2020 Nissan Rogue vs Rogue Sport

The Nissan brand was founded in 1911 and produced its very first vehicle three years later. Nissan was introduced to the United States in 1959 through the import of the first compact pickup. While Nissan vehicles have always been sought after as import products, recent developments have made these vehicles widely available across the globe. With over 100 years of expertise in vehicle design and innovation, Nissan continues to be a tough contender in the automotive industry.

Over the years, Nissan has sought to diversify their products in order to appeal to a larger base of consumers. In doing so, a line of SUVs has emerged that caters to buyers with larger families or those who enjoy travel with spacious accommodations. Two of Nissan's top sellers in this category include the 2020 Nissan Rogue and the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport. Sporting similar names, these two SUVs offer various attributes that make them appeal to a different variety of clients.

While the 2020 Nissan Rogue sits in a class of contemporary SUVs, the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport comes in as a median between the Nissan Kicks and the compact Nissan Rogue SUV. Cargo capacity, pricing, horsepower, and passenger comfort are a few attributes that should be thoroughly considered before making an investment in either of these SUV options. Nissan put forth forward-thinking and modern design elements in the development of both these SUV models, but only one can excel over the other.

Size and Styling

Despite the similarities of the model name, the 2020 Nissan Rogue and 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport vary vastly in size and styling details. In comparison, the Nissan Rogue is more spacious and larger on the inside than the Nissan Rogue Sport. In fact, the Nissan Rogue offers 70 cubic feet of cargo space and maintains a length of 184.5 inches, no matter which trim level is selected. Passengers can enjoy nearly 60 inches of front shoulder room and 43 inches of leg room, while back seat riders get 56 inches of shoulder room and almost 40 inches of rear leg room.

Comparatively, the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport features a few interior elements, such as a sunroof and a moon roof, that can change up interior dimensions a bit. Overall, this SUV offers 56 inches of front shoulder room and 42 inches of front leg room, while maintaining 33 inches of leg room in the second row and 38 inches of head room in the second row in designs without a moonroof. In total, the 2020 Nissan Rogue sport boasts 61 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded down, falling approximately 10 inches short of its Nissan Rogue competitor.

When looking at these two SUVs from the outside they may seem similar, but the size of each is obviously an area of contrast. The 2020 Nissan Rogue is known as a compact SUV, while the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport is classified as a subcompact SUV. This terminology is indicative of their relative size and capacity. Though identical in width, these two vehicles differ in length by approximately one foot. However, they sport similar designs making them appear comparable in safety considerations, such as blind spot location and size.

Drivability

Powertrain choices will be limited for both the 2020 Nissan Rogue and the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport. So, if you are a potential buyer who is looking for multiple engine options that are rooted in power, it is unlikely that either one of these models will fulfill your SUV requirements. Each of these SUVs offers just one engine option, as listed:

2020 Nissan Rogue

-2.5L I-4 Engine
-170 horsepower
-175 lb.-ft torque generation
-26 city mpg/33 highway mpg fuel efficiency

2020 Nissan Rogue Sport

Using these statistics to compare the 2020 Nissan Rogue against the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport, consumers can see that each option maintains comparable fuel efficiency. However, the Nissan Rogue is able to produce more power with a larger engine that enhances its capability and towing power. Considering their comparative size, the Nissan Rogue Sport falls short as a subcompact SUV regarding both fuel efficiency and power.

Practicality is the strong point of both these SUV options. Performance is not a strong suite of either, so buyers who are looking for a vehicle that is fun to drive might want to consider other options. Yet, if you are looking for a comfortable ride with minimal interior noise and great handling, either the 2020 Nissan Rogue or the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport would be a viable option.

Comfort, Options and Performance

Whether your main activity is commuting to work, traveling, or hauling kids around, the overall comfort of a vehicle makes a big difference in driver preference. A vehicle that is rigid on the inside most likely incorporates the use of more rigid components underneath the hood, too. With the 2020 Nissan Rogue and 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport, buyers do not have to worry about discomfort, space or cheap materials that will wear down quickly. In fact, these vehicles feature elements that attempt to add comfort to the driving experience.

