The Nissan Rogue continues to be one of the best-selling crossovers in the United States. The vehicle's popularity in the compact SUV segment led Nissan to expand the Rogue lineup to the subcompact territory with the Rogue Sport. While both vehicles belong to the Rogue family, there are stark differences between the two. So, which one is the better option? See what we think of the vehicles below.
See a side-by-side comparison of the Nissan Rogue & the Nissan Rogue Sport »
What the Rogue Sport Gets Right
The Rogue Sport is the smaller, more affordable offering in the Rogue family. The subcompact crossover starts at $23,085, including destination. The larger Rogue is $2,690 more with a starting price of $25,775. With the extra funds, you can get into the mid-level Rogue Sport SV trim and still have $1,000 to put away for a rainy day.
Consumers living in cities will immediately be drawn toward the Rogue Sport, as it's the easier vehicle to drive in urban locations. The Rogue Sport is 12.1 inches shorter in length and 5.5 inches shorter in height, which makes it the obvious choice for darting around town in.
Like its name implies, the Rogue Sport is sportier to drive than the larger, more comfortable Rogue. Nissan tuned the Rogue Sport to feel tighter and more composed around corners than its larger sibling.
What the Rogue Gets Right
Because of the Rogue's larger body, it has more interior space than the Rogue Sport. The compact SUV offers consumers with 9.8 more cubic feet of passenger volume. This means the Rogue has more front head room, front leg room, rear leg room, front hip room, rear hip room, and rear shoulder room. Cargo capacity is also in the Rouge's favor, as it can hold a maximum of 70 cubic feet of cargo, which is 7.7 more than the Rogue Sport.
In addition to being the more powerful vehicle of the two, the Rogue is also the more fuel-efficient option. The Rogue's four-cylinder engine makes 170 horsepower, while the Rogue Sport's is rated at 141 hp. The front-whee-drive Rogue is rated by the EPA to get up to 26 miles per gallon city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 combined. The FWD Rogue Sport follows closely behind with an EPA rating of 25/32/28 mpg (city/highway/combined).
Drivers that prioritize safety will want to go with the Rogue. The compact SUV was named one of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) Top Safety Picks. The Rogue Sport has not gone through the IIHS' crash tests yet.
Don't Live in a City?
For city dwellers, the Rogue Sport is the obvious choice. It's smaller, which makes it easier to drive. Around town, the subcompact crossover's stiff ride isn't a problem and its underpowered four-cylinder isn't too noticeable. For everyone else, the Rogue is the better option.
The Verdict: Nissan Rogue
With its more spacious interior, expansive cargo area, and comfortable ride, the Nissan Rogue will appeal to more drivers. It's more versatile than the Rogue Sport and safer, too, which are two major reasons why consumers favor SUVs and crossovers these days.
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