Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2020 Nissan Rogue

The Sportage’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Rogue doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sportage and the Rogue have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Nissan Rogue:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Nissan Rogue:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sportage the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 119 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Rogue last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2019.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Rogue’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Rogue. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Rogue ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sportage has a standard 140-amp alternator (150-amp - Sportage SX Turbo AWD). The Rogue’s 110-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Sportage’s reliability 13 points higher than the Rogue.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage second among compact suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Rogue isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 13th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

The Sportage’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (181 vs. 170) than the Rogue’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 67 more horsepower (237 vs. 170) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 175) than the Rogue’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 70 more horsepower (240 vs. 170) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 175) than the Rogue’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Nissan Rogue:

The Sportage has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rogue (16.4 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Sportage’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rogue:

The Sportage stops shorter than the Rogue:

For better traction, the Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Rogue (245/45R19 vs. 225/65R17).

The Sportage LX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rogue S/SV’s standard 65 series tires. The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Rogue SL’s 55 series tires.

The Sportage has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Rogue’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Rogue.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Rogue SL AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the Rogue SL AWD (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the Rogue’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.6 feet).

The Sportage is 8.1 inches shorter than the Rogue, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sportage has .3 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear legroom than the Rogue.

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Rogue’s (2000 vs. 1102 pounds).

The Sportage has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Rogue doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Sportage has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Rogue doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

The power windows standard on both the Sportage and the Rogue have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sportage is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Rogue prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Rogue doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Sportage’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Rogue’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Sportage (except LX/Nightfall) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Rogue doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $106 less than the Rogue over a five-year period.

The Sportage will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sportage will retain 45.89% to 49.54% of its original price after five years, while the Rogue only retains 43.93% to 44.31%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sportage is less expensive to operate than the Rogue because it costs $128 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Sportage than the Rogue, including $9 less for front brake pads, $215 less for a starter, $190 less for fuel injection, $188 less for a fuel pump and $410 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications: