2020 Nissan Rogue Sport Review

　　

2020 Nissan Rogue Sport Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The Nissan Rogue has been one of the most popular small SUVs on the market, so it came as no surprise when Nissan decided to capitalize on the nameplate with the spinoff Rogue Sport a few years ago. Unfortunately, the Rogue Sport fails to live up to the expectations set by the Rogue.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$135/mo  for Rogue Sport S

　　Rogue Sport S

　　S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $23,430 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $24,780 MSRPSV 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $24,900 MSRPSV 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $26,250 MSRPSL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $28,600 MSRPSL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $29,950 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　A few standout aspects prevent the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport from being a non-starter. For one, it's pretty practical. There's good headroom in the back for adults, and legroom surpasses what some other extra-small SUVs offer. Cargo space with the rear seats up or folded is similarly generous and borders on class-leading. The Rogue Sport also emphasizes safety: Every trim level comes standard with Nissan's Safety Shield 360 suite of advanced driver aids.

　　While vehicles at this price point naturally have to compromise in some aspects, the Rogue Sport makes more concessions than others. Ride comfort is unduly harsh at city speeds, and the not-so-supportive front seats make long trips a chore. Acceleration is another concern. While the engine is responsive at low speeds, you'll have to plan ahead when you want to merge onto the highway or make a lane change.

　　If space is a priority for your next purchase, the Nissan Rogue Sport might win you over. But those willing to give up some utility might find a more suitable rival. We're impressed by the Hyundai Kona's extensive list of features and the Kia Soul's funky, fun-to-drive personality. The Honda HR-V is almost as spacious as the Rogue but feels a little more upscale. Finally, Nissan's own Kicks is another alternative. It costs less and its interior is more premium-looking.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Rogue Sport drive? The Rogue Sport isn't sporty, but it is competent and stable when guided through corners. The steering is vague and lifeless, but otherwise this SUV is easy to maneuver in traffic and tight parking lots. The brakes are well tuned and allow for smooth stops.

　　Alas, the Rogue Sport falters in the "need for speed" department. It's one of the slowest choices available in the subcompact SUV class. In our testing, 0-60 mph acceleration took a lethargic 10.2 seconds. That's about what you get from a Toyota Prius and means that passing on the highway takes careful planning.

　　

Comfort

6.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Rogue Sport? The Rogue Sport is below average in terms of comfort. On the positive side, we appreciate the availability of dual-zone automatic climate control and rear air vents. Its optional heated steering wheel is a rare offering in this class too.

　　Otherwise, we're let down by the Rogue Sport's cabin and road manners. The stiff suspension tuning results in a rough ride over most city streets, though the ride on the highway is more acceptable. Seat comfort and support are also lacking. Wind and road noise is reasonably suppressed, but engine noise is prominent while accelerating.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Rogue Sport offers spacious seating. Headroom is generous all around, and though legroom is naturally limited given the vehicle's small size, four adults should fit with ease. Visibility out the front and side is also good thanks to the tall windows and narrow roof pillars.

　　The seating position is fairly natural, and only tall drivers will notice the wheel is positioned a bit low. Regardless of seating position, the dashboard controls seem a little far away. They are clearly labeled, however, and only the buttons on the steering wheel feel small. The tall doors and a low step-over height make it easy to get in and out of both rows.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The Rogue Sport's standard driver safety aids, which include blind-spot monitoring, automatic front and rear emergency braking, and lane departure warning, help its score quite a bit. Those features, along with the optional adaptive cruise control and 360-degree parking camera system, are rare at this price point. It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, now standard in this class, along with two USB ports.

　　Audio quality and center-screen resolution are weak links. The SL's six-speaker Bose audio system distorts sound at upper volumes, though the subwoofer delivers good bass. The touchscreen isn't exactly small but can seem so because it's located far away from the driver. Resolution is low, which makes seeing displayed information more difficult.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The Rogue Sport has up to 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, a solid figure. Fold the seats down and you've got one of the biggest cargo areas in the extra-small SUV class. In-cabin storage for small items is less stellar. Two cupholders, a medium-size center console, and long but skinny door pockets are average for the class. The rear door pockets are a little too small and struggle to hold a standard water bottle.

　　There are lower anchor points for installing child safety seats in the rear outboard seating positions. Forward-facing seats should fit fine, but you'll have to slide the front seats up some for rearward-facing car seats.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Rogue Sport is underpowered and there's no real upside for fuel economy. We tested a front-wheel-drive Rogue Sport, which the EPA estimates gets 28 mpg combined (25 city/32 highway). With all-wheel drive, that drops to 27 mpg combined (24 city/30 highway). Either way this is a little below average for this class.

　　

Value

6.5/10

　　Is the Rogue Sport a good value? The value of the Rogue Sport varies. On the entry-level end, it's competitively priced, especially when you consider the ample number of standard advanced driving aids. However, once you start looking at upper trims or add all-wheel drive, it quickly ends up being more expensive than its primary rivals. Here the Rogue Sport feels less like a bargain because of its interior, which is kitted out in cheap-looking materials.

　　Warranty coverage is typical. Bumper-to-bumper coverage and roadside assistance are offered for three years/36,000 miles. The powertrain warranty is good for five years/60,000 miles.

　　

Wildcard

6.0/10

　　We could forgive the Rogue Sport's subpar acceleration if it countered with a big fuel economy advantage or some other "surprise and delight" upside. The styling is fairly sleek, but there's really nothing here that will get you excited about owning a Rogue Sport.

　　

Which Rogue Sport does zzdcar recommend?

The midlevel SV trim is the sweet spot in the Rogue Sport lineup. It costs just a bit more than the base S and adds nice quality-of-life upgrades such as keyless entry, dual-zone climate control and an upgraded audio system. Should you want additional features, the SV also opens the door to a pair of reasonably priced option packages.

　　

2020 Nissan Rogue Sport models

The 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport is available in three trim levels: S, SV and SL. The S trim is pretty basic, but the SV and the SL get some desirable upgrades. All Rogue Sport trims come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (141 horsepower, 147 lb-ft of torque) and a continuously variable automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is optional on all trims.

　　Standard feature highlights for the S include 16-inch steel wheels, a height-adjustable driver's seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats that slide and recline, a 7-inch touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Also included are a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning and intervention, rear automatic braking, and forward collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian detection.

　　The Rogue Sport's SV trim adds upgrades such as 17-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, roof rails, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver's seat and a six-speaker audio system.

　　Two key options packages are available for the SV. The All-Weather package adds foglights, remote engine start, heated front seats, and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Technology package includes those amenities, plus driver-seat memory settings, cloth/faux leather upholstery, and Nissan's ProPilot Assist driving aids, which essentially consist of adaptive cruise control and lane-centering.

　　The top-of-the-line SL trim includes nearly all of the above plus 19-inch wheels, leather upholstery, a surround-view camera system, NissanConnect emergency communications and a navigation system. An SL Premium package tops off the Rogue Sport with LED headlights, a sunroof, a power-adjustable passenger seat and an eight-speaker Bose audio system.

　　

2020 Rogue Sport Highlights

Trim: SSVSLS

　　

Base MSRP	$23,430
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$135/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	22.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles