The compact SUV market continues to evolve, with automakers constantly pushing the envelope in terms of design, performance, and technology. Two standout models in this highly competitive segment are the 2023 Nissan Rogue and Kia Sportage. Both vehicles have earned their stripes as popular choices among buyers, thanks to their impressive blend of style, practicality, and performance.
In this article, we take a deep dive into the similarities and differences between these two top contenders, examining various aspects of their design, performance, and features to help you make an informed decision on which compact SUV is right for you.
Exterior Design
The 2023 Nissan Rogue and Kia Sportage both bring their unique design aesthetics to the table. The Nissan Rogue showcases a bold, stylish look with sharp lines and an aggressive front fascia. Its V-Motion grille, sleek LED headlights, and floating roof design contribute to a modern appearance that is sure to turn heads.
On the other hand, the Kia Sportage features a more unconventional design, incorporating a rounded, organic shape with its signature tiger-nose grille, slim LED headlights, and C-pillar design. This gives the Sportage a distinctive character that sets it apart from other compact SUVs on the market.
Interior Design
Inside, both the 2023 Nissan Rogue and Kia Sportage boast comfortable, well-appointed cabins. The Rogue’s interior design leans towards minimalism with a clean layout, high-quality materials, and a user-friendly infotainment system. The available two-tone color schemes and ambient lighting further enhance the overall experience.
The Sportage, in contrast, opts for a more futuristic design, featuring a curved digital display, a shift-by-wire gear selector, and an integrated center console. This design gives the Sportage a high-tech feel, while still offering practicality and ease of use.
Seating
Both the Rogue and Sportage provide seating for up to five passengers. The Nissan Rogue offers Zero Gravity seats, which are designed to provide enhanced comfort and support on long drives. These seats, combined with the Rogue’s spacious cabin, make for a comfortable and enjoyable ride for all passengers.
The Kia Sportage also offers comfortable seating, with well-bolstered seats and plenty of head and legroom for passengers. The available ventilated front seats and heated rear seats add an extra layer of luxury to the Sportage’s cabin.
Storage
In terms of cargo space, the 2023 Nissan Rogue has an edge over the Kia Sportage. The Rogue offers a generous 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, which expands to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Rogue also features a unique Divide-N-Hide cargo system, allowing for versatile storage solutions.
The Sportage, while still offering a practical amount of storage space, lags slightly behind the Rogue. It provides 30.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
Performance
The 2023 Nissan Rogue comes standard with a 2.5-liter inline-four engine that delivers 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. The Rogue’s engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), providing a smooth and efficient driving experience.
The Kia Sportage, on the other hand, offers two engine options: a 2.5-liter inline-four engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four engine with 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing responsive acceleration and precise shifting.
Fuel Efficiency
When it comes to fuel efficiency, both the 2023 Nissan Rogue and Kia Sportage perform admirably. The Rogue, with its standard 2.5-liter engine, offers an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, making it a sensible choice for those who prioritize efficiency.
The base engine in the Kia Sportage, the 2.5-liter inline-four, delivers a respectable 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. If you opt for the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, fuel efficiency drops slightly to 25 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Overall, the Rogue has a slight advantage in fuel economy, but both vehicles are competitive in this regard.
Safety
Safety is a top priority for both the Nissan Rogue and Kia Sportage. The 2023 Rogue comes standard with Nissan’s Safety Shield 360, which includes features such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and high beam assist.
The Kia Sportage also offers a comprehensive suite of safety features through its Kia Drive Wise technology. Standard features include forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning, and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist.
Both vehicles have received high safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), making either choice a reliable option for safety-conscious buyers.
Trim Levels
The 2023 Nissan Rogue is available in four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. Each trim offers a range of standard and available features, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a panoramic sunroof, a Bose premium audio system, and ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link.
The Kia Sportage comes in three trim levels: LX, EX, and SX. Each trim offers its own set of features and options, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Harman Kardon premium audio system, wireless phone charging, and a panoramic sunroof.
Both vehicles provide buyers with a variety of choices to suit their individual needs and preferences.
