Cabin & Comfort
Close callSportage X-Line
Closely matched: both come with leatherette seats, heated front seats, and a moonroof.
Kia Sportage X-Line vs Nissan Rogue Dark Armor AWD
Sportage X-Line — $34,790 · 187 hp · 26 mpgRogue Dark Armor AWD — $34,740 · 201 hp · 31 mpg
Before you compare
What this matchup really means
Two trims at comparable points in their lineups, X-Line and Dark Armor AWD, compared head to head.
MatchupMid vs Mid
Rogue Dark Armor AWDBetter fuel economy
Rogue Dark Armor AWD
- Better fuel economy
- More horsepower
- More torque
Read the full breakdown
This is a balanced comparison. The two sit at comparable points in their lineups. Expect the decision to hinge on standard features and price rather than on positioning. The X-Line and Dark Armor AWD are closely matched on price: $34,790 vs $34,740.
Because the X-Line and Dark Armor AWD sit at comparable points in their lineups, the category winners below are a fair, like-for-like read — they reflect each model's engineering and value at the same level rather than one trim simply being higher than the other.
At a glance
The quick decision
Best overall
Sportage X-Line
If you're shopping the Sportage, the Sportage X-Line is the fit this site recommends — the two are closely matched on cabin & comfort, price & value and cargo & daily use; the Rogue Dark Armor AWD leads on fuel economy and performance, so choose it if those matter most.
Best value
Sportage X-Line
Close call — closely matched on price: $34,790 vs $34,740.
Best performance
Rogue Dark Armor AWD
Rogue Dark Armor AWD makes 201 hp vs 187 hp.
Best efficiency
Rogue Dark Armor AWD
Rogue Dark Armor AWD returns 31 mpg combined vs 26 mpg.
Head to head
Who wins what
The verified differences most likely to decide it — each shown side by side, with the winner called out.
Fuel Economy
WinnerRogue Dark Armor AWD
31 mpgvs26 mpg
The Rogue Dark Armor AWD delivers lower fuel costs and fewer stops at the pump.
Price & Value
Close callSportage X-Line
$34,790vs$34,740
Closely matched: $34,790 vs $34,740.
Cargo & Daily Use
Close callSportage X-Line
74.1 cu ftvs74.1 cu ft
Closely matched: 74.1 cu ft vs 74.1 cu ft.
Performance
WinnerRogue Dark Armor AWD
201 hpvs187 hp
The Rogue Dark Armor AWD gives you stronger acceleration and easier passing.
Read the full breakdown
The X-Line and the Dark Armor AWD sit at comparable points in their lineups, so lineup position alone does not separate them. Standard-feature differences and price do most of the work in separating them. The X-Line and Dark Armor AWD are closely matched on price: $34,790 vs $34,740.
On verified numbers, the Dark Armor AWD leads in horsepower, torque, and combined mpg. What the numbers actually mean for you here: the Dark Armor AWD's combined mpg edge (31 vs 26 mpg) means fewer stops at the pump and lower running costs over years of ownership, the Dark Armor AWD's horsepower edge (201 vs 187 hp) shows up most when merging and passing rather than in daily commuting, and the Dark Armor AWD's torque edge (225 vs 178 lb-ft) is felt most in everyday, low-speed response.
When it matters most: if your commute is long, the Dark Armor AWD's combined mpg edge (31 vs 26 mpg) is worth weighting heavily.
Visual comparison
See them side by side
Exterior
Standout features
Sportage X-Line
- Available AWD
- Leatherette seats
- Moonroof
Rogue Dark Armor AWD
- Available AWD
- Leatherette seats
- Moonroof
Interior
Available colors
Sportage X-Line
Rogue Dark Armor AWD
The bottom line
The verdict
Editor's pick
Sportage X-Line
If you're shopping the Sportage, the Sportage X-Line is the fit this site recommends — the two are closely matched on cabin & comfort, price & value and cargo & daily use; the Rogue Dark Armor AWD leads on fuel economy and performance, so choose it if those matter most.
Why we landed here
- Closely matched on cabin & comfort.
- Closely matched on price & value: $34,790 vs $34,740.
- Closely matched on cargo & daily use: 74.1 cu ft vs 74.1 cu ft.
- The Rogue Dark Armor AWD leads on fuel economy: 31 mpg vs 26 mpg.
- The Rogue Dark Armor AWD leads on performance: 201 hp vs 187 hp.
What could change this: If better fuel economy and lower running costs matters most, the Rogue Dark Armor AWD is the better fit.
