Compare the2024 Nissan KicksVS 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

The Nissan Kicks has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps 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 Tonale doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Kicks and the Tonale 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, 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, available daytime running lights, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, its standard front crash prevention system, its “Good” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kicks the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 173 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Tonale has not been tested, yet.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Kicks 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Alfa Romeo covers the Tonale. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Tonale ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 9 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kicks’ warranty.

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’ reliability 24 points higher than the Tonale.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Alfa Romeo With 40 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Alfa Romeo.

On the EPA test cycle the Kicks gets better fuel mileage than the Tonale running its gasoline engine (31 city/36 hwy vs. 29 city/29 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Kicks uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Tonale requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Kicks higher (7 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Tonale (6). This means the Kicks produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Tonale every 15,000 miles.

The Kicks 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 Tonale doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Kicks 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 Tonale are solid, not vented.

The Kicks 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 Tonale doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Kicks has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Tonale; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Kicks’ turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the Tonale’s (34.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

The Nissan Kicks may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1400 to 1450 pounds less than the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

The Kicks is 8.7 inches shorter than the Tonale, making the Kicks easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

The Kicks has a much larger cargo volume than the Tonale with its rear seat up (25.3 vs. 22.9 cubic feet).

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Kicks, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Nissan Kicks outsold the Alfa Romeo Tonale by almost 32 to one during 2023.