Compare the2025 Nissan Kicks PlayVS 2025 Dodge Hornet

The Nissan Kicks Play 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 Hornet doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Kicks Play and Hornet have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Kicks Play has Rear Automatic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Hornet’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Kicks Play and the Hornet have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rear cross-path warning and available driver alert monitors.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kicks Play for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Hornet.

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 Kicks Play’s reliability 24 points higher than the Hornet.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Dodge vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 135 more problems per 100 vehicles, Dodge is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Kicks Play gets better mileage than the Hornet running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Kicks Play uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Hornet requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Kicks Play has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Hornet doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Kicks Play SV/SR’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Hornet are solid, not vented.

The Kicks Play stops shorter than the Hornet:

The Kicks Play has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Hornet doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Kicks Play has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Hornet doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Kicks Play handles at .82 G’s, while the Hornet GT pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Kicks Play’s turning circle is 3.7 feet tighter than the Hornet R/T’s (34.2 feet vs. 37.9 feet). The Kicks Play’s turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the Hornet GT’s (34.2 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Nissan Kicks Play may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1050 to 1400 pounds less than the Dodge Hornet.

The Kicks Play is 8.9 inches shorter than the Hornet, making the Kicks Play easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kicks Play has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear headroom than the Hornet.

The front step up height for the Kicks Play is 4.3 inches lower than the Hornet (15.5” vs. 19.8”). The Kicks Play’s rear step up height is 3.8 inches lower than the Hornet’s (15.9” vs. 19.7”).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Kicks Play easier. The Kicks Play’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.6 inches, while the Hornet’s liftover is 31.8 inches.

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Kicks Play has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Hornet only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Kicks Play, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Dodge Hornet isn't recommended.

The Nissan Kicks Play outsold the Dodge Hornet by almost four to one during 2024.