The EcoSport has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kicks doesn't offer all-wheel drive.

Both the EcoSport and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Ford EcoSport weighs 548 to 614 pounds more than the Nissan Kicks. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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

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 Ford EcoSport is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

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

There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EcoSport's warranty.

The EcoSport's 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 44 more horsepower (166 vs. 122) and 35 lbs.-ft. more torque (149 vs. 114) than the Kicks' 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford EcoSport is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the EcoSport'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 doesn't offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The EcoSport has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks (13.8 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The EcoSport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it's removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Kicks doesn't offer a cap-less fueling system.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Ford EcoSport as a “Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle” (PZEV). The Nissan Kicks is only certified to “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV) standards.

For better stopping power the EcoSport's brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks:

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

The EcoSport stops shorter than the Kicks:

The EcoSport's optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kicks SV/SR's 55 series tires.

For superior ride and handling, the Ford EcoSport 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 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The EcoSport has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Kicks' suspension doesn't offer gas-charged shocks.

The EcoSport has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the EcoSport flat and controlled during cornering. The Kicks' suspension doesn't offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The EcoSport SES executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Kicks SR (28.7 seconds @ .56 average G's vs. 29.2 seconds @ .55 average G's).

The EcoSport is 7.8 inches shorter than the Kicks, making the EcoSport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the EcoSport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Kicks doesn't offer active grille shutters.

The EcoSport has .7 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 3.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear hip room than the Kicks.

The EcoSport has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Kicks has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the EcoSport uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Kicks doesn't offer electronic trailer sway control.

The power windows standard on both the EcoSport and the Kicks have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the EcoSport 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the EcoSport's available exterior PIN entry system. The Kicks doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost NissanConnect Services can't unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn't have cell phone reception or the driver can't contact the service.

The EcoSport's power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kicks' power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The EcoSport's standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn't have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Kicks' manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The EcoSport SES/Titanium's standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The EcoSport 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 doesn't offer a rear seat center armrest.

The EcoSport (except S)'s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Kicks' available navigation system doesn't offer real-time traffic updates.

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

The EcoSport (except S) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Kicks doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Ford EcoSport outsold the Nissan Kicks by 1687 units during 2020.