Kia Sportage vs Nissan Rogue

SPORTAGE VS ROGUE: PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS & EXPECTATIONS

A new Kia Sportage offers two peppy engines to choose from, starting with a 181-horsepower, 2.4L 4-cylinder engine. However, you can swap out this standard engine for a 2.0L turbocharged engine that pumps out a whopping 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Learn more about the performance options on the Kia website!

With this kind of power and other optional equipment like the Dynamax™ All-Wheel Drive system, you'll be able to tow up to 2,000 pounds of trailer weight when the Sportage is properly equipped.

As for the Nissan Rogue, you can also opt for Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, but you'll only have one gas engine to choose from. Its 2.5L 4-cylinder engine only puts out 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. Plus, Nissan does not even list a maximum towing capacity for the Rogue, so it is probably not suggested that you use it to haul a trailer.

SPORTAGE VS ROGUE: INTERIOR SPACE & COMFORT

As competitively sized larger automobiles, the Kia Sportage and the Nissan Rogue have many commonalities when it comes to dimensions. Both offer five seats, more than 41 inches of front-row legroom, and more than 60 total cubic feet of cargo space with all three rear seats folded down.

The Sportage ensures your comfort behind the wheel a bit better, though. In the Kia SUV, you'll have 54.3 inches of front hip room, while the Rogue only offers 54.1 inches of hip room in the front. While this difference may seem slight, it will prove important in your comfort behind the wheel.

Both models offer relaxing interior features like available leather-trimmed upholstery and available Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control. You'll also be able to warm up in the winter with their available heated front seats. So, both the Sportage and Rogue prove to be great companions, independent of the season outside.

SPORTAGE VS ROGUE: Advanced Safety & TECHNOLOGY FEATURES

Both the Kia Sportage and the Nissan Rogue offer some high-tech features, including:

• Available hands-free power liftgates that open easily when your hands are full.
• Available blind spot detection systems that alert you of automobiles in your blind spots.

There are several extra features that you'll get with the Sportage that aren't offered in the Rogue, starting with Projector Beam Headlights. This feature in the Sportage enhances visibility by providing better focus with both high and low beams on.

Driver Attention Warning (DAW) is another feature you'll find on the Sportage. It will monitor for drowsy or distracted driving and tell you when it's time to take a break. The Rogue offers a similar Intelligent Driver Alertness feature.

MULTIMEDIA & CONNECTIVITY: SPORTAGE VS ROGUE

Each of these rides also offers you the ability to easily connect on the go via their intuitive multimedia systems. Breaking down the respective system in each automobile, you’ll find they compare quite closely. Each comes with a larger 8-inch display that makes it easy to see and interact with your functionalities and features.

Speaking of functionalities, the Kia and Nissan both offer Android Auto™ and Bluetooth® connections that allow you to integrate your mobile device with your ride. Similarly, each ride will afford you voice recognition, allowing you to interact with each system without taking your eyes or hands off the roads ahead.

You will, however, get an extra functionality standard in the Sportage. This comes in the form of Apple CarPlay®, which affords you access to some of your favorite phone apps on the go. This feature is available in the Nissan Rogue, but you’ll have to upgrade to get it.

Additionally, the Kia Sportage comes with Siri® Eyes Free. This functionality will allow you to use Siri® on the go for even easier user interface. You won’t find this apple feature at all in the Nissan Rogue.

SPORTAGE VS ROGUE: LOOKING AT THE SOUND EXPERIENCE PROVIDED

In terms of your sound experience, when you connect and listen to your favorite podcasts and playlists, you’ll find a difference both standardly and with available technology in these two rides.

In its standard configuration, the Rogue comes with a 4-speaker sound system. While this is adequate, it does leave a lot to be desired in terms of providing the best possible sound quality. On the other hand, the Sportage comes with six speakers, so it can provide a more complete experience in this area.

You could also explore upgrading your sound system in both the Sportage and Rogue. The Sportage offers an available Harman Kardon® Premium Audio System, while the Rogue offers a Bose® Premium Audio System. Both come from experts in sound technology, so you can expect a superb sound with either.

Still, the Harman Kardon® System that comes in the Sportage comes with Clari-Fi™ technology. This works to ensure that the sound you hear replicates the sound as originally recorded. So, audiophiles can expect an extremely high sound quality that mirrors the experience found inside the recording studio. You won’t find this technology in the Bose® System.