX). The Kicks Play’s 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Seltos second among small suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Kicks Play isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 6th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 3 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Seltos’ standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 24 more horsepower (146 vs. 122) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (132 vs. 114) than the Kicks Play’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Seltos X-Line/SX’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 73 more horsepower (195 vs. 122) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 114) than the Kicks Play’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Seltos is faster than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Seltos 4 cyl.	Seltos X-Line/SX	Kicks Play
Zero to 30 MPH	3.2 sec	2.7 sec	3.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.3 sec	6.9 sec	10.5 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	14.3 sec	11.6 sec	19.3 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	4.2 sec	3.5 sec	5.8 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	15.4 sec	18 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.5 MPH	91.2 MPH	77.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Seltos 2.0’s 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 Seltos has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks Play (13.2 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Seltos AWD’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks Play:

	Seltos AWD	Kicks Play
Front Rotors	12 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	8” drums
Opt Rear Rotors		11 inches

The Kia Seltos 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 Seltos stops much shorter than the Kicks Play:

	Seltos	Kicks Play
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	190 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Seltos has larger standard tires than the Kicks Play (215/55R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks Play (235/45R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The Seltos’ standard 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 standard 60 series tires. The Seltos AWD X-Line/SX’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Kicks Play’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Seltos has standard 17-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the Kicks Play. The Seltos AWD X-Line/SX has standard 18-inch wheels.

The Kia Seltos’ 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 Seltos 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 Seltos has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Kicks Play’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Seltos AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Seltos 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 Seltos is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Kicks Play.

The Seltos SX handles at .84 G’s, while the Kicks Play pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Seltos S AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the Kicks Play (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Seltos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kicks Play (7.3 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Seltos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Seltos has 6.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kicks Play (99 vs. 92.6).

The Seltos has 2.6 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 4.5 inches more rear legroom, 3.7 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks Play.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Seltos’ rear seats recline. The Kicks Play’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kicks Play with its rear seat up (26.6 vs. 25.3 cubic feet). The Seltos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks Play with its rear seat folded (62.8 vs. 32.3 cubic feet).

The Seltos’ cargo area is larger than the Kicks Play’s in almost every dimension:

	Seltos	Kicks Play
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	32.7”/62.4”	35.4”/64”
Max Width	52.3”	49.7”
Min Width	41.6”	38.3”
Height	32.5”	31.6”

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Seltos EX AWD/SX’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Seltos’ power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Ergonomics

The Seltos S/EX/SX has a standard 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 power windows standard on both the Seltos and the Kicks Play have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Seltos 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 Seltos’ driver power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kicks Play’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

In addition to a parabolic reflector, optical-grade lenses in the Seltos’ standard projector headlights precisely focus the beam, providing more even illumination of the road for better visibility and a sharp cut-off that prevents blinding oncoming drivers. The sharp cutoff allows the use of a stronger light.The Kicks Play’s uses a simple reflector to direct its standard headlights. The Seltos SX’s 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.

Consumer Reports rated the Seltos’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Kicks Play’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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

The Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

The Seltos (except LX) offers optional heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Kicks Play.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Seltos SX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX 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 Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX’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 Seltos 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 Seltos SX has a standard Smart 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.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is standard on the Seltos S/EX/X-Line/SX. The Seltos’ navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a navigation system.

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

Compared to the Nissan Kicks Play’s traditional radio, the Kia Seltos (except LX) optionally equipped with 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 Kia Seltos EX/SX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Seltos and the Nissan Kicks Play, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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