2022 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured a design that some might describe as frog-like, with its tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights. Kia, however, marketed the Sportage’s styling as “Euro-focused.” This two-row crossover SUV had a relatively short wheelbase and short overhangs, making it ideal for city driving. The headlights carried over from the 2020 model, and the Sportage could be equipped with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels. Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen display served as a stylish centerpiece, flanked by air vents and physical buttons for tuning and volume. The interior, while not the most tech-forward, was still a pleasant place to sit.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue continued its transformation from slightly cute to a more mature look, a change that began with the 2021 model. The Rogue shared several exterior design features with other current-generation Nissan vehicles, including the V-motion grille and multi-level LED headlights. The SL and Platinum trims came with LED fog lamps, and the vehicle featured active grille shutters and underbody covers to improve airflow. The floating roof design and slightly bulging liftgate added to its sleek appearance. Inside, the Rogue boasted a layered dash with distinct horizontal layers, an electronic gear selector lever, and ample storage space, including a large center console and a wireless charging pad. The 9-inch center infotainment display and the Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats added to the vehicle’s sophisticated and comfortable interior.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was available in LX, EX, or SX Turbo trims with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, delivering 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All Sportage models had a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the FWD Sportage with the 2.4-liter engine was 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while the AWD version achieved 21/25/23. The turbocharged models had slightly lower fuel economy figures. The Sportage’s McPherson-strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension provided a smooth ride, though the steering and tire grip left something to be desired.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a significant performance boost with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, which produced 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This was an 11 percent increase in horsepower and a 24 percent increase in torque compared to the 2021 model’s 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine. The new engine also offered impressive fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 30 mpg city, 37 highway, and 33 combined. The Rogue’s automatic transmission was a CVT with wider gear ratios, providing better acceleration and responsiveness. The chassis and suspension handled the new engine’s power well, delivering a smooth and controlled ride with minimal body roll. The electric power-assisted steering had good feel, and the 35.4-foot turning diameter was tight.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment but offered good interior space for passengers. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and an 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat, both heated and ventilated. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior space and storage options. The front cabin had numerous storage compartments, including bottle holders, cupholders, a glove compartment, a center console bin, and more. Rear-seat passengers had storage options in the doors, seatbacks, and center armrest, along with USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports. The second-row seat was a 60/40 split reclining bench. The Rogue offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, depending on configuration, and 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard equipment. Most trims also included Kia’s UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology was user-friendly, with logical menus, physical buttons, and handy knobs.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue carried over the technology upgrades from the 2021 model, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display on upper trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on higher trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan’s hands-on driver-assist technology, was available and integrated with the navigation system on models with ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link. This system used navigation data to adjust speed proactively. Nissan’s Intelligent Key allowed for easy access to both front and rear doors.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was strong in safety, with standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control. The Sportage received Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS and performed well in NHTSA crash tests.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of safety technologies across all trims. Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Rogue also had ten supplemental airbags and extended crumple zones. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control for advanced driver assistance. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and the 2021 model received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.