Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2021 Nissan Rogue

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, driver alert monitors, 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.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Sportage is 2.4% to 3.2% less likely to roll over than the Rogue.

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 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 in its category.

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 SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 56 more horsepower (237 vs. 181) and 79 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 181) than the Rogue’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 59 more horsepower (240 vs. 181) and 79 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 181) 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:

For better traction, the Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Rogue (245/45R19 vs. 235/65R17).

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’ standard 65 series tires. The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Rogue SL/Platinum’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 1 inch wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Rogue.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Rogue Platinum AWD (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Rogue’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

The Sportage is 6.6 inches shorter than the Rogue, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Kia Sportage amounts to more than styling. The Sportage has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the Rogue (.33 to .34) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Sportage get better fuel mileage.

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Rogue’s (2000 vs. 1350 pounds).

The Sportage has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Rogue doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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.

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.

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