Nissan has two popular SUVs in their lineup. The Nissan Rogue Sport is one of them and the other is its sister, the Rogue. The two offer much of the same features and share a lot of the same performance points.

However, they differ in one major way. That difference makes one the better choice to buy over the other. US News and World Report reviewed the Rogue Sport and showed just what makes it inferior to the regular Rogue and to other competitors. 

What does the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport have to offer?

The Rogue Sports provide a nice quiet ride with ample room for front passengers. You’ll find a simple layout inside with nothing too complicated to get in the way. It runs on a four-cylinder engine that puts out 141 hp.

Gas mileage is impressive with an EPA rating of 32 mpg on the highway. City driving is average with 25 mpg. Of course, if you have the all-wheel drive option, you’ll only see 30 mpg on the highway, which is actually pretty good for an SUV.

Cargo space is a cut above the rest, outshining some of its competitors at 22.9 cubic feet behind the back seats. When you lay the rear seats down, you gain a space that’s 61 cubic feet. With the available Divide-N-Hide feature, you can store more items below in a trunk-like area, located at the back of the SUV.

Nissan sets its utility vehicle apart with all the features it provides, especially at the base level. You get the standard package of their NissanConnect infotainment system with hands-free texting, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and, of course, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Along with those they also offer their Advanced Drive-assist system, satellite radio, and voice recognition to name just a few. 

What can the Nissan Rogue Sport improve on?

While it’s a fairly decent engine, it’s pretty weak when it comes to powering the Rogue Sport. Nissan could do well with a heftier motor to move this subcompact SUV down the road. It would also improve acceleration and passing on the highway, so the Rogue doesn’t feel like it’s straining to move faster. 

The interior isn’t much to write home about either. It’s pretty average, made with cheaper materials, which falls short of its competitors who provide a much nicer cabin space.

Seat comfort is passable, but the rear seats don’t provide as much legroom as one would hope. Traveling would strain the patience of anyone riding in the back.  

Why is the regular Rogue so much better?

The regular Rogue, the Sport’s sister SUV, is only about a foot longer, but overall, it has much of the same things that the Sports offers. The key difference you see with the two has to do with the build quality.

Nissan puts a lot of care and effort into making the traditional Rogue, especially the interior materials. It’s far more comfortable and luxurious than the Sport at any of its trim levels.

Seats are more supportive for the driver and all passengers, making traveling long distances better to deal with. You don’t gain any more cargo space than what the Sports has, but you still gain a better ride than what its sister SUV can possibly offer. 

Overall, the Rogue Sports SUV doesn’t offer much value for the money you would spend on a sport utility vehicle. A base package would be fine with all the standard features you get for only $23,000. The extras with the higher trims aren’t worth the higher price tags. Put simply, the traditional Rogue offers higher build-quality and will give you more for your dollar.