The Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V make different arguments to buyers seeking a compact SUV. Although similar in size, respective safety gear, drivetrains, and technology features are different enough to give shoppers pause. How do you choose between the Nissan Rogue versus the Honda CR-V since both are top of the class? As always, a new car must meet your driving needs and budget. Read on to find out whether the 2019 Nissan Rogue versus the Honda CR-V is the right choice for you.
About The Nissan Rogue:
The Nissan Rogue is the best-selling vehicle offered by this mainstream Japanese brand. With over 400,000 sold each year, the Rogue is one of the most popular vehicles in America. On sale since the model year 2008, the compact Rogue is in its second generation. It is built in Smyrna, Tennessee. The Nissan Rogue provides 5 passenger seating and offers 4 doors and a large cargo hatch. There is also a Rogue Hybrid model available. The Nissan Rogue was recently named a Consumer Guide Best Buy as well as an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2018.
About the Honda CR-V:
The U.S. built Honda CR-V is a compact SUV that helped introduce the world to the idea of a small crossover in the mid-1990s. Since then the Honda CR-V has grown in size and capability. Its most recent generation launched for the 2017 model year. The Honda CR-V offers 5 passenger seating in a 4-door configuration. The Honda CR-V has won many awards, including an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2019.
The Nissan Rogue versus The Honda CR-V: What has Better Interior Quality, Space, and Comfort?
The Rogue and CR-V deliver adult-friendly comfort in both the first and second rows. Which one edges out the other is more a function of where you happen to sit. The Nissan Rogue provides an advantage in leg room for front passengers. The Honda CR-V prioritizes the rear. When it comes to cargo space, the CR-V creeps ahead with 76 cubic feet of total room versus 70 cubic feet for the Rogue. Interior design for both SUVs is quite good. There is a slight step-down in the quality of materials in the base Nissan Rogue versus the Honda CR-V. At the high end, top trim Nissans compare better against Honda counterparts. The latter offers more storage in the center console for purses or phones due to its relocated shifter.
The Nissan Rogue versus The Honda CR-V: What has Better Safety Equipment and Ratings?
The Nissan Rogue comes with a 4 star crash test safety rating from the NHTSA. It performed better in IIHS crash testing, earning a Top Safety Pick award in 2018 (for the same model). The Nissan Rogue comes standard with the Nissan Safety Shield set of features. This includes:
- Blind spot monitoring. This system scans each side of the vehicle for traffic sitting in the driver’s blind spots.
- Lane departure warning and lane keeping assist. This automatically steers the SUV between road lines and warns the driver when the car leaves its designated lane.
- Forward collision warning with automatic braking. A system that scans the road ahead for vehicles and pedestrians warning the driver and stopping the vehicle if an impact seems likely.
Optional safety features for the Nissan Rogue include the ProPilot Assist limited self-driving feature, adaptive cruise control, and rear automatic braking. The Honda CR-V is also a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. It was rated 5 stars by the NHTSA in 2018. The Honda CR-V does not match the Rogue when it comes to offering advanced safety equipment in every model. You have to step up from the base model to benefit from the Honda Sensing suit of safety equipment, which includes:
- Forward collision warning with automatic braking
- Lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind spot monitoring
The Nissan Rogue, by offering standard advanced safety gear across all models, is the winner in this category. Don’t dismiss the CR-V just because the Rogue offers more standard safety features. The models are more closely aligned at all but the base CR-V level.
The Nissan Rogue versus The Honda CR-V: What has Better Technology?
Both the Nissan Rogue and the Honda CR-V feature a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Each SUV delivers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto features as standard equipment. This is an important consideration since Honda’s menu system can frustrate some drivers. The Nissan setup is simpler to use. At the very least, the CR-V now includes a physical volume knob, which is an upgrade over past years that relied on touch controls. Another area where the Nissan Rogue pulls ahead is with its 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity. Connectivity is a key consideration for occupants and is not available with the Honda CR-V. The Rogue offers an available tire pressure system that beeps when you’ve reached the right pressure while refilling the tire. This is not only helpful, but also aids the safety of correct tire pressure.
The Nissan Rogue versus The Honda CR-V: Which is Better to Drive?
Both the Nissan Rogue and the Honda CR-V serve as comfortable daily drivers. Neither can be counted on to provide thrills from behind the wheel. Still, the two SUVs are calm and confident handlers in regular traffic and on the highway. Opting for all-wheel drive with either model also adds good levels of traction in snowy or wet road conditions. The Honda CR-V is notable for its more pleasant and powerful engine. Both its base motor and upper tier turbocharged 4-cylinder offer a smoother experience, better acceleration, and improved fuel economy over the single 4-cylinder found in the Nissan Rogue. The Rogue’s transmission is also noisier in operation than the CR-V. The Nissan Rogue Hybrid bumps combined fuel mileage up to 34 mpg. This is 5-mpg better than he Honda CR-V. It’s not enough to push the Rogue ahead of the CR-V’s driving quality, however.
The Nissan Rogue versus The Honda CR-V: Which Car is Priced Better?
The Nissan Rogue starts at $24,920, within $500 of the base Honda CR-V’s $23,395 asking price. The pricier Rogue Hybrid tops the line-up with a price of $32,890, considerably more than the most expensive CR-V trim level ($33,795). Which car is priced better is a question of which end of the line-up you shop. In the middle, the vehicles feature similar value for the money, but in the base model the extra standard safety gear of the Nissan Rogue makes it a much better buy. At the top end, the large gap between the CR-V and the Rogue Hybrid pushes the advantage back to the Honda. Both vehicles are covered by a three-year, 36,000 mile basic warranty and a five-year, 60,000 mile powertrain assurance. Both Nissan and Honda have a wide-spread network of dealerships and are highly ranked in reliability and durability.
The Nissan Rogue versus The Honda CR-V: Which Car Should I Buy?
It’s a close call evaluating the Nissan Rogue versus the Honda CR-V. Safety and technology are some of the Rogue’s highlights. The CR-V brings more power, cargo space, and smoother driving to the equation. If fuel economy is a key priority, then the Rogue hybrid is the answer. Another key consideration: the Honda CR-V is a much newer design than the Nissan Rogue. We’re tipping our hat to the Honda based on its more modern platform.