Compare the2025 Nissan Kicks PlayVS 2025 Jeep Compass

Safety
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Compass doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Kicks Play has standard Rear Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Compass doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Kicks Play and Compass have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Kicks Play has Rear Automatic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Compass’ Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Kicks Play and the Compass 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.

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

	Kicks Play	Compass
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	191	196
Neck Injury Risk	32%	41%
Neck Stress	374 lbs.	445 lbs.
Neck Compression	27 lbs.	38 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	343/312 lbs.	326/489 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 Nissan Kicks Play is safer than the Jeep Compass:

	Kicks Play	Compass
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	47 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	517 lbs.	928 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	218	355
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	535 lbs.	663 lbs.

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 Kicks Play, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 4.9% less likely to roll over than the Compass, which received a three-star rating.

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 Kicks Play’s reliability 21 points higher than the Compass.

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 Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 7 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Kicks Play gets better fuel mileage than the Compass (31 city/36 hwy vs. 24 city/32 hwy).

The Kicks Play has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Compass. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

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 Compass doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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 Compass are solid, not vented.

The Kicks Play stops much shorter than the Compass:

	Kicks Play	Compass
70 to 0 MPH	190 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	144 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	143 feet	151 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Kicks Play’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Compass Trailhawk’s standard 65 series tires.

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 Compass doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Kicks Play handles at .83 G’s, while the Compass Sport pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Kicks Play executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Compass Trailhawk (28.7 seconds @ .55 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Kicks Play’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Compass Trailhawk’s (34.2 feet vs. 35.3 feet). The Kicks Play’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Compass 4x4 Sport/Latitude/Limited’s (34.2 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

Chassis

The Nissan Kicks Play may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 850 to 950 pounds less than the Jeep Compass.

The Kicks Play is 4.3 inches shorter than the Compass, making the Kicks Play easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Kicks Play has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Compass uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

Passenger Space

The Kicks Play has 1.2 inches more front headroom and 2.5 inches more front legroom than the Compass.

The front step up height for the Kicks Play is 3.9 inches lower than the Compass (15.5” vs. 19.4”). The Kicks Play’s rear step up height is 4.8 inches lower than the Compass’ (15.9” vs. 20.7”).

Cargo Capacity

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 Compass’ liftover is 31.1 inches.

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

	Kicks Play	Compass
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	35.4”/64”	32.4”/65.7”
Max Width	49.7”	53.8”
Min Width	38.3”	38.1”
Height	31.6”	29.6”

Ergonomics

The Kicks Play’s standard Intelligent Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Compass only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Push Button Start is not available on the Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited.

Recommendations

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

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