Compare the2025 Nissan RogueVS 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Rogue and the Santa Fe Hybrid 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.

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.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Rogue is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

Both the Rogue and Santa Fe Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Rogue has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Rogue stops much shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

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 Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Rogue has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Santa Fe Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Rogue Platinum AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Rogue Platinum AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid AWD (27.7 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rogue’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Santa Fe Hybrid’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 Hybrid (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 850 to 950 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.

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

The Rogue has a much larger cargo volume than the Santa Fe Hybrid 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 Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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.