The Nissan Rogue is among the top vehicle choices for families seeking a comfortable ride and ample cargo room. It’s an attractive mid-size SUV that offers great value, no matter what model you choose—providing a spacious and comfortable interior, plenty of attractive features standard with every model, and great fuel economy—all at an affordable price. But did you know there’s also a Rogue Sport model that you can choose? While both models are similar in many ways, they are fairly different from one another. Although their size difference is evident, a side-by-side comparison between the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport and the Rogue will help you determine which model is right for you.
Interior Features
The 2022 Rogue Sport may essentially be the Rogue’s smaller sibling, but it still fares well for its segment. This subcompact SUV seats up to five passengers, like the larger Rogue. However, the Rogue Sport only has 96 cu.ft. of passenger volume—versus the 105.4 cu.ft. that the Rogue has to offer. Unfortunately, if you and your passengers are used to the size of the Rogue, you’ll be a little disappointed with less room all around—including head room and hip room, but you and you and your front seat passenger will benefit from more leg room than what’s available in the Rogue.
As for the essentials you need to bring with you on the road, again, the Rogue Sport offers less cargo volume than the Rogue. It only provides 22.9 cu.ft. behind the back seat and a total of 61.1 cu.ft. with the seats folded down—versus 36.5 cu.ft. behind the second row and a total of 74.1 cu.ft. behind the front seats of the larger Rogue. Although, if you’re new to driving a Nissan Rogue and choose the Rogue Sport, you’ll be impressed by how much room you get compared to other models in the subcompact crossover class.
Size plays a key role in comfort, but what makes every driving experience even more enjoyable are the interior features and amenities. Both Rogue models feel refined yet comfortable and are available with similar features, including premium seating materials, power moonroofs, heated front seats, and heated steering wheels.
Since the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport was designed primarily with the front seat passengers in mind, it’s equipped with dual-zone climate control versus the tri-zone available with the Rogue. And, it has a basic moonroof versus the panoramic moonroof found in the Rogue, which stretches into the back seat. Overall, both models have plenty to offer inside their cabins. The superior option just depends on your preferences and who you want your Rogue to please.
Tech Features
When it comes to technology, Nissan doesn’t hold back. Standard with both the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport and the Rogue is a suite of six safety technologies to give you peace of mind on the road. This includes alerts and automatic braking features to warn you and help you prevent a collision when one seems imminent. Also available for each is Nissan’s ProPilot Assist suite, driver-assist features that act as a built-in co-pilot to take even more weight off of your shoulders while you drive.
Along with premium quality materials, the cabin of both of the Rogue models can be fully equipped to keep you connected and entertained wherever the road may take you. Enjoy premium Bose audio systems for superior quality sound. Meanwhile, smartphone integration (Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity) with navigation help you stay connected to the people and places that are important to you. Plus, with the availability of turning your Rogue Sport or Rogue into a WiFi hotspot, you can stay in touch with the world through news, social media, podcast streaming, and even email.
Since the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport is a smaller variation of its larger counterpart, it shouldn’t be a surprise that its infotainment center, which displays the navigation and connectivity information, is slightly smaller than that found in the Rogue. While the Rogue Sport displays a 7” touchscreen, the Rogue carries either an 8” or 9” touchscreen—depending on the trim. Ultimately, the infotainment displays aren’t that different between the two models, especially when you figure in the all-around size contrast between the two.
Performance & Capabilities
Neither Rogue models are as athletic as their appearance exhibits, especially not the 2022 Rogue Sport. They may not have much pep on the go, but they are certainly efficient. The 2022 Nissan Rogue received an upgraded engine, making it perkier and giving it better fuel economy than that of its previous engine. The Rogue Sport, unfortunately, still carries this older engine under its hood. Equipped with the 1.5-L Turbo 3-cylinder engine, the Rogue is estimated to get a combined 33 MPG with front-wheel drive and a combined 31 MPG with all-wheel drive.
The Rogue Sport’s 2.0-L 4-cylinder engine, meanwhile, is estimated to get a combined 28 MPG with front-wheel drive and a combined 27 MPG with all-wheel drive. Although the Rogue Sport may offer slightly less fuel economy than the Rogue, it still fares better than others in its class.
As for handling, since both Rogue models are available with all-wheel drive, you can drive confidently in any road conditions. For even more control of your ride, both Rogue models come with different drive modes to choose from and driving technologies like Intelligent Trace Control to enhance steering. Active Ride Control makes for a more comfortable ride by smoothing out the bumps as you go—all to deliver optimal performance every time.
The most significant difference between the performance and capabilities of the Rogue Sport and Rogue is that the Rogue Sport is not rated for towing. So if you’re looking for an SUV that can handle pulling a small trailer, you may want to look past the Rogue Sport. However, with a smaller SUV like the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport, you can maneuver more easily in and out of tight spaces, making parallel parking and crammed highway driving a breeze. If you can handle not being able to tow, the Rogue Sport is a viable option for you.
Which Model Is Right for You?
In general, both the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport and the Rogue are very similar to one another. Both SUVs have a stylish, sporty design, are equipped with premium interiors and features to please their passengers, and offer satisfying performance across the board. Sure, the Rogue Sport is smaller and lacks some of what the Rogue has to offer, but it is also beneficial in ways the Rogue is not. So, how do you choose which model is suitable for you?
The Nissan Rogue Sport is designed with the driver in mind, while its larger counterpart puts a greater focus on the rear passengers. Basically, if you’re looking for a safe, spacious, and efficient SUV for your family, the 2022 Nissan Rogue will likely be a better fit for you. However, if you’re looking for a model that can cater to your individual needs—more room for you in the front seat, streamlined maneuvering in the city, and just enough cargo room to suit your daily commutes or weekend getaways—the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport is right up your alley. Now that you know how these two similar models compare, which one will you choose?
