Compare the2026 Nissan RogueVS 2026 Volkswagen Taos

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

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Rogue are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Taos doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Nissan Rogue has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 Taos doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Taos doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard AEB with Pedestrian Detection, the Nissan Rogue is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volkswagen Taos, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Rogue	Taos
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-9 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-14 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-14 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	2.4 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.8 sec	No Warning

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Nissan Rogue achieved an “Acceptable” rating for its forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Volkswagen Taos which scored “Poor” - the lowest rating - in these critical safety features.

The Rogue Rock Creek/Platinum has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Taos only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Rogue’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Taos doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Rogue and the Taos have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and available all wheel drive.

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

	Rogue	Taos
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	261	285
Neck Stress	403 lbs.	413 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	45%
Neck Compression	103 lbs.	207 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	481/312 lbs.	643/432 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Rogue is safer than the Taos:

	Rogue	Taos
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE

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 Nissan Rogue is safer than the Volkswagen Taos:

	Rogue	Taos
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	95	111
Chest Movement	.4 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	99 lbs.	115 lbs.
Hip Force	339 lbs.	394 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	162	393
Spine Acceleration	31 G’s	69 G’s
Hip Force	513 lbs.	673 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	162	338
Hip Force	398 lbs.	939 lbs.

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 Nissan Rogue is safer than the Taos:

	Rogue	Taos
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.57 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1406 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	123	259
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.91 in	1.65 in
Shoulder Force	290 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.42 in	1.54 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	16 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	558 lbs.	781 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Rogue with standard seats is safer than the Taos:

	Rogue	Taos
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance from Back of Head	27 mm	38 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Fail
Torso Acceleration	13.1 g’s	13.3 g’s
Neck Force Rating	Low	Low
Max Neck Shearing Force	0	0

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

The Nissan Rogue achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Taos is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Rogue 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Taos. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Taos ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Rogue’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Taos’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 68 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rogue’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Rogue has a standard 720-amp battery. The Taos’ 640-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Rogue’s reliability 32 points higher than the Taos.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Rogue third among compact suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Taos isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 56 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 70 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 6 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The Rogue’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 27 more horsepower (201 vs. 174) and 41 lbs.-ft. more torque (225 vs. 184) than the Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Rogue is faster than the Volkswagen Taos:

	Rogue	Taos
Zero to 60 MPH	8.4 sec	8.9 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.8 MPH	85.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Rogue gets better mileage than the Taos:

			MPG
Rogue
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/36 hwy
	AWD	S/SV/Platinum 1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	28 city/35 hwy
		Rock Creek 1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/32 hwy
Taos
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy

The Rogue has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Taos FWD’s standard fuel tank (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Taos doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

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 Taos doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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 Taos are solid, not vented.

The Rogue stops much shorter than the Taos:

	Rogue	Taos
70 to 0 MPH	177 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Rogue has larger tires than the Taos (235/65R17 vs. 215/55R18).

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 Taos doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Nissan Rogue has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Taos 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Rogue has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Rogue flat and controlled during cornering. The Taos 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Rogue is .6 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Taos.

The Rogue Platinum handles at .84 G’s, while the Taos SEL 4Motion® pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Rogue has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Taos (8.2 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Rogue to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Rogue has 5.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Taos (105.4 vs. 99.5).

The Rogue has .4 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear legroom, 8 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Taos.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rogue’s rear seats recline. The Taos’ rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Rogue has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Taos with its rear seat up (36.5 vs. 27.9 cubic feet). The Rogue has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Taos with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 65.9 cubic feet).

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

	Rogue	Taos
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	35.5”/70.5”	34.3”/65.2”
Max Width	51.3”	48.5”
Min Width	43”	40”
Height	32.7”	37”

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Rogue Platinum’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Taos doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Rogue SV/Rock Creek/Platinum has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or, optionally on the Rogue Rock Creek/Platinum, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Taos doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Rogue has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Taos has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Rogue (except S/SV), the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Taos doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Rogue Platinum’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Taos doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Rogue Platinum offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Taos doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Rogue’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Taos’ passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Rogue has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Taos only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Rogue’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Taos’ headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Rogue to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Taos doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Rogue with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Taos’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Rogue and the Taos offer available heated front seats. The Rogue Platinum also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Taos.

Both the Rogue and the Taos offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Rogue has available rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Taos doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to the Volkswagen Taos, the Nissan Rogue eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Compared to traditional radio, the Nissan Rogue’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Taos SE/SEL.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Rogue, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen Taos isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Rogue first among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Taos isn’t in the top three.

The Nissan Rogue outsold the Volkswagen Taos by almost four to one during 2025.

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