Nissan Rogue vs Kia Sportage
Nissan Rogue vs Kia Sportage
Posted on November 22, 2021
The compact crossover market offers an ever-expanding range of models to choose from, as every major automaker creates new SUVs to grab a slice of this most lucrative of sectors. However, the Nissan Rogue has long stood as one of the most popular vehicles in this format, but can it maintain its lead against the competition? To find out, we've put it up against one of its most attractive rivals, the Kia Sportage, and this is what we found.
Engine and Performance
Both cars are fairly equal when it comes to power and performance, with both sporting an engine that's perfectly pitched to combine economical city performance with the power for smooth highway cruising. At the base level, both SUVs have an engine output of 181 horsepower, although the power is delivered a little more effectively with the Rogue thanks to the 181lb-ft torque rating compared to the Sportage's 175lb-ft. This gives the Rogue noticeably more punch when accelerating from a standing start, making it great for urban duties.
Drivetrain and Transmission
Both cars offer a choice between front-wheel and all-wheel drive, with the Rogue boasting a smooth continuously variable transmission (CVT) and the Sportage a six-speed automatic. But where the Rogue wins out in handling is with the greater number of selectable drive modes, which make driving over snow, sand, and other difficult surfaces easier.
Fuel Economy
But while the two SUVs have very similar engine powers, the Rogue has a clear lead in fuel economy. The Nissan delivers an attractive 8.7L / 100km in the city, compared to the Kia's thirstier 10.2L. It's a similar story on the highway, where the Rogue's 6.7L outshines the Sportage's 7.8L by some distance.
Spacious Interior
Both of these SUVs offer spacious seating for up to five adults, but the Rogue has more room to stretch out in. The Nissan offers 110cm of leg room in the front, comfortably more than the Kia's 105cm. The Rogue also has more leg room in the second row, although the difference isn't as great with 97.8cm compared to 97cm
Cargo and Towing Capacity
There's also more space for your stuff in the Rogue, which offers a generous maximum cargo capacity of 2,098L compared to the Sportage's figure of just 1,710L. But to balance the scales a little, the Sportage can tow up to 751kg in trailer weight, giving it an edge of the Nissan's towing capacity of 614kg.
Parking
However, the Rogue's larger passenger space and cargo capacity does mean the body is 17cm longer than the Sportage, at 465cm compared to 448cm, which could make parallel parking a bit harder in small spaces. On the other hand, the Rogue is more than 1cm narrower than the Sportage, which could make perpendicular parking marginally easier.
Test Drive the Nissan Rogue in Waterloo
Discover the best of compact crossover sector for yourself with a test drive of the Nissan Rogue in Waterloo. If you're in the market for a compact SUV which combines drivability, spacious comfort, and economy, you won't find a better deal than the Rogue.