Under their respective hoods, you’ll find a standard 2.5L engine in the Sorento and a 1.5L motor in the Rogue. These powertrains are built to upgrade your drive with a peppy amount of power and acceleration.

If you’re looking to take your drive to the next level, though, turn to the 2023 Kia Sorento. It also offers a more powerful 2.5L Turbo engine option with an impressive 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque.

The Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, only has one motor to offer and it tops out at 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. Therefore, you may notice a difference in the way these two SUVs perform.

At its most powerful, the 2023 Rogue has a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds. While that’s sufficient to tow a small aluminum or fiberglass boat or a utility trailer, it will limit your opportunities.

If you have a couple of jet skis, a lightweight travel trailer, or a utility trailer with a few snowmobiles on board, you’ll want to choose the 2023 Sorento and its available 3,500-pound towing capacity. Two thousand pounds of additional pulling power can make a difference in how you get away—and what you take along with you.

With seating for up to seven, the 2023 Kia Sorento allows you to bring along a large adventure crew for the ride. With the Rogue, some people may have to stay behind, since it only offers seating for up to five.

Your rear-seat passengers may also find the Sorento’s 41.7 inches of rear legroom preferable to the 38.5 inches in the Rogue—a difference of over three inches!

In addition to space, you need an SUV that’s built to keep you engaged in your drive. Both models come standard with an 8-inch touchscreen display, which you can upgrade to a 10.25-inch display in the Sorento. You may have a harder time viewing your entertainment selection in the Rogue since it maxes out with a 9-inch screen.

The Kia Sorento comes standard with six speakers, while the Nissan Rogue has just four. However, both models can be upgraded to include a Bose® Premium Audio System, although they differ slightly. That system in the Rogue has nine speakers, while the Sorento provides 12 speakers for a more immersive listening experience.

To help protect you and yours on the open road, both models come with a wide variety of standard safety and driver-assist features. In the Sorento and the Rogue, you’ll find brand-specific versions of the following safety systems:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance-Assist with Pedestrian and Vehicle Detection
• Lane Keeping Assist/Lane Following Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist
• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist-Parallel Exit

Both models also come standard with Driver Attention Warning . It monitors your driving to detect when you may be distracted or drowsy and urges you to take a break.

The Sorento’s system also includes Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, which lets you know when the vehicle ahead begins moving from a still position. Unfortunately, the Nissan Rogue doesn’t have this extra line of protection keeping you alert.

The Kia Sorento also provides some unique standard safety features that the Nissan Rogue doesn’t offer on any trim level. Intelligent Speed Limit Assist automatically changes the set speed of Smart Cruise Control by using speed limit information detected on roadway signs.

Once you’re stopped, Safe Exit Assist will warn your passengers from disembarking when it detects a vehicle approaching from behind.