Nissan Rogue vs. Honda CR-V: The Numbers That Matter
The Nissan Rogue vs. Honda CR-V decision is one of the most common cross-shops we see in our Skokie showroom. Both are roomy, efficient compact SUVs with all-wheel drive available, and both make sense for a Chicago commute. The differences show up in the details: what you pay, how much you haul, and how each one did in the toughest crash tests.
| Spec | 2027 Nissan Rogue | 2026 Honda CR-V |
|---|---|---|
| Base engine | 1.5L VC-Turbo I-3 | 1.5L turbo I-4 |
| Horsepower / torque | 201 hp / 225 lb-ft | 190 hp / 179 lb-ft |
| Combined MPG, gas (FWD) | Up to 30 | 30 |
| Hybrid option | 2027 Rogue Hybrid (e-POWER), arriving now | CR-V Hybrid, 204 hp, up to 40 MPG (FWD) |
| AWD | Available on every trim; standard on Rock Creek & Platinum | Optional on most trims |
| Cargo behind rear seat | 31.6 cu ft (36.5 on Platinum) | 39.3 cu ft gas · 34.7 to 36.3 cu ft hybrid |
| Max cargo | 74.1 cu ft | 76.5 cu ft gas · 71.8 cu ft hybrid |
| IIHS updated moderate overlap test | Acceptable | Poor |
| IIHS award | 2025 Top Safety Pick (earned by the 2026 Rogue) | No current award |
Gas vs. Gas, Hybrid vs. Hybrid
Gas models. Compare the base engines and the Rogue comes out ahead on power and torque. Its 1.5-liter VC-Turbo makes 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, against the gas CR-V’s 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft. That 46 lb-ft gap is the one you feel pulling onto the Edens from Old Orchard Road. On fuel, they’re even: the 2027 Rogue is rated up to 30 MPG combined (S and SV with front-wheel drive), the same as the gas CR-V.
Hybrids. This is where the CR-V has had the edge. The CR-V Hybrid makes 204 horsepower and is rated up to 40 MPG combined with front-wheel drive, or 37 with AWD. Until now, Nissan didn’t offer a conventional Rogue hybrid.
That changes with the 2027 Rogue Hybrid. Its e-POWER system uses the gas engine only as a generator, while electric motors on both axles drive the wheels. The result: 225 combined horsepower, all-wheel drive as standard, and a Nissan-estimated 38 MPG combined on the SR trim. On the CR-V Hybrid, AWD is standard only on the TrailSport and Sport Touring.
Cargo: Where the CR-V Pulls Ahead
We’ll say it plainly: if cargo space is your top priority, the gas CR-V wins. It offers 39.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 76.5 with the seats folded, the most of any version here. For a family that fills the back with hockey bags every Saturday, that difference is real.
There’s one catch. The CR-V Hybrid gives up some of that space to its battery: 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat (34.7 on the Sport Touring) and 71.8 folded. The Rogue offers 31.6 cubic feet (36.5 on the Platinum, with the Divide-N-Hide® floor lowered) and 74.1 folded. So against a CR-V Hybrid, a Rogue Platinum is essentially even behind the rear seat (36.5 vs. 36.3 cubic feet), and every Rogue carries more with the seats folded (74.1 vs. 71.8).
The Rogue answers with the features you sit in every day. Zero Gravity front seats are standard, and on the Platinum, the available tri-zone climate control and head-up display bring touches the CR-V doesn’t offer. The Platinum’s Divide-N-Hide® cargo system also splits the space into usable levels, which helps on a Costco run more than raw cubic feet.
The Tech You’ll Use on Every Drive
- Screens: the Rogue Platinum has a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital cluster; other trims use an 8-inch touchscreen. For 2026, the CR-V makes a 9-inch touchscreen standard and adds a 10.2-inch cluster on upper trims.
- Head-up display: available on the Rogue Platinum with the Platinum Premium Package, not offered on the CR-V.
