2020 Nissan Rogue vs 2019 Subaru Ascent

The 2019 Subaru Ascent marked Subaru’s serious entry into the 3-row SUV market, following the ill-fated B9 Tribeca. The Ascent featured bold styling with an upright design, pronounced fenders, and an imposing grille. It had a wheelbase of 113.8 inches, making it the largest Subaru passenger vehicle to date. Visually, it resembled a scaled-up Subaru Forester with characteristic headlights and a robust layout.

Inside the Ascent, the atmosphere felt more akin to a larger Subaru Outback, offering considerable space with seating configurations for 7 or 8 passengers. The cabin boasted trims like Base, Premium, Limited, and Touring with varied equipment ranging from 18-inch alloy wheels and roof rails to satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a plethora of 19 cupholders. Higher trims added luxury features like a panoramic moonroof, Harman Kardon premium audio system, leather seating, and advanced driver-assistance technologies.

In contrast, the 2020 Nissan Rogue stood out with its attractive albeit aging design. The bold V-Motion grille and exaggerated fender swells were enhanced by the Rogue SL’s 19-inch aluminum wheels, making it visually appealing despite its years.

However, inside, the Rogue revealed its age with an older styling theme on the dashboard and unremarkable plastic surfaces. While the sides of the center console were padded thoughtfully, the overall interior design didn’t meet contemporary standards.

The 2019 Subaru Ascent came with a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine delivering 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. This engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. The powertrain provided ample pick-up in city and highway driving, supported by a well-weighted steering system. Boasting 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Ascent also offered a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds with the appropriate tow-prep package—dropping to 2,000 pounds without it.

Fuel economy for the Ascent was respectable at 21 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 combined, though the Limited and Touring trims saw a slight dip in efficiency.

The 2020 Nissan Rogue’s performance was less impressive. It featured a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with a CVT. While the CVT did its best to optimize performance, the Rogue lagged in acceleration, especially noticeable during freeway merging, passing slower vehicles, or climbing grades. Despite claims of 29 mpg combined for FWD models, real-world performance was underwhelming at 24.9 mpg.

On the brighter side, the Rogue benefitted from Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, which enhanced ride and handling slightly. However, its steering felt lifeless, and CVT drone detracted from the driving experience.

The 2019 Subaru Ascent excelled in interior space. Both the first and second rows offered ample legroom and headroom, though the third row was tight for adults, similar to other SUVs in its class. With the third row folded, it provided 47 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 86 cubic feet with all rear seats down. This was superior to competitors like the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot.

In comparison, the 2020 Nissan Rogue struggled with seating comfort for taller drivers, who might have found it difficult to find the right position. However, back seat passengers enjoyed good thigh support, a proper backrest angle, and high-seating positioning that provided excellent views, especially with the available panoramic sunroof. Rear-seat amenities included air conditioning vents and USB charging ports, making it favorable for children and adult passengers alike. Cargo space was ample at 39 cubic feet behind the back seat, bolstered by underfloor storage compartments and the Divide-n-Hide cargo management system.

The 2019 Subaru Ascent came equipped with Subaru’s latest StarLink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the base model and an 8-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, provided physical buttons for easier operation, and included USB connectivity. The optional Technology Package enhanced the experience with a Harman Kardon stereo, panoramic moonroof, and additional infotainment features.

Meanwhile, the 2020 Nissan Rogue’s infotainment system included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and hands-free text messaging as standard. Upgraded options added SiriusXM, navigation, a Bose sound system, and NissanConnect Services with features like remote access, car finder, emergency SOS, and safe teen driver settings. Despite these features, the NissanConnect interface felt dated with its 7-inch touchscreen, sluggish response, and subpar voice recognition, reducing the overall tech satisfaction.

Safety was a strong point for the 2019 Subaru Ascent, with standard front- and side-impact airbags, vehicle dynamics control, tire pressure monitoring, and Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology. EyeSight included pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning as standard across all trims. Higher trims added blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and reverse automatic emergency braking.

Similarly, the 2020 Nissan Rogue offered a comprehensive suite of safety features with its standard Safety Shield 360, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. Additional features included Rear Door Alert and Tire Fill Alert. Optional safety features included a surround-view camera and ProPilot Assist with adaptive cruise control. However, the Rogue’s overall crash-test ratings lagged with a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA and certain deficiencies noted by IIHS.