It’s a Threepeat: 2025 Nissan Rogue Wins Cars.com Compact SUV Challenge
Our challenge this year was to evaluate seven of the top-selling compact SUVs, the most popular models in the most popular class, both through objective measurement of things like cargo space and fuel efficiency and subjective ratings like comfort, handling and ergonomics. We last tested this group in 2023, and before that, 2021 — and the winner of both of those comparison tests was the Nissan Rogue. Well, Nissan has continually updated the Rogue, and we threw it in the mix again this year — and once again, it came out on top! Our winner of the 2025 Cars.com Compact SUV Challenge, for the third time in a row, is the Nissan Rogue.
2025 Compact SUV Challenge
Results | Winner | Real-World MPG | Cargo Space
It’s a result none of us went into the test expecting given that we had new and updated models from several other automakers, such as the completely redone and dramatically improved Chevrolet Equinox. We even added a model we couldn’t get for the 2023 test: the perennially popular Toyota RAV4 in gas-electric hybrid form. The end result, however, didn’t change, with the Rogue showing yet again that an SUV that does everything well and nothing poorly will carry the day.
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How Did the Nissan Rogue Win Again?
- Four wins and no losses in our subjective categories
- Two wins and no losses in our objective categories
- Mostly strong performance in categories it didn’t win outright
For this Challenge, three judges scored 11 subjective categories, with these scores joining six objective categories for a total of 17 categories and 975 possible points. Judges scored things like comfort, quietness, and the usability of the electronic systems and controls, while the objective tests rated things like as-tested value, cargo volume, real-world fuel economy and safety features.
The Rogue’s strengths resulted in four outright or shared subjective category wins: front-seat comfort, backseat comfort, vehicle user interface (how drivers interact with the controls, including the multimedia system) and interior quality. In the objective scoring, it had the most driver-assist features, and it tied with two competitors for the top score in our assessment of child-safety seat fitment. It finished second or third in a number of other categories, and it didn’t place near the bottom in anything except fuel economy; the Rogue got a respectable 30.8 mpg combined on our real-world fuel-economy drive, but its efficiency trailed that of the hybrids in our test.
In a nutshell, we were sold on the Rogue’s comfortable, spacious, easy-to-use and beautifully finished cabin; it drove well enough overall; and it was packed with features and technology.
What’s New With the Nissan Rogue?
The Rogue was refreshed for the 2024 model year with updated styling and a newly available Google-based multimedia system. The powertrain was last updated for 2022, with the Rogue getting a 201-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine making 225 pounds-feet of torque and working with a continuously variable automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, but our loaded Platinum model came with all-wheel drive. That Platinum trim also came with a long list of luxury trimmings and some expensive technology options, including ProPilot Assist 2.1 hands-free driving. With an as-tested price of $48,330 (including destination), it was the most expensive SUV in our test and $10,400 more expensive than the least expensive Subaru Forester Sport.
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What Did We Like Best About the Rogue?
- A luxurious interior, comfortable seating and a wealth of features that are easy to use are highlights of the Rogue Platinum.
It’s all about comfort and ease of use with the Rogue, and that’s generally where our three judges heaped most of their praise.
“The Rogue feels like a much more upmarket car than the rest of this class, with its gorgeous quilted leather interior and solid-feeling build quality,” remarked News Editor Stef Schrader. Road Test Editor Brian Normile agreed, stating, “I found the Rogue’s front and rear seats the most comfortable in the test, with excellent cushioning and comfortable bolstering to go with the quilted leather upholstery.”
But it wasn’t just the front seats that everyone enjoyed — the backseat also was lauded for its amenities and comfort.
“While some other vehicles had more space in the rear seats, the Rogue offered the nicest second-row amenities out of all the vehicles we tested, with sunshades, charge ports and backseat-specific climate controls,” Schrader noted. We should also note that the Rogue’s side sunshades and rear climate controls were exclusive features in its last comparison go-round, and competitors still haven’t matched them.
We also really liked the Rogue Platinum’s digital cockpit with its twin 12.3-inch screens, the rightmost one being a clear, easy-to-use touchscreen that’s quick to respond. But Nissan thankfully hasn’t switched all the controls to touch-sensitive ones, keeping dedicated buttons and knobs for things like climate controls, camera views and more.
“The dual 12.3-inch displays are crystal clear, with excellent graphics and fast processing times,” Normile said, “and the configurability of the digital instrument panel is helpful for prioritizing additional information instead of full-size representations of gauges.” The Google Built-In operating system works well with iPhones (usually), and its configurability was impressive, especially compared with some of the lackluster infotainment technology in competitors.
The Rogue’s technology advantage also extended to its driver-assist features — it was the only vehicle in this test with a hands-free driving system, Nissan’s ProPilot Assist 2.1. It was easy to engage and worked reliably. And the Rogue also had amenities like a hands-free power liftgate, panoramic moonroof, heated steering wheel and wireless charging. It might just be the best-equipped compact SUV we’ve ever tested in one of our comparisons.
What Didn’t We Like About the Rogue?
- The Rogue Platinum’s premium amenities come with a premium price tag that might be too high for some shoppers.
No car is perfect, and even though the Rogue came out on top in this test, there were a few areas that gave us pause. First is its price — while the Rogue is well equipped, you pay through the nose for it. Yes, the as-tested price is spot on with the average price for a new car these days, but in the compact SUV class, you can still get a lot of vehicle for much less money if you’re careful with the options list.
We also didn’t rate it tops in driving dynamics, but this isn’t necessarily a ding against it; the Rogue is tuned for comfort and calmness, with a cushy ride, easy handling, and power that’s adequate but not energizing. Nobody even complained about its CVT, a transmission type that most of us generally find abominable. The engine tuning is best for stop-and-go performance, but it kept up at highway speeds with competitors that had bigger, more powerful engines, albeit with generally elevated levels of noise and vibration.
As in prior contests, our complaints with the Rogue were few, and the SUV’s good-to-great performance in most of our scored categories is a testament to its all-around goodness. For most buyers looking for a family truckster, the Rogue’s balance of ride quality, competent performance and an easygoing demeanor will make it an appealing choice.
To read more about this comparison, including judges’ impressions on each of the SUVs in the test and where the vehicles placed, check out the full results of our 2025 Compact SUV Challenge in the link above.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
