Compare the2024 Subaru ForesterVS 2024 Nissan Rogue

The Forester 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 Forester. But it costs extra on the Rogue.

Both the Forester 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 Forester is safer than the Nissan Rogue:

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 Forester is safer than the Nissan Rogue:

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

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Forester’s reliability 38 points higher than the Rogue.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Forester third among compact suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Rogue isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 11 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Forester is faster than the Nissan Rogue:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Forester lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Rogue doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The Forester has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rogue (16.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Forester has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Rogue. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Forester higher (7 out of 10) than the Nissan Rogue (6). This means the Forester produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Rogue every 15,000 miles.

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

The Forester stops shorter than the Rogue:

The Forester’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rogue S’ standard 65 series tires.

The Forester Wilderness 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.

The Forester Limited handles at .82 G’s, while the Rogue Platinum AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Forester Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Rogue Platinum AWD (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Forester has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Rogue (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Forester to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Forester Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1 inch higher than on the Rogue (9.2 vs. 8.2 inches).

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Forester 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 Forester 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.

The Forester has 6.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rogue (111.6 vs. 105.4).

The Forester has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, .2 inches more rear hip room and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Rogue.

The front step up height for the Forester is 2.1 inches lower than the Rogue (15.5” vs. 17.6”). The Forester’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Rogue’s (17.25” vs. 18.5”).

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

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Rogue is limited to 1500 pounds. The Forester offers up to a 3000 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Forester uses the Vehicle Dynamics Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Rogue doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the Forester 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.

The Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches, and the driver’s window also automatically closes, 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s exterior PIN entry system. The Rogue doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Forester 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 Forester’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.

Insurance will cost less for the Forester owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Forester will cost $780 less than the Rogue over a five-year period.

The Forester will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Forester will retain 56.38% to 59.98% of its original price after five years, while the Rogue only retains 50.66% to 53.67%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Forester will be $1460 to $3264 less than for the Nissan Rogue.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Forester as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.