Ford Bronco vs Nissan Kicks

2026 Ford Bronco vs 2026 Nissan Kicks — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Ford Bronco

2026 Ford Bronco

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WD
VS0 – 6Nissan Kicks wins 6 of 6 categories
Nissan Kicks

2026 Nissan Kicks

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WD

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The short version

The Nissan Kicks is more fuel-efficient: 31 vs 20 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $1,200 a year less in fuel for the Nissan Kicks (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Nissan Kicks is the bigger car, about 5 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Nissan Kicks has had fewer recall campaigns (10 vs 50).

The two cars

The 2026 Ford Bronco is a small SUV offered with 3 engines (2.3L 4-cyl turbo, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo) and part-time 4-wheel drive. It measures about 165 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 100-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,288 lb (2dr 2.3l SUV).

The 2026 Nissan Kicks is a small SUV offered with a 2.0L 4-cyl engine and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 172 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 105-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,175 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

Buying used? The 2024 Bronco and the 2022 Kicks have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2019 Kicks.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3L 4-cyl turbo, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

20 MPG
Best combined MPG
31 MPG
19 city
City / highway MPG (best)
28 city
$3,350
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,150

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
141 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
165 in
Length
169.7 in
79.5 in
Width
69.3 in
72 in
Height
63.4 in
4,288 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
2,692 lb

Safety & reliability

11
Driver-assist features standard
15
9
Recalls (2026)
3
50
Recalls, all years since 2005
10
11
Owner complaints (latest year)
9

Interest

26,704
Wikipedia views, 30 days
10,965

Buying used

Best used year
–
Year to avoid

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Ford Bronco if…

  • You want something easier to park (5 in shorter)

Choose the Nissan Kicks if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (31 vs 20 MPG)
  • You want more room (5 in longer)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech
  • You put reliability history first (10 vs 50 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Ford Bronco

  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 20 MPG combined, 23% below the 2026 small SUV average of 25.9 MPG.
  • 9 recallsMore than similar models (about 1). Confirm repairs with the VIN.

2026 Nissan Kicks

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • Modest powerUp to 141 hp, versus about 186 hp for similar 2026 models.

Full 2026 Ford Bronco specs →Full 2026 Nissan Kicks specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →