Nissan Kicks joins ranks of IIHS award winners

The 2026-27 Nissan Kicks earns a Top Safety Pick award in the latest round of ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety thanks to improved backseat safety.

New ratings for five other models that do not qualify for either IIHS award are also available.

To qualify for an award this year, vehicles need good ratings in the moderate overlap front, small overlap front and side crash tests and acceptable- or good-rated headlights across all trim levels.

For 2026 Top Safety Pick, the only other requirement is an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian front crash prevention test. To earn the “plus,” vehicles need a good rating in that evaluation as well as an acceptable or good rating in the updated vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention evaluation that was introduced in 2024. Qualifying front crash prevention systems must be standard for either award.

Redesigned for the 2025 model year, the Kicks initially earned a poor rating in the moderate overlap front test, which emphasizes protection for second-row passengers. Only vehicles built after June 2026, when Nissan made changes to the rear seat belts, qualify for Top Safety Pick. These models earn a good rating in the moderate overlap test.

Two additional IIHS evaluations — seat belt reminders and LATCH ease of use — are not part of the award criteria but are included in the table on the next page. Consumers may wish to factor them into their purchase decisions

Complete ratings for six recently tested vehicles