Pricing
Pricing for the 2023 Nissan Rogue starts at $26,050 for the base S trim and goes up to $36,150 for the range-topping Platinum trim. With its competitive pricing and array of standard features, the Rogue offers great value for buyers in the compact SUV segment.
The Kia Sportage has a starting price of $25,990 for the base LX trim, with the top-of-the-line SX trim coming in at $36,490. The Sportage’s pricing is comparable to the Rogue, making it a strong contender in terms of value for money.
Key Differences
While both the 2023 Nissan Rogue and Kia Sportage are strong contenders in the compact SUV market, they have several key differences that may influence buyers’ decisions. In this section, we will highlight the most significant distinctions between these two vehicles.
Interior Design:
The Rogue’s interior leans towards minimalism, with a clean layout and high-quality materials. In contrast, the Sportage opts for a futuristic approach, with a curved digital display and a shift-by-wire gear selector.
Cargo Space:
The Rogue offers more cargo space than the Sportage, with 36.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, compared to the Sportage’s 30.8 cubic feet and 62.8 cubic feet, respectively.
Engine Options:
The Rogue comes with a single engine option, a 2.5-liter inline-four engine producing 181 horsepower. The Sportage, on the other hand, offers two engine choices: a 2.5-liter inline-four with 187 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four with 180 horsepower.
Final Thoughts:
In the end, both the 2023 Nissan Rogue and Kia Sportage demonstrate why they are top choices in the compact SUV segment. They offer a wide range of features, performance capabilities, and design elements that cater to the diverse needs and preferences of buyers.
While the Rogue may appeal to those who prioritize cargo space, fuel efficiency, and a minimalist interior, the Sportage stands out with its distinctive design, engine options, and futuristic cabin. Ultimately, the best way to determine which vehicle suits your lifestyle and requirements is to take them for a test drive, giving you firsthand experience of the unique qualities each model has to offer.
Features Breakdown
To provide a clear and concise summary of the key aspects of the 2023 Nissan Rogue and Kia Sportage, we have compiled a features breakdown for each vehicle. This breakdown offers a quick glance at the main characteristics, allowing for easy comparison between the two compact SUVs.
2023 Nissan Rogue:
- Exterior Design:
- Bold, aggressive styling
- V-Motion grille
- Sleek LED headlights
- Floating roof design
- Interior Design:
- Minimalist and clean layout
- High-quality materials
- User-friendly infotainment system
- Available two-tone color schemes and ambient lighting
- Seating:
- Comfortable Zero Gravity seats
- Spacious cabin
- Seating for up to five passengers
- Storage:
- 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind rear seats
- 74.1 cubic feet with rear seats folded down
- Divide-N-Hide cargo system for versatile storage solutions
- Performance:
- 2.5-liter inline-four engine with 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque
- Continuously variable transmission (CVT)
- Fuel Efficiency:
- EPA-estimated 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway
- Safety:
- Nissan Safety Shield 360
- High safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA
- Trim Levels:
- S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims available
- Range of standard and available features across trims
- Pricing:
- Starting price of $26,050 for the base S trim
- Range-topping Platinum trim priced at $36,150
2023 Kia Sportage:
- Exterior Design:
- Rounded, organic shape
- Signature tiger-nose grille
- Slim LED headlights
- Distinctive C-pillar design
- Interior Design:
- Futuristic, high-tech feel
- Curved digital display
- Shift-by-wire gear selector
- Integrated center console
- Seating:
- Comfortable, well-bolstered seats
- Seating for up to five passengers
- Available ventilated front seats and heated rear seats
- Storage:
- 30.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind rear seats
- 62.8 cubic feet with rear seats folded down
- Performance:
- 2.5-liter inline-four engine with 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque
- Turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four engine with 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
- Fuel Efficiency:
- EPA-estimated 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway for the base engine
- EPA-estimated 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway for the turbocharged engine
- Safety:
- Kia Drive Wise safety technology
- High safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA
- Trim Levels:
- LX, EX, and SX trims available
- Range of standard and available features across trims
- Pricing:
- Starting price of $25,990 for the base LX trim
- Range-topping SX trim priced at $36,490
