2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged charm with minor updates to the Wilderness trim, featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding contrasted beautifully with the Autumn Green Metallic color of the Touring XT model, offering a unique appeal that surpassed typical champagne-beige hues. The Outback's various trims showcased different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim displaying the most chrome, which was tastefully executed. Wheel designs varied across trims, with the Wilderness trim sporting matte black 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Onyx Edition and higher trims featured larger, machine-finished wheels. Inside, the top-trim Touring XT impressed with its luxurious Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, a step above the standard leather in the Limited trim and the StarTex synthetic leather in the Onyx Edition and Wilderness trims.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue underwent its first major styling update since its 2021 launch, retaining its lineup of S, SV, SL, and Platinum models. A new, larger grille seamlessly integrated with the stack headlights and daytime running lights, while the rear fascia saw minor changes with redesigned taillight elements. The Rogue SV received a new 18-inch wheel design, while the Platinum trim boasted 19-inch wheels with a machined finish and additional black exterior trim. Inside, the Rogue Platinum's upscale interior featured leather seats with quilted stitching and a new Chestnut brown color option. The dashboard was updated to accommodate a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, enhancing the Rogue's premium feel. The Rogue SV models received new materials throughout the interior, contributing to a more refined cabin experience.

The 2024 Subaru Outback continued to deliver with its signature "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine. The standard 2.5-liter flat-four engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, while the XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, generating 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity from 2,700 to 3,500 lbs. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Lineartronic CVT were standard across the lineup. The Touring XT's turbo engine provided a noticeable improvement in performance, managing the vehicle's weight effectively. The CVT mimicked the sound and feel of eight distinct gears, enhancing the driving experience. The Outback's suspension and ground clearance, especially in the Wilderness trim, made it a capable off-road vehicle.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured a unique 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, part of Nissan's VC-Turbo lineup, which varied its compression ratio for optimal power or fuel economy. With 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, the Rogue's engine outperformed many competitors, including the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. However, the CVT struggled to efficiently transfer power to the wheels, and the Rogue's suspension felt firmer than expected, impacting ride quality. While the Rogue wasn't designed as a driver's car, it offered a quiet cabin and impressive engine performance, though the exhaust note was less appealing.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered generous interior space despite its sleek design. It provided more front-row headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and competitive rear-seat legroom. The cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with seats up and 75.6 cubic feet with seats folded, surpassing the RAV4 in some configurations. The Outback featured dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat starting from the Premium trim. Higher trims added features like heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Outback's roof rails with retractable cross bars added practicality.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered similar passenger space to its rivals, with slight differences in legroom. The Rogue's cargo space measured 36.5 cubic feet with seats up and 74.1 cubic feet with seats folded, providing more space than the Subaru Forester. The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations, and the Rogue featured a molded-in space for grocery bags. The Rogue's center console offered additional storage, though accessing it could be awkward. A power liftgate was available on SV models, with a motion-activated version on SL and Platinum trims.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Touring trim stood out with its old-school CD player and a mix of USB-C and USB-A ports. The top-trim model featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, while the base trim retained a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless connectivity starting from the Premium trim. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for essential functions. Wi-Fi capability, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and SiriusXM were standard, with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system available on most trims.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on lower trims, while SL and Platinum models received a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The Rogue was the first Nissan to feature Google built-in software, integrating Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play app store. The dual 12.3-inch screen setup provided a modern interface, though the touchscreen occasionally experienced slow boot-up times. The Rogue included multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad on higher trims. Nissan extended the free trial period for its Nissan Connect Services to three years, offering features like remote door lock/unlock and vehicle health reports.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included the EyeSight suite with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. Reverse automatic braking became standard on the Onyx trim, and the Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor.

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