2026 MINI John Cooper Works vs 2026 Nissan Kicks
The Nissan Kicks wins clearly, 95.9 to 58.3, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range.
2026 MINI John Cooper Works
The 2026 MINI John Cooper Works is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact hatchback with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the JCW 2 Door, is E…
2026 Nissan Kicks
The 2026 Nissan Kicks is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact hatchback with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Kicks, is EPA-rated at 31 …
2026 Nissan Kicks
Clear winThe Nissan Kicks wins clearly, 95.9 to 58.3, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2026 MINI John Cooper Worksoverall 58.3 | 2026 Nissan Kicksoverall 95.9 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 58.4 | 100 | |||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 84.4 | 100 | |||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 75 | 85.8 | |||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 9.7 | 100 | |||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||
| Overall | 58.3 | 95.9 | |||||||||
Trim vs trim · 4 of 7 categories compared
MINI John Cooper Works: base trim Signature Plus AWD · Nissan Kicks: base trim S FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Nissan Kicks wins
- It lists 25 standard driver-assist features against 0.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (15.5 points against 1.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $16,170 lower ($22,730 against $38,900 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 MINI John Cooper Works answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 81).
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
47 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $38,900 | $22,730 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | — | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 1,997 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | — | MR20DD 2.0L DOHC inline 4-cylinder |
| Valve configuration | — | 4 valves per cylinder with Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 141 hp |
| Torque | — | 140 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 28 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 31 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 35 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 5.341 |
| Transmission type | — | cvt |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 8.4 in |
| Overall height | — | 64.2 in |
| Overall length | — | 172 in |
| Overall width | — | 70.9 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 105 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 55.7 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 30 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 95.7 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 39.7 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 38.5 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 42.7 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 34.5 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 3,002 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 3,002 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 3,902 lbs |
| Payload capacity | — | 900 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | Independent strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension type | — | Twist beam |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | — | Electric power-assisted |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 295 mm |
| Front brake type | — | Vented disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Electric with auto hold |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 279 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 16 in |
| Wheel material | — | steel |
| Wheel width | — | 6.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 215/65R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 11.9 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | NissanConnect |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 54.7 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 54.7 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
59 features · differences first, then sharedSafety26 differ · 26 listed
| Feature | MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection | — | std |
| Predictive Forward Collision Warning | — | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | — | std |
| Front seat mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning | — | std |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor | — | std |
| RearView Monitor | — | std |
| Roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | — | std |
| Driver Attention Alert | — | std |
| Rear seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Active Driving Assistant (Signature Trim add-on) | opt | — |
| Anti-lock Braking System | — | std |
| Blind Spot Warning | — | std |
| Driver and passenger knee supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | — | std |
| High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Hill Start Assist | — | std |
| Intelligent Cruise Control with steering wheel-mounted controls | — | std |
| Nissan Safety Shield® 360 | — | std |
| Rear Automatic Braking | — | std |
| Rear Door Alert | — | std |
| Rear sonar | — | std |
| Traction Control System | — | std |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (direct sensor type) | — | std |
| Vehicle Security System Immobilizer | — | std |
Infotainment9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| NissanConnect™ Services powered by Sirius XM, Wi-Fi Hotspot, myQ Connected Garage Door Opener | — | opt |
| 12.3-inch color touchscreen display | — | std |
| Audio and Bluetooth® switches on steering wheel | — | std |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System | — | std |
| Front USB ports – 2, USB-C | — | std |
| NissanConnect® featuring wireless Apple CarPlay® and wireless Android Auto™ | — | std |
| Siri® Eyes Free | — | std |
| SiriusXM® (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately) | — | std |
| Streaming audio via Bluetooth® | — | std |
Convenience2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Intelligent Key® with push-button start | — | std |
| MINI Digital Key Plus (digital key, setup card, service card) — excludes Convertibles | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual climate control | — | std |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's seat 6-way manual adjustable | — | std |
| Cloth front seats | — | std |
| Power Front Seats — Active Driver Seat with Lumbar Support, Massaging Function for Driver's Seat | opt | — |
Interior3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 7-inch color meter | — | std |
| Manual tilt-telescope steering wheel | — | std |
| Drive computer with mpg, distance to empty, average speed, elapsed time, outside temp, TPMS | — | std |
Exterior10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 1" Wheel Upgrade (e.g. 18" to 19") | opt | — |
| 18" Asteroid Spoke wheel in black with all-season tires (Countryman S ALL4 only) | opt | — |
| 2" Wheel Upgrade (e.g. 18" to 20") | opt | — |
| Black Sport Stripes | opt | — |
| Favoured Style — Countryman S ALL4 only (includes Space-Saver Spare, Trailer Hitch) | opt | — |
| John Cooper Works Style package (JCW Aero Body Kit, exclusive wheels, Dynamic Damper Control) | opt | — |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | std |
| LED rear combination lights | — | std |
| Multitone Blue Roof | opt | — |
| Center high-mounted stop light (CHMSL), spoiler-mounted | — | std |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive | — | std |
| Front Wheel Drive | — | std |
| Drive Mode Selector – Normal, Eco, Sport (FWD) / Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow (AWD) | — | std |
| Idle Stop/Start | — | std |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed floor with underfloor storage system | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPMINI John Cooper Works
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Nissan Kicks
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V145000 · 15 vehicles
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 26V023000 · 26,432 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V331000 · 51,598 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| MINI John Cooper WorksSignature Plus AWD | Nissan KicksS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $38,900 (base trim) | $22,730 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $38,900 – $49,000 8 trims | $22,730 – $28,460 6 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | JCW 2 Door | Kicks |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 31 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,750 | $2,150 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 MINI John Cooper Works or the 2026 Nissan Kicks?
The Nissan Kicks wins clearly, 95.9 to 58.3, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Nissan Kicks scores 95.9 and the 2026 MINI John Cooper Works 58.3. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 MINI John Cooper Works or the 2026 Nissan Kicks?
The 2026 Nissan Kicks starts lower — $22,730 against $38,900, a gap of $16,170 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 MINI John Cooper Works or the 2026 Nissan Kicks?
2026 MINI John Cooper Works: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Nissan Kicks: 4 NHTSA stars, grade B, 3 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 MINI John Cooper Works and the 2026 Nissan Kicks?
Where the 2026 Nissan Kicks wins: it lists 25 standard driver-assist features against 0, lists more comfort and tech equipment (15.5 points against 1.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and starts $16,170 lower ($22,730 against $38,900 base MSRP). Where the 2026 MINI John Cooper Works answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 81).