2022 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 Kia Sportage had a distinctive appearance, although opinions were mixed about its front-end styling. The tiger-nose grille, which worked well on other Kia models like the Stinger and Sorento, seemed less fitting here. Placed between oversized headlights and over a chrome trimming on the squared-off bumper cheeks, the grille resembled a Halloween party fake mustache but plastered on the SUV's facade.

Despite this questionable grille design, Kia got everything else right with the Sportage's design. The four-dot running light signature evoked the styling of the Porsche Macan, and the rear symmetry reminded one of Volkswagen’s precision. The 19-inch wheels added proper proportions and a planted stance to the vehicle.

Inside, the Sportage exuded a Germanic sense of style. The black dashboard, adorned with polished metallic accents, featured plain white markings on a black background for instrumentation. The SX Turbo's interior included metal pedal covers and offered color options like black, gray, and beige, contributing to a high-contrast, upscale feel.

The user interface consisted of buttons and knobs, making adjustments straightforward. Every Sportage model projected an upscale vibe, and the smooth operation of the transmission shifter enhanced the sense of quality.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue featured a conventional yet appealing design. Nissan played it safe with this popular model, focusing on handsome, chiseled styling and the right amount of SUV ruggedness. From the proportions to the fine details, the Rogue successfully presented a rugged yet refined aesthetic.

The Platinum trim test vehicle stood out with its two-tone paint, illuminated kick plates, interior accent lighting, and even a first-aid kit. These additions elevated the Rogue’s price to an entry-luxury territory of $43,100, overlapping with the base price of luxury models like the Infiniti QX50. The diamond-pattern leather seats in Platinum trim are among the highlights that screamed luxury.

While the Rogue's design cues emphasized practicality over boldness, it remained an undeniably attractive option in the compact SUV segment.

The 2022 Kia Sportage featured two powertrain options. The more common 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine made 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. It was competitive but not exceptional. More intriguing was the Sportage SX Turbo's engine, which produced a robust 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque, providing enough power for a compact crossover, particularly beneficial at high altitudes.

A six-speed automatic transmission paired with both engines, sending power to the front wheels, although an optional AWD system with a locking center differential was available. The SX Turbo offered notably quick acceleration. Peak torque arrived at a low 1,450 rpm and stayed available until 3,500 rpm, giving an almost frenetic driving experience in Sport mode.

The Sportage rode smoothly, with MacPherson struts up front and an independent multi-link rear suspension. Large ventilated front discs and exclusive 19-inch wheels added to the driving experience, although issues like body roll and undulation rocking were present. The agile handling made it enjoyable up to a point, although it couldn't match the refinement of competitors like the Mazda CX-5 Turbo.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue initially featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine but switched to a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with a variable compression design in 2022. This VC-Turbo engine, making 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 lb-ft of torque from 2,800 to 4,000 rpm, aimed to balance performance and fuel efficiency.

Paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), the Rogue offered paddle shifters for a sportier feel. It could drive in Eco, Auto, and Sport modes, with AWD versions adding Off-Road and Snow modes. Remote start with climate pre-conditioning was another perk.

The VC-Turbo engine was an improvement, feeling responsive in urban settings despite a short peak torque duration. The CVT’s simulated gear changes could feel exaggerated, and the engine had a peculiar sound and vibration during hard acceleration. Fuel economy fell just short of EPA estimates in testing at 28.9 mpg against a rated 31 mpg.

The Rogue’s ride quality was enhanced by Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, although its steering lacked feedback. It managed local speed humps well but exhibited more body motion on uneven surfaces. Despite some tire noise and modest grip, it balanced ride compliance and body control effectively.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered remarkable interior space despite its compact exterior dimensions. SX Turbo trim provided high comfort levels with perforated leather upholstery, a driver’s seat with ten-way power adjustment, and an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. Both front seats were heated and ventilated, with a heated steering wheel included.

Rear passengers enjoyed generous legroom, air conditioning vents, and a USB charging port. It was easy to seat adults in the back, though care was needed to avoid bumping faces on the top frame of the wide rear doors.

Storage was ample within the cabin, but cargo capacity lagged behind rivals. With rear seats folded, cargo space expanded to 60.1 cubic feet, less than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Behind the second row, it offered 30.7 cubic feet, enough for four full-sized suitcases.

A standout feature was the smart liftgate technology, which opened the liftgate automatically when standing near it for a few seconds.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue was a fitting alternative to a midsize car, standing higher off the ground and offering superior visibility and AWD capability. The Platinum trim enhanced luxury with triple-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and power-adjustable, heated front seats with premium leather.

Front seats featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity design, enhancing comfort akin to an astronaut’s experience. Visibility was generally good, but the low contrast on the remote key fob markings was a notable flaw.

Rear seats were spacious but uncomfortable due to low seat height and peculiar diamond-shaped pleats. The back doors opened widely, facilitating easy loading or unloading of children. The rear area included climate controls, USB ports, and heated outboard seats.

The Rogue excelled in cargo space, offering up to 36.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The Divide-N-Hide feature added versatility, and underfloor storage enhanced functionality.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like UVO Link connected services, satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with Clari-Fi digital music restoration.

User experience was straightforward with physical knobs for volume and tuning, but the UVO Link system lagged in technological sophistication. It lacked a Wi-Fi hotspot, advanced voice recognition, and wireless smartphone mirroring, though it remained easy to use.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue featured an aging infotainment system, with an 8-inch standard or 9-inch available touchscreen display. The Platinum trim included the larger screen, Bluetooth, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, navigation, and a Bose premium audio system. Alexa Built-in was standard but proved unreliable during testing.

A 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display enhanced the driver's interface. Despite the voice recognition system’s struggles, these features worked well, with clear visibility even in inclement weather.

The 2022 Kia Sportage included a robust set of safety features across all trims, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beams, and a driver monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. It earned high marks from the IIHS and NHTSA, though only the SX Turbo achieved an Acceptable headlight rating required for an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue featured 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder, and Safety Shield 360 driver assistance technology, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Higher trims offered additional features like ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance.

ProPilot Assist proved effective on Los Angeles freeways, though initially difficult to activate. It provided clear feedback but could brake abruptly in traffic. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS but faltered in updated crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall rating.