Nissan Rogue vs Honda CR-V

Individually, full-size pickup trucks have the highest sales, but collectively, compact SUVs are the best-selling vehicle category in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, compact SUVs are often the best-selling models for their brand, which is the case for the two models looked at here. That means their respective manufacturers usually put their best engineering effort into them to give you the most bang for the buck. The Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-Vs are among the best-selling models in the segment. The CR-V just had a complete redesign, and the Rogue received significant mid-design cycle changes to keep things fresh. Nissan of Rochester offers you this post to compare the two.

Similarities

This is a well-established category, meaning the models tend to coalesce around consumer preferences for size, power, and features. Thus, there are a fair amount of similarities between these two models. Both start with front-wheel drive but offer all-wheel drive (AWD). Since the Rochester area is purely AWD country, we will concentrate on AWD models. The starting MSRP for the Rogue S AWD is $28,420 and climbs to $40,200 for the Platinum AWD. The CR-V AWD LX starts a little higher at $31,000 but reaches the same at $40,200 for the top Sport Touring Hybrid, which has standard AWD.

Dimensionally, the vehicles are close. The Rogue’s wheelbase is 106.5 inches, the CR-V’s is 106.3, though the Honda’s overall length is just over an inch and a half longer. The height for both models is identical at 66.5 inches, and the Rogue’s width, not including the side mirrors, is 72.5 inches compared to 73.5 for the CR-V.

The Rogue has more front and rear headroom, while the CR-V has more rear legroom. The CR-V features an inch more shoulder room in the front, but both are the same for the rear. The CR-V has the edge in cargo space, with 39.3 vs. 36.5 with the seats up and 76.5 vs. 74.1 with the seats down.

The AWD versions of both models also earned an overall 5-star rating from NHTSA. To avoid these collisions in the first place, NHTSA tests for both models also come standard with their suite of safety and driver-assist technologies. They both include a front automatic warning, braking system, and lane departure warning. 

The Rogue adds:

• Rear Automatic Braking
• Blind Spot Warning
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Automatic high beams

While the CR-V adds:

• Road Departure Mitigation
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)*

Upper models and packages largely even out the availability of these features.

Powertrains

Both models are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine paired with a continuously variable transmission, but the similarities end there. The CR-V has 4-cylinders to the Rogue’s three, but don’t let that fool you, as the Rogue has a power edge with 201 hp vs 190 for the CR-V. The Rogue’s 25% more peak torque of 225 lb-ft will be more noticeable than 179 for the CR-V. The Rogue does have a nice feature, particularly when loading cargo with the seats down, in that the rear doors can open a full 90 degrees.

The greater power does not come at the expense of fuel efficiency either. In fact, the AWD Rogue’s EPA city/hwy/combined estimate of 28 / 35 / 31 is noticeably better than the Honda’s 27 / 32 / 29. With a slightly larger fuel tank, the Rogue has about 60 more miles of highway range at 508 miles. As referenced above, the CR-V does have a hybrid line; the starting MSRP for a Hybrid AWD model is $38,550.

Inside the cabins, the preference for either design over the other is a matter of taste. The Rogue features larger touch screens. The 8-inch screen on lower models is one inch larger than the CR-V’s, but where you can upgrade to 9 inches on higher CR-V models, the Rogue SL and Platinum models include a 12.3-inch screen. The large screen is backed by the Google Built-in operating system, which includes onboard Google Maps and the effective Google Assistant voice command system. For both models, wireless smartphone integration is included with the large screens and wired compatibility on the smaller screens. 

In their comparison of these two models, KBB.com found the Rogue’s “zero gravity” seats to be noteworthy. While gravity is still present, they incorporated NASA’s studies of the ideal seating position and design. Says KBB.com: “We found them extremely supportive during testing and perfect for taking the (literal) pain out of long drives.”

In the end, both models are very close. The CR-V has a little more cargo space, while the Rogue has a more powerful and efficient powertrain. It also has those great seats and superior tech on the upper models. If your family is like so many others that find a compact SUV to hit the sweet spot as a first or second car, visit Nissan of Rochester and take a close look at any of the many Rogues we have in the inventory.