Compare the2025 Kia SportageVS 2025 Nissan Rogue

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Sportage and Rogue have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Rogue’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Sportage and the Rogue have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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 and around view monitors.

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:

	Sportage	Rogue
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24.5%	33%
Neck Stress	263 lbs.	403 lbs.
Neck Compression	14 lbs.	54 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	48/154 lbs.	70/234 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	307	319
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30.9%	37%
Neck Stress	177 lbs.	193 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	292/203 lbs.	481/312 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 Kia Sportage is safer than the Nissan Rogue:

	Sportage	Rogue
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	70	95
Hip Force	247 lbs.	339 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	82	162
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Rogue:

	Sportage	Rogue
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	121	290
Head Peak Forces	no contact	81 G’s
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	245 lbs.
Neck Compression	-45 lbs.	45 lbs.
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	245 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	759 lbs.	803 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head Injury Criterion	116	455
Head Peak Forces	no contact	89 G’s
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	89 lbs.
Neck Compression	-134 lbs.	402 lbs.
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	1.22 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

Warranty

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.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 6th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 3 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Sportage has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Rogue. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage higher (6 out of 10) than the Nissan Rogue (5). This means the Sportage produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Rogue every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Sportage	Rogue
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11.5 inches

The Sportage stops shorter than the Rogue:

	Sportage	Rogue
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

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 a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Rogue (108.5 inches vs. 106.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Rogue.

The Sportage X-Pro Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the Rogue Platinum AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Sportage has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Rogue (8.3 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Sportage to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Sportage uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Rogue doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Sportage X-Pro Prestige is quieter than the Rogue Platinum AWD (37 vs. 39 dB).

Passenger Space

The Sportage has .7 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom and 2.8 inches more rear legroom than the Rogue.

Cargo Capacity

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume than the Rogue with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 36.5 cubic feet).

Towing

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Rogue’s (2500 vs. 1500 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Rogue doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro’s front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches, and the driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Rogue’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Sportage’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Rogue can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage X-Pro 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.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sportage Prestige 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.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Sportage and the Nissan Rogue, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its April 2024 issue and the Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige won out over the Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage third among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Rogue isn’t in the top three.

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