*All information in this article has been revised and updated for the latest 2021-2022 models.
Two marketed SUVs, but clearly different in their standing, the 2022 Ford Edge and 2022 Nissan Kicks are two SUVs to compare. They are stylish in design but offer different choices in an SUV. Let’s look at their differences.
Design/Style
Ford has done it again with this standout midsize SUV. The 2022 Ford Edge seats five and has plenty of passenger space with roomy seats and an impressive amount of cargo room. It has a solid build with impressive cabin materials; and keeps quiet even at increased speeds. The driver’s seat comes standard with a 10-way power-adjustable seat; and it provides great visibility on the road. Options include synthetic or genuine leather upholstery, a power-adjustable passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, driver’s seat memory settings, and leather-wrapped, heated, and power-tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. The Edge has one of the largest cargo capacities among its competitors, with 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space that expands to a maximum73.4 cubic feet when the seats are folded down.
Unfortunately, the 2022 Nissan Kicks is a subcompact SUV and is therefore, less spacious than the Ford Edge. Front-wheel drive comes standard. All-wheel drive isn’t offered, and the Kicks’ ground clearance is only slightly better than its competition. Nissan Kicks seats five, but comfortably it seats four, with two adults in the rear. The interior may be well constructed, but not feel as nice with its hard plastics. Nissan offers seating upgrades that include leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering. For its size, the Kicks cargo space is adequate. It has 25.3 cubic feet of room behind the rear seats and 53.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down; however, the rear seats don’t fold completely flat. Comparing it to the Edge, it doesn’t measure up.
Power, Handling and Gas
The Ford Edge comes standard with a powerful turbocharged 2.0 four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It has quick acceleration and delivers smooth and timely shifts. The sporty Edge ST is even more powerful and features a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with 335 horsepower. The standard front-wheel drive gets an impressive EPA-estimated 21/29 mpg city and highway. The Edge offers 19/26 mpg city and highway for the EcoBoost engine. Ford Edge is stable and composed. You can turn your corners with ease with its light and easy steering, and take the bumps in the road without notice.
Kicks is powered by a 122-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This vehicle is good for commuting in stop-and-go city traffic, but has slow acceleration and it takes a while to get up to highway speeds. It estimates 31/36 mpg on the city and highway, which is expected with this smaller SUV that doesn’t deliver a powerful engine. This subcompact does have some benefits to being smaller like easy maneuvering into tight parking spaces.
Safety, Tech and Price
Ford offers one of the better tech interfaces on the market – the Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, two USB ports, and a six-speaker stereo. These tech features are offered on all trim levels. Ford has a long list of safety features that come standard with Ford’s Co-Pilot360. These features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Ford Edge is a little nicer than most choices without breaking your budget. The Edge comes in four different trim levels starting with the SE, with a price that starts at $32,750 and ranging to the Edge ST, with a price that starts at $43,600.
The Nissan Kicks strong point would also be its long list of standard safety features which include automatic high-beam control, lane departure warning, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear automatic emergency braking. It comes in three trims, starting with Nissan Kicks S trim that starts at $19,600 to the Nissan Kicks SV trim that starts at $21,450 and lastly Nissan Kicks SR trim that starts at $22,140. The downside would be Kicks’ base S model doesn’t come standard with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. You will need to step up to Kicks’ SV trim for the NissanConnect infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and satellite ratio. Nissan Kicks’ shortcomings match its budget price tag.
Overview
The 2022 Ford Edge and Nissan Kicks are two great vehicles but two different SUVs. The Ford Edge offers more for an SUV with its power, cargo space, and tech features, making this comparison a solid choice.