Rogue Dark Armor AWD: 31 mpg combinedRogue Dark Armor AWD: 201 hp of power
Read the full verdict
The X-Line and the Dark Armor AWD sit at comparable points in their lineups; the verdict follows the standard-feature and price differences that matter most to you.
On verified numbers, the Dark Armor AWD leads in horsepower, torque, and combined mpg.
The full picture
What to know before you decide
Living with the Sportage X-Line
- Leather-trimmed seats
- Available all-wheel drive
Living with the Rogue Dark Armor AWD
- Leather-trimmed seats
- Available all-wheel drive
Daily commuting
- Rogue Dark Armor AWD: 31 mpg — fewer fill-ups
Long road trips
- Rogue Dark Armor AWD: fewer fuel stops between cities
Winter ownership
- Both offer available all-wheel drive
By the numbers
Specs that matter
These are the figures most shoppers weigh first — price, power, efficiency, and room — with the full specification table below.
Starting price
Sportage X-Line$34,790
Rogue Dark Armor AWD$34,740
Horsepower
Sportage X-Line187 hp
Rogue Dark Armor AWD201 hp
Combined MPG
Sportage X-Line26 mpg
Rogue Dark Armor AWD31 mpg
Max cargo — behind 1st row, seats folded
Sportage X-Line74.1 cu ft
Rogue Dark Armor AWD74.1 cu ft
AWD availability
Sportage X-LineAll-wheel drive · AWD available: Yes
Rogue Dark Armor AWDAll-wheel drive · AWD available: Yes
Full specifications
| Specification | Sportage X-Line | Rogue Dark Armor AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $34,790 | $34,740 |
| Horsepower | 187 hp | 201 hp |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft | 225 lb-ft |
| Combined MPG | 26 mpg | 31 mpg |
| City MPG | 24 mpg | 28 mpg |
| Highway MPG | 30 mpg | 35 mpg |
| Max cargo — behind 1st row, seats folded | 74.1 cu ft | 74.1 cu ft |
| Seating | 5 | 5 |
| Drivetrain | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | 8-Speed Automatic | Xtronic CVT w/Manual Mode |
Make the call
Which one is right for you?
- Choose the Dark Armor AWD if you want more power, want more torque, and want better fuel economy.
Sportage X-Line buyer
Best for:
- Cabin & Comfort: close call
- Cargo & Daily Use: close call
- Price & Value: close call
Rogue Dark Armor AWD buyer
Best for:
- Better fuel economy
- More power
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
The questions shoppers ask most when weighing these two — answered with the verified facts.
Value comes down to the details. The X-Line and Dark Armor AWD are closely matched on price: $34,790 vs $34,740. Weigh the standard equipment each includes, their fuel economy, and the features you'll genuinely use. Cross-shop comparably equipped trims and let local incentives settle it.
"Nicer every day" is about the things you touch on every drive — the seats, the controls, and the screen. Comfort is personal, though: seat shape, driving position, and how intuitive the controls feel to you matter more than any feature list. Spend ten minutes in each on a route like your real commute — that test drive will tell you more about daily livability than any spec comparison.
Yes — a few things worth knowing before you decide. The Rogue Dark Armor AWD brings stronger fuel economy that the Sportage X-Line doesn't match in this pairing. None of these automatically make it the better car for you, but if any one lines up with how you drive, it's a genuine reason to give the Dark Armor AWD a serious look. Weigh those advantages against where the X-Line leads — and the verdict above — rather than treating any single feature as the whole decision.
High annual mileage puts the spotlight on running costs, and that's mostly about fuel. Here, the Rogue Dark Armor AWD returns the better EPA-estimated economy (31 mpg combined) — over 15,000 miles a year that adds up to noticeably fewer fill-ups and real money saved versus the alternative. Beyond fuel, a high-mileage driver should weigh seat comfort for all those hours and each model's reliability record — worth checking current ratings for the specific trims, since it matters most when you're piling on miles. If your year is mostly highway commuting, lean toward the more efficient, more comfortable choice; the small differences compound over 15,000 miles in a way they wouldn't for a light-use second car.
Interior preference is partly personal — dashboard layout, seat shape, and where the controls fall all factor in — so the best test is to sit in both. If a richer, more feature-laden cabin matters to you, compare the specific trims' option packages directly; if you mainly want a comfortable, sensibly-arranged space, either will serve you well day to day.
For most shoppers, the right pick follows your priorities rather than a single score. If running costs lead, the Rogue Dark Armor AWD's efficiency is the draw. Use the verdict above as the starting recommendation, then confirm it with a back-to-back test drive of the exact trims you're considering.
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