Compare the2025 Subaru ForesterVS 2026 Nissan Rogue

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

Safety

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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.

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

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, around view monitors, 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:

	Forester	Rogue
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	198	261
Neck Injury Risk	24.4%	33%
Neck Stress	263 lbs.	403 lbs.
Neck Compression	39 lbs.	54 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	211	319
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33.1%	37%
Neck Compression	53 lbs.	103 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	236/225 lbs.	481/312 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 Forester is safer than the Rogue:

	Forester	Rogue
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
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
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	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, results indicate that the Subaru Forester is safer than the Nissan Rogue:

	Forester	Rogue
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	56	95
Chest Movement	.4 inches	.4 inches
Abdominal Force	84 lbs.	99 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 Subaru Forester is safer than the Rogue:

	Forester	Rogue
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	103	209
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	.98 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.02 in	1.22 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	1.42 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Subaru Forester (Vehicles built after April 2025) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Rogue is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Reliability

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 Subaru Forester’s reliability 37 points higher than the Rogue.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 3 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Nissan.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 12th.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the Subaru Forester 4 cyl. is faster than the Nissan Rogue:

	Forester	Rogue
Zero to 60 MPH	8.6 sec	9.1 sec
Quarter Mile	16.8 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88 MPH	87 MPH

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.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Forester
	AWD	2.5 flat-4 Hybrid	35 city/34 hwy
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

Regenerative brakes improve the Forester Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Rogue doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Forester higher (6 out of 10) than the Nissan Rogue (5). This means the Forester produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Rogue every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Forester Wilderness	Forester Hybrid	Rogue
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	12.6 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	11.8 inches	11.5 inches

The Forester stops shorter than the Rogue:

	Forester	Rogue
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	134 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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 Sport/Touring’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Rogue SL/Platinum/Dark Armor’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Forester’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57% to 43%) than the Rogue’s (58.6% to 41.4%). This gives the Forester more stable handling and braking.

The Forester Sport handles at .82 G’s, while the Rogue Rock Creek pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Forester Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Rogue Platinum (27.3 seconds @ .62 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).

Chassis

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.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Forester Touring is quieter than the Rogue Platinum:

	Forester	Rogue
At idle	27 dB	39 dB
Full-Throttle	73 dB	73 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	69 dB

Passenger Space

The Forester has 5.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rogue (110.8 vs. 105.4).

The Forester has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and .8 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”).

Cargo Capacity

The Forester has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Rogue with its rear seat folded (74.4 vs. 74.1 cubic feet).

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

	Forester	Rogue
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	36.5”/70.7”	35.5”/70.5”
Max Width	51.2”	51.3”
Min Width	43.3”	43”
Height	34.9”	32.7”

Towing

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.

Servicing Ease

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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 20% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 10th.

Ergonomics

The Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring’s front and rear power windows all 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.

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.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Forester 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.

The Forester has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Rogue SV/Rock Creek/Platinum.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Subaru Forester retains 62.8% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 51.38% resale value of the 2025 Nissan Rogue after five years, which can save the Subaru’s owner up to $2743.30552 in depreciation.

Recommendations

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.

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