The subcompact SUV class has become extremely crowded as consumers shy away from sedans. To be more competitive, Nissan has two relatively new options in the subcompact SUV class: the Nissan Kicks and the Nissan Rogue Sport. Both crossovers have their unique set features, but there are few reasons why you might want to pick the 2020 Kicks over the 2020 Rogue Sport.

The Kicks is more fun to drive 

Despite their sporty sounding names, neither the Kicks nor the Rogue Sport is what we call sporty. That said, the Kicks is the more fun option between the two. The Kicks has a gentle 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine linked to a continuously variable automatic transmission. This crossover boasts excellent fuel economy ratings and gets a combined 32 mpg. The Kicks also gets bonus points for its nimble handling. 

The Rogue Sport is also a fuel-efficient choice, but it ranks slightly below the Kicks with a combined 26 mpg. The Rogue Sport features a 141-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s also linked to a CVT. But as U.S. News notes, the Rogue Sport has one of the most sluggish engines in its class. Furthermore, the Kicks is the more comfortable ride compared to the Rogue Sport. It’s also worth mentioning that both crossovers can get pretty noisy at higher speeds, so keep in that in mind if you make frequent highway trips. 

RELATED: Nissan Rogue Sport Sales Are Drastically Lower Than the Regular Rogue

The Kicks has a nicer interior 

Both the Kicks and the Rogue Sport have inviting cabins that are nicely organized. Even so, the Kicks is more appealing here because of its trendier design completely with bright stitchings. The Kicks’ seats are also more comfortable than the Rogue Sports’. 

Some reviewers have complained that the Rogue Sports standard seats are unsupportive and can make longer trips uncomfortable. Experts at Consumer Reports recognized that taller drivers would find the Rogue Sports’ plastic center console annoying. The console infringes into the space on the right-hand side. 

RELATED: The 2020 Nissan Kicks Is a Way Better SUV Than You Thought

The Kicks is more affordable 

The Kicks’ low base price is another high point. This crossover starts at $18,870 and comes with many standard features and few optional amenities. Whether you choose to upgrade the Kicks or not, it provides a lot of value at an affordable price. 

As far as infotainment goes, the Kicks comes with a user-friendly, 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker stereo system. Other noteworthy tech features here are Siri Eyes Free and three USB ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available as options.

The Kicks also comes with many desirable advanced safety features that include forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and rear cross-traffic alert. There are plenty of other features you can upgrade with including driver drowsiness monitoring and a surround-view parking camera system. The Rogue Sport has a longer list of standard features compared to the Kicks. But the Rogue Sports’ starting price of $23,240 might not be worth it some.