Neither the Nissan Rogue or the Nissan Rogue Sport is necessarily viewed as a luxury SUV, but they both incorporate the use of some high-end features and contemporary design that make them stand out. Flat bottom steering wheels make entering and exiting the driver's seat more convenient, as well as reduce wear and tear on the bottom from constant rubbing. Comfortably seating up to four adults, both vehicles feature the same dashboard and accent details in the interior.

You can expect the technology of the 2020 Nissan Rogue and 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport to mimic each other. While many of the tech features of these SUVs are rooted in safety mechanisms, the interior safety attributes that they entail are similar. An auto-dimming mirror, retractable cargo cover and illuminated kick plates are standard on all models.

Many of the options for the 2020 Nissan Rogue and 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport are detailed in the various trim level selections that are offered. Each of these models offers three trim levels that vary in the interior features, exterior accents and drivetrain options that are offered.

2020 Nissan Rogue

• S: Available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Offers a 2-speed CVT and choice from 5 exterior colors.
• SV: Similar to the "S" trim level with an increase to 9 exterior trim colors and a Sun & Sound Touring Package upgrade.
• SL: Top of the line trim with all the bells and whistles, including a Premium Package option.

2020 Nissan Rogue Sport

• S: Features Nissan Safety Shield 360 technology, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a rear door alert mechanism.
• SV: Uses Nissan Intelligent Key, a push to start ignition button, and Dual Zone Auto Temperature controls.
• SL: Equipped with ProPilot Assist, a remote start system and intelligent climate

Safety

There is no substitute for avid safety habits and equipment inclusion. Modern vehicles have moved toward a type of technological safety adherence, which serves the public well. Nissan has jumped on that opportunity an introduce a new safety suite that is standard on all vehicles, called Nissan Safety Shield 360. This suite is comprised of a variety of safety-enhancing features that prevent collisions, reduce impact, and uses sensors and warnings to prevent damage to vehicles and passengers, alike.

Typically, the Nissan Safety Shield 360 is comprised of several different safety-based systems that work together to prevent accidents or their severity. These include automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warnings, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic detection, and automatic high beams. Rear automatic braking is also included as a standard feature on the 2020 Nissan Rogue, but not the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport.

In addition to this safety suite, a semi-autonomous driving system called ProPilot Assist also aides in accelerating, braking, and steering. Both the Nissan Rogue and the Nissan Rogue Sport include features within this system that make driving safer when drivers are distracted. While there is no substitute for safe driving, Nissan tries their best to fill in when drivers otherwise cannot.

Based on these safety features, the build of each of these models, and the prevalence of their integrated airbags, both the 2020 Nissan Rogue and the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport have perform well in safety and crash test ratings in recent years. Based on the upgrades that are available for the Sport model, this particular SUV would probably rank higher than its standard Rogue counterpart.

Which Model to Choose?

Sometimes, choosing between vehicles is an easy task. There is a clean line between luxury and standard, practical and performance, and pricing aspects. However, the competition between the 2020 Nissan Rogue and the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport is not as definitive. These two vehicles maintain the same dynamics through much of their design and innovation. Where one falls short, the other comes in strong, making the declaration of a winner that much more difficult.

Based on the name, smaller size and bold stature, the Nissan Rogue Sport could be considered a spicier option for buyers. It includes attributes that are a bit more athletic and a smaller stance that gives it a more compact appearance. Granted, buyers who elect to purchase this vehicle over the Nissan Rogue will find that its fuel economy is in the latter part of the stats for similar vehicles. Yet, the design concepts that it incorporates give it a more authentic and modern design than the Nissan Rogue can offer.

For buyers who are looking for a new family car or larger commuting vehicle, the 2020 Nissan Rogue will offer all the space you need in a slightly larger layout. Given its size, the fuel economy of the Rogue is average, if not a bit above, other SUV options. This vehicle would be optimal for driving on city streets or highways, but it is size might become more of an issue in tight situations and small parking spots.

Generally speaking, we would aim the bar at the 2020 Nissan Rogue at being a better value than the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport. Though they compete in similar classes, the overall size, fuel economy and upscale interior materials of the Nissan Rogue put it above the Sport model in terms of an overall valuation. Road trip ready, this 2020 Nissan Rogue is a tough errand warrior that can handle anything you throw at it. This is why customers find so much joy in this compact SUV option.