2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 Nissan Rogue continued to build on its reputation as a top seller in the compact crossover segment. Its design, which had matured significantly since its earlier iterations, featured a more sophisticated and grown-up look. The exterior boasted a V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a sleek floating roof design. Inside, the Rogue offered a layered dash with contrasting colors and surfaces, an electronic gear selector, and a spacious center console. The Zero Gravity front seats provided comfort, while the second row offered ample legroom. The fit and finish were exemplary, especially in the Platinum model.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid embraced a bold and radical design, with a front end featuring angular LED headlights and distinctive "boomerang" LED daytime running lights. The Sportage Hybrid's interior was centered around a large optional infotainment display, with a minimalist and elegant design. The use of SynTex artificial leather was a notable choice, although it felt somewhat cheap. The interior also featured gloss black plastic trim, which, while initially attractive, quickly accumulated fingerprints and glare. Overall, the Sportage Hybrid's design was both striking and functional.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue's performance was enhanced by its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine offered a significant improvement over the previous model, with an 11% increase in horsepower and 24% more torque. The Rogue's fuel economy was impressive, achieving 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined. The new CVT transmission provided smooth acceleration and responsive handling, while the chassis and suspension delivered a controlled ride with minimal body roll.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid, on the other hand, featured a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain offered robust acceleration and smooth transitions between electric and gasoline power. The Sportage Hybrid's six-speed automatic transmission provided quick and smooth shifts, contributing to a quiet and comfortable ride. While not a driver's car, the Sportage Hybrid offered a pleasant driving experience, with a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior space and storage options. The front cabin featured numerous storage compartments, including bottle holders, cupholders, and a center console bin. Rear-seat passengers had access to storage in the doors and seatbacks, along with USB ports for device charging. The Rogue's cargo area offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid, while slightly less spacious than its non-hybrid counterpart, remained competitive in its segment. It offered more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids, with best-in-class rear-seat legroom. The dual-level cargo floor provided flexibility, with 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.7 cubic feet with them folded. The Sportage Hybrid's center console featured a rotary shift knob, USB ports, and clever cupholders for added convenience.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue's technology suite included a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on upper trims. ProPilot Assist, a hands-on driver-assist system, was available, offering features like adaptive cruise control and steering assist.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's standard infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a panoramic display combining the infotainment screen with a digital instrument cluster. The Sportage Hybrid also included touch controls for audio and climate settings, along with multiple USB-C ports and an optional Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue came equipped with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. ProPilot Assist enhanced these features, offering Level 2 advanced driver-assist capabilities. The Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with the 2021 model earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's safety features included forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system. While crash-test ratings were not available at the time, the Sportage Hybrid offered advanced safety technologies like Remote Smart Parking Assist and a blind-spot view camera.