Compare the2026 Toyota Corolla HatchbackVS 2025 Nissan Kicks Play

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

Safety

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The Corolla Hatchback has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Corolla Hatchback 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 Toyota Corolla Hatchback 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 Hatchback 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 Hatchback 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 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras 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 Hatchback is safer than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Corolla Hatchback	Kicks Play
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	191
Neck Injury Risk	27%	32%
Neck Stress	243 lbs.	374 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	330/310 lbs.	343/312 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	79%
Neck Stress	165 lbs.	392 lbs.
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	138 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/156 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 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is safer than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Corolla Hatchback	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.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Corolla Hatchback is 5% less likely to roll over than the Kicks Play.

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 Hatchback’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Corolla Hatchback’s reliability 30 points higher than the Kicks Play.

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 Hatchback’s 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 Hatchback is faster than the Nissan Kicks Play:

	Corolla Hatchback	Kicks Play
Zero to 60 MPH	8.6 sec	10.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	18 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.9 MPH	77.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla Hatchback gets better mileage than the Kicks Play:

		MPG
Corolla Hatchback
	SE/Nightshade 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
	XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
Kicks Play
	1.6 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/36 hwy

The Corolla Hatchback 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 Corolla Hatchback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks Play:

	Corolla Hatchback	Kicks Play
Front Rotors	11.5 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.5 inches	8” drums

The Toyota Corolla Hatchback 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 Hatchback stops much shorter than the Kicks Play:

	Corolla Hatchback	Kicks Play
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	190 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Corolla Hatchback FX/XSE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Kicks Play (225/40R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The Corolla Hatchback SE’s 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 Corolla Hatchback FX/XSE’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Kicks Play’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corolla Hatchback FX/XSE has standard 18-inch wheels. The Kicks Play’s largest wheels are only 16-inches.

The Toyota Corolla Hatchback’s 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 Toyota Corolla Hatchback 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 rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

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

The Corolla Hatchback’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (59.4% to 40.6%) than the Kicks Play’s (60.7% to 39.3%). This gives the Corolla Hatchback more stable handling and braking.

The Corolla Hatchback XSE handles at .85 G’s, while the Kicks Play pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The design of the Toyota Corolla Hatchback amounts to more than styling. The Corolla Hatchback has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the Kicks Play (.334 to .344) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Corolla Hatchback get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Corolla Hatchback has 3 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks Play.

Ergonomics

The Corolla Hatchback 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 Kicks Play doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Corolla Hatchback’s 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 Hatchback and the Kicks Play have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Corolla Hatchback 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 Hatchback’s 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 Hatchback 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 Hatchback’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.

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

The Corolla Hatchback’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 Corolla Hatchback FX/XSE 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 Hatchback 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 Hatchback XSE’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 Hatchback’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 Hatchback XSE 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 Hatchback 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.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is available on the Corolla Hatchback. The Corolla Hatchback’s 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 Corolla Hatchback 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 Toyota Corolla Hatchback 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 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 Hatchback and the Nissan Kicks Play, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Nissan Kicks Play by over three to one during 2024.

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