2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Subaru Forester maintained its traditional, utilitarian design, reminiscent of its predecessors over the past two decades. Despite its unassuming exterior, especially in the Cascade Green Silica paint, the Forester Touring trim stood out with its 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim. The robust roof rails added functionality, allowing for various outdoor gear attachments. Inside, the Forester Touring featured Saddle Brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, creating a classic Subaru interior with analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen. The cabin, though filled with hard plastics, was easy to clean and practical, with a straightforward control layout that favored buttons and knobs over touchscreens.

In contrast, the 2024 Nissan Rogue received a significant styling update, enhancing its modern appeal. The new, larger grille and distinctive stack headlights gave it a fresh look, while the redesigned taillight elements added subtle changes to the rear. The Rogue Platinum trim featured a new 19-inch wheel design and optional black roof, adding to its upscale appearance. Inside, the Rogue Platinum boasted a premium feel with leather seats, quilted stitching, and a new Chestnut brown color option. The dashboard accommodated a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, elevating the interior's sophistication and functionality.

The 2023 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT mimicked a traditional automatic with eight programmed ratios, and the Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system offered a Sport mode for enhanced responsiveness. Most Foresters, except the Base trim, featured an X-Mode off-road traction management system with various driving modes. The Forester Touring, despite its tamer nature, handled challenging weather conditions with ease, showcasing its excellent driving dynamics. However, the engine's performance was merely adequate, and the Forester fell short of its EPA fuel economy rating, achieving 25.9 mpg on the testing route.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, delivering 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This VC-Turbo engine outperformed many competitors, including the Subaru Forester. However, the Rogue's CVT was slow to transfer power to the wheels, affecting its overall performance. The Rogue's suspension was firmer than expected, compromising ride quality without improving handling. Despite the engine's impressive output, the Rogue's driving experience was less engaging than anticipated, though it maintained a quiet cabin.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, offering a practical and straightforward design. The Premium trim provided features like a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. Higher trims offered leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control. The Forester excelled in outward visibility, making it easy to drive and park. However, the panoramic sunroof's lack of tinting led to solar heating issues, and the rear seats lacked comfort for longer trips. The Forester's cargo space was average for the segment, with 26.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 69.1 cubic feet with them folded.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered competitive passenger space, with slight differences in legroom compared to rivals. Its cargo space, at 36.5 cubic feet with rear seats in place and 74.1 cubic feet with them folded, was more generous than the Forester's. The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations. The Rogue's center console provided additional storage, though accessing it was somewhat awkward. Overall, the Rogue offered practical interior features and ample cargo space.

The 2023 Subaru Forester's technology appeared outdated but was user-friendly. The Base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, and a Harman Kardon audio system. The Forester's infotainment system favored physical controls, making it easy to use. However, the voice-recognition system was unreliable, necessitating the use of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while SL and Platinum models received a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Rogue was the first Nissan to offer Google built-in software, integrating Google Maps, Assistant, and Play Store. The dual 12.3-inch screen setup improved the infotainment experience, though the system was occasionally slow to boot. The Rogue provided ample charging options, including USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad. Nissan extended the free trial period for its Connect Services, enhancing connectivity features.

The 2023 Subaru Forester introduced an updated EyeSight system with improved software and cameras. It included features like Automatic Emergency Steering and Rear Automatic Braking (RAB) on higher trims. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with some areas needing improvement. The NHTSA awarded it five-star crash-test ratings, with a four-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received top safety scores from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, offered advanced driver assistance, enhancing highway driving with lane centering and navigation-based speed adjustments.