Nissan Kicks safety performance in Brazil

The Nissan Kicks manufactured in Resende, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has received a five-star safety rating from Latin NCAP. The vehicle achieved high scores in child protection (92%), occupant protection (86%), and safety assistance (85%).

While the Brazilian model showed improved performance in side-impact tests compared to previous Mexican versions due to implemented countermeasures, certain metrics saw slight declines compared to the 2025 model. Specifically, there was a 4% drop in adult occupant protection and a 3% decrease in safety assistance scores, with reports citing concerns regarding footwell stability and marginal whiplash protection resulting from seat changes.

A subsequent audit confirmed these Latin NCAP results. Detailed evaluation metrics for the vehicle included 86.29% for adult occupant protection, 91.66% for child occupant protection, 72.79% for pedestrian and vulnerable road user protection, and 85.17% for safety assistance systems. The SUV is equipped with six airbags and the Nissan Safety Shield, which incorporates 17 assistance and protection technologies.

Additionally, mid-cycle revisions to the Kicks' rear seat belts have improved performance in IIHS moderate-overlap frontal crash tests. For vehicles manufactured after June 2026, these updates upgraded the rear-occupant protection score from ‘Poor’ to ‘Good’ under stricter testing protocols. Consequently, the Kicks became the only crossover to receive a ‘Good’ rating in the updated IIHS moderate-overlap frontal crash test, distinguishing it from competitors like the Audi Q3, Toyota RAV4, and Chevrolet Trailblazer, which failed to meet all criteria due to insufficient rear-seat passenger protection. This improvement qualified the model for the 2026 Top Safety Pick designation.