Compare the2022 Nissan Rogue SportVS 2022 Hyundai Kona

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Nissan Rogue Sport 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 Kona doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Rogue Sport has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Kona doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Rogue Sport (except S) offers an optional Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Kona only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Rogue Sport has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Rogue Sport and the Kona 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and driver alert monitors.

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

	Rogue Sport	Kona
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	132	217
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35.3%	37%
Neck Stress	189 lbs.	193 lbs.
Neck Compression	34 lbs.	70 lbs.

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 Nissan Rogue Sport is safer than the Hyundai Kona:

	Rogue Sport	Kona
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	106	109
Abdominal Force	156 lbs.	246 lbs.
Hip Force	408 lbs.	611 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	211	326
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	66 G’s
Hip Force	504 lbs.	638 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	590 lbs.	744 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 29 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Rogue Sport’s warranty.

Reliability

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 Rogue Sport’s reliability 36 points higher than the Kona.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 8th.

Engine

The Rogue Sport’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (147 vs. 132) than the Kona’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Rogue Sport has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Rogue Sport	Kona
Front Rotors	11.65 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.5 inches	10.3 inches

The Rogue Sport’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Kona are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Rogue Sport has larger standard tires than the Kona (215/60R17 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rogue Sport S/SV has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Kona SE. The Rogue Sport SL’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Kona N Line/Limited.

The Rogue Sport 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 Kona doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Nissan Rogue Sport has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kona 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Rogue Sport has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Rogue Sport flat and controlled during cornering. The Kona 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Rogue Sport’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Kona (104.2 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Rogue Sport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona (7.4 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Rogue Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Rogue Sport has 1.3 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona.

Cargo Capacity

The Rogue Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona with its rear seat up (22.9 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The Rogue Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona with its rear seat folded (61.1 vs. 45.8 cubic feet).

The Rogue Sport’s cargo area is larger than the Kona’s in every dimension:

	Rogue Sport	Kona
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	33.3”/62.3”	28.6”/61”
Max Width	54.2”	48”
Min Width	43.5”	40”
Height	33.3”	30”

Payload

The Rogue Sport has a higher standard payload capacity than the Kona (1115 vs. 915 lbs.).

The Rogue Sport has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Kona (1115 vs. 930 lbs.).

Ergonomics

When different drivers share the Rogue Sport SV/SL, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kona doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Rogue Sport’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Kona’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

The Rogue Sport’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Kona’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

On extremely cold winter days, the Rogue Sport SV/SL’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Kona doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Rogue Sport SV/SL’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kona doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Rogue Sport and the Kona offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Rogue Sport has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Nissan Rogue Sport and the Hyundai Kona, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Nissan Rogue outsold the Hyundai Kona by over three to one during the 2021 model year.

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