Performance Showdown: 2025 Subaru Crosstrek vs. 2025 Nissan Kicks
When choosing the right compact SUV for your family in 2025, two popular contenders are the Subaru Crosstrek and the Nissan Kicks. Both offer practicality, efficiency, and versatility, but which one truly stands out in a city like Chicago, where weather, road conditions, and off-road potential are a constant consideration? In this comparison, we’ll break down how these two SUVs stack up in terms of performance, interior tech, off-road capability, and overall usability to help you decide which is the better fit for your family’s lifestyle.
2025 Subaru Crosstrek vs. 2025 Nissan Kicks: Performance Comparison
When navigating Chicagoland's ever-changing roads, the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek delivers where the 2025 Nissan Kicks falls short. With its standard all-wheel drive, the Crosstrek is ready for the region's unpredictable weather, whether you're dealing with icy downtown streets or muddy forest preserve trails. Compare that to the Kicks, which sticks to front-wheel drive and struggles to match the Crosstrek’s all-weather confidence.
Under the hood, the Crosstrek flexes with an available 182-hp 2.5-liter engine, outpacing the Kicks’ 141-hp 2.0-liter offering. The Crosstrek’s chassis absorbs potholes and cracked pavement with ease, providing a smooth, composed ride perfect for Chicago's notoriously uneven roads. Need to escape the city? The Crosstrek’s 8.7 inches of ground clearance—or 9.3 inches in the Wilderness trim—lets you venture off the beaten path. Meanwhile, the Kicks remains firmly planted in the city, limited by its lack of rugged features.
In Chicagoland, the Crosstrek is the clear choice for versatility and power:
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Available 182-hp 2.5-liter engine
- 8.7 inches of ground clearance (9.3 inches in Wilderness trim)
- Hill-descent control and hill-start assist
- Soft, composed suspension
Chicagoland Drivers Seeking a Vehicle Engineered for Off-Road Dominance Choose the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
The 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness offers you more adventure potential than any model of the 2025 Nissan Kicks. With a 182-horsepower 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, the Crosstrek Wilderness is purpose-built for conquering trails and off-road terrain, leaving the Kicks' standard front-wheel-drive limitations far behind. Its 9.3 inches of ground clearance, front skid plate, and redesigned bumpers enhance approach and departure angles, making rugged trails accessible.
Dual-Function X-MODE® and Yokohama GEOLANDAR® all-terrain tires ensure you can adapt to any trail condition, while the Kicks offers no comparable features for off-road capability. Inside, StarTex® water-repellent upholstery and durable materials prepare the Crosstrek Wilderness for dirt, mud, and adventure, whereas the Kicks prioritizes urban aesthetics.
For those who crave the freedom to explore beyond the pavement, the Crosstrek Wilderness promises reliability, versatility, and the thrill of finding the next great trail.
- 182-horsepower 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® engine
- Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
- 9.3 inches of ground clearance
- Front skid plate and redesigned bumpers
- Dual-Function X-MODE®
- Yokohama GEOLANDAR® all-terrain tires
- StarTex® water-repellent upholstery
2025 Subaru Crosstrek vs. 2025 Nissan Kicks: Which Has a More User-Friendly Infotainment Suite?
Driving around Chicagoland’s bustling streets and highways requires a system as intuitive as your daily routine, and the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek delivers. With the SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia system, you’ll enjoy wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, letting you control navigation, music, and apps effortlessly through an available high-resolution 11.6-inch touchscreen. The Crosstrek’s interface is designed for simplicity, putting everything you need at your fingertips without distraction.
The 2025 Nissan Kicks offers wireless smartphone connectivity through NissanConnect®, but its system feels less refined, with smaller displays and fewer customization options. In the Crosstrek, available wireless charging keeps your devices powered up while eliminating cord clutter, and Bluetooth® pairing makes hands-free operation seamless and safe.
Weaving through Chicago traffic or heading out to the suburbs, the Crosstrek’s advanced, intuitive infotainment keeps you connected with ease, leaving the Kicks struggling to keep up:
- SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
- Available 11.6-inch high-resolution touchscreen
- Wireless charging
- Bluetooth® hands-free smartphone operation