Compare the2023 Subaru OutbackVS 2023 Nissan Rogue

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Rogue doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the Rogue.

Both the Outback and the Rogue have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Nissan Rogue:

	Outback	Rogue
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Nissan Rogue:

	Outback	Rogue
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	28	95
Hip Force	247 lbs.	339 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	116	162
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	162

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Rogue:

	Outback	Rogue
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	69	290
Head Peak Forces	no contact	81 G’s
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	245 lbs.
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	245 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head Injury Criterion	387	455
Head Peak Forces	no contact	89 G’s
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Neck Compression	201 lbs.	402 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Rogue is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2023.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 8 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 59 more horsepower (260 vs. 201) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 225) than the Rogue’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Rogue:

	Outback	Rogue
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	8.4 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.9 MPH	85.8 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Rogue doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Outback’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Rogue doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Outback has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rogue (18.5 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Outback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rogue:

	Outback	Rogue
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11.5 inches

Tires and Wheels

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Rogue; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Outback’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Rogue (108.1 inches vs. 106.5 inches).

The Outback Wilderness executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Rogue Platinum AWD (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Rogue (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the Rogue (9.5 vs. 8.2 inches).

Chassis

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Outback has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Rogue uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Rogue doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Outback has 3.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rogue (109 vs. 105.4).

The Outback has 1.3 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Rogue.

Cargo Capacity

The Outback has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Rogue with its rear seat up (32.6 vs. 31.6 cubic feet). The Outback has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Rogue with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 74.1 cubic feet).

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the Rogue’s in almost every dimension:

	Outback	Rogue
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42”/75”	35.5”/70.5”
Max Width	51”	51.3”
Min Width	43.3”	43”
Height	32.1”	32.7”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Outback. The Rogue doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Rogue’s (2700 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Rogue is only 1500 pounds. The Outback offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Rogue. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Outback’s standard front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Rogue’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Outback Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx Edition’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). The Rogue doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Outback has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Rogue doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Outback has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Rogue doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Outback’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Rogue offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Outback Touring keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Rogue doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Outback and the Nissan Rogue, based on reliability, safety and performance.