- Driver assistance: ProPILOT Assist (adaptive cruise with steering assist) is standard on the Rogue from the SV up. The CR-V offers adaptive cruise and lane keeping through Honda Sensing.
- Phone connection: every 2026 CR-V comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless charger. On the Rogue, both are standard on the Platinum; other trims use wired Apple CarPlay.
ProPILOT Assist earns its keep in the stop-and-go stretch of the Kennedy at 5 p.m. It’s a hands-on system, so keep both hands on the wheel.
The Crash Test That Separates Them
Every Rogue comes with Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection and Blind Spot Warning, and the full Nissan Safety Shield® 360 suite is standard on the Dark Armor, Rock Creek and Platinum. Every CR-V comes with Honda Sensing. Both earn Good ratings from the IIHS in the small overlap and updated side tests and for headlights.
The difference is the IIHS updated moderate overlap test, which checks how well the vehicle protects a rear-seat passenger in a frontal crash. The Rogue is rated Acceptable. The 2023–27 CR-V is rated Poor. The Rogue also earns Good in pedestrian front crash prevention, compared with the CR-V’s Acceptable. The 2026 Rogue earned a 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick, and the 2027 Rogue carries over the same crash-test ratings. With a Poor score in that test, the CR-V doesn’t qualify for an IIHS award under either the 2025 or the stricter 2026 criteria.
If you regularly carry kids or adults in the back seat, that test is worth reading for yourself on iihs.org.
What You’ll Pay, Now and Later
The Rogue’s starting MSRP is lower than the gas CR-V’s, and the CR-V Hybrid starts higher still. For today’s numbers, see our current Nissan offers.
- Premium Plan — lifetime synthetic oil changes and tire rotations with eligible purchases.
- 156-point inspection on every pre-owned vehicle, whether you’re cross-shopping a used Rogue or a used Honda CR-V from our lot.
- We service all makes and models, so a CR-V you already own is welcome in our service lane.
What Our Team Noticed Side by Side
Our Sales & Leasing Consultants put a new 2026 Rogue Dark Armor next to a 2024 CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring (and a RAV4) from our lot.
The cargo test matched the numbers: the CR-V Hybrid’s cargo area fit Kevin with room to spare, while in the Rogue Dark Armor it was a tighter squeeze. That fits the specs: the Dark Armor has the standard 31.6 cubic feet, not the 36.5 of the Platinum. In the phone-pairing test, the Rogue connected on the first try and the CR-V didn’t. On the road, the team found the CR-V Hybrid quiet and easy on a long drive, and liked how the Rogue’s suspension soaked up bumps.
Honest Advice for Chicago Buyers
The CR-V makes more sense if maximum cargo room comes first and you’re choosing the gas model, or if you want a hybrid today in a trim that’s already on the road.
Comparing trims? Line them up like this:
- Entry level: Rogue S vs. CR-V LX
- The value middle: Rogue SV vs. CR-V EX
- Blacked-out styling: Rogue Dark Armor vs. CR-V Sport Hybrid
- Rugged look: Rogue Rock Creek vs. CR-V TrailSport
- Top of the line: Rogue Platinum vs. CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid
When you’re ready to look in person, browse our new Nissan Rogue inventory. Shopping the other big rivals too? See our Nissan Rogue vs. Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue vs. Chevy Equinox comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Rogue or CR-V better in Chicago snow?
Does the Rogue have a CVT?
Do the Rogue and CR-V have the same warranty?
Do I have to plug in the 2027 Rogue Hybrid?
Can I drive a Rogue and a CR-V back to back?
Test Drive the Rogue in Skokie
300+ new Nissans in stock (inventory varies). If we don’t have your exact build, we’ll locate your vehicle, typically within 48 hours, and we offer free delivery within 10 miles. Our in-house financing team works with a network of lenders, including options for bad or no credit, subject to credit approval.
