Compare the2025 Nissan RogueVS 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Nissan Rogue has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Rogue Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Rogue and the Santa Fe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rogue the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 107 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Santa Fe has not been fully tested, yet.

There are over 28 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Rogue’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the Rogue gets better mileage than the Santa Fe:

The Rogue has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Rogue has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Rogue’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Santa Fe are solid, not vented.

The Rogue has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Rogue’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Santa Fe’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rogue has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe (8.2 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Rogue to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Nissan Rogue may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 850 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Rogue is 7.2 inches shorter than the Santa Fe, making the Rogue easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rogue has a much larger cargo volume than the Santa Fe with its rear seat up (36.5 vs. 14.6 cubic feet).

The Rogue’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Santa Fe’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Rogue’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Santa Fe’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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

The Nissan Rogue outsold the Hyundai Santa Fe by over two to one during 2023.