The 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport is getting some much-needed updates. This will enable Nissan’s compact crossover to run toe-to-toe with the Mazda CX-3, Toyota C-HR, Subaru Crosstrek, Honda HR-V, and the Hyundai Kona.
The Nissan Rogue Sport is an interesting choice. It slots between the larger Rogue and the diminutive Kicks. The Rouge Sport offers a bit more room than the Kicks, but it does come at a price. Here are among the biggest changes for Nissan’s 2020 Rogue Sport.
The new Nissan Rogue Sport has a new face
The most obvious changes are the slimmer and more aggressive headlights with LED daytime running lights, the signature V-motion grille with a new front bumper, a sculpted hood, and new 19-inch alloy wheels. Out in the back, the new Rogue Sport gets new rear taillights. The result of all this is a sharper and sportier look.
You can also get the new Rogue sport in two new paint colors: Monarch Orange Metallic and Nitro Lime Metallic.
The interior gets more tech
The interior design in the new Nissan Rogue Sport is carried over from the outgoing model. This means the same 7-inch touchscreen display with satellite radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, hands-free text messaging, and two USB ports. Optional equipment includes navigation, voice recognition, HD radio, and a Bose premium audio system with nine speakers.
New standard safety features
With the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport, you also get a comprehensive array of standard safety features. All trim models now get Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard and come with high beam assist, rear cross traffic alert, radar-based blind spot warning system, rear automatic braking, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning.
As an added safety bonus, Nissan also threw in the Rear Door Alert system. It monitors the back seat as the vehicle is parked. The system utilizes the horn and sensors in the rear doors. Upon entering the vehicle, the system displays a message in the center screen in reminding you to check the back seat.
Want more? The 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport is available with Nissan’s ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving technology.
Fuel-efficient motor
The 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport retains the familiar 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the 2019 model. It produces 141-horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. The motor is connected to a continuously variable transmission or CVT. However, the CVT in the Rogue Sport is programmed to behave like a conventional automatic to deliver a sporty driving feel. Front-wheel drive is standard while all-wheel drive is optional for all trim models of the new Rogue Sport.
And while this combination of a naturally-aspirated four-banger and CVT transmission is not the perkiest or most responsive, it does manage to deliver an EPA-estimated 25/32 mpg. The all-wheel-drive Rogue Sport can only muster 24/30 mpg.
The new Nissan Rogue Sport is as practical as ever
Our only problem with the Nissan Rogue Sport is the higher base price. But if you think about it, the Rogue Sport is more practical than the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3, even though both competitors start at a lower base price. However, the Nissan Rogue Sport offers the most cargo room in the convoluted land of crossover SUVs. You get 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space (648-liters) with the rear seats in place. If you need to carry larger and longer items, folding the rear seats will reveal 61.1 cubic feet (1,730-liters) of cargo room.
Of course, you still get the Divide-N-Hide cargo system that offers cubby holes under the load floor.
Sounds good? The 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport arrives at dealerships in fall 2019. Nissan is yet to announce pricing on the refreshed Rogue Sport, but we figure prices starting at around $23,000.
