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The 2020 Nissan Rogue has a new victory to celebrate against the 2020 Subaru Forester because it’s proving to be the much more popular choice. Let’s see why people are choosing the Nissan Rogue over the Subaru Forester. 

2020 Nissan Rogue vs. the 2020 Subaru Forester 

A 2020 Nissan Rogue driving down the road
2020 Nissan Rogue | Nissan

According to MarketWatch, the 2020 Nissan Rogue is more popular than the 2020 Subaru Forester. On their list of the best-selling SUVs, the Subaru Forester landed in 10th place with 176,996 units sold, while the Nissan Rogue claimed fourth place with 227,935 units sold. 

The insanely popular 2020 Toyota RAV4 landed in first place with 430,387 units sold, and the 2020 Chevy Blazer is currently in last place with 94,599 units sold. But we will focus on the Forester and Rogue for now. 

The Forester ranks highly with its excellent off-roading capabilities and standard all-wheel drive. The ground clearance is excellent, and the SUV is still practical for daily driving. But the Rogue comes standard with advanced safety tech and driver assistance features. It’s known for being a great daily driver with an impressive cargo capacity. 

Does the Rogue or Forester have a better performance? 

The 2020 Nissan Rogue has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 181 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 1,102 lbs, which is enough power to haul small, lightweight boats, bikes, and trailers. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.8 seconds, according to MotorTrend. 

With the 2020 Subaru Forester, you get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 1,500 lbs, so it’s only slightly stronger than the Rogue. Also, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.3 seconds. 

The Nissan Rogue gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and up to 33 mpg on the highway. The Subaru Forester has the same EPA-estimated fuel economy. Wow, these SUVs are neck and neck. 

Both options are known for having a sluggish acceleration with respectable handling and confident braking. The Subaru is a bit sportier but may have more wind noise. The Rogue may have a smoother ride over rough areas of the road. You can add intelligent all-wheel drive to the Rogue, but it’s standard with the Forester. 

Does the Forester or Rogue have better features? 

A white 2020 Subaru Forester compact SUV parked outside a log cabin overlooking mountains on a sunny day
2020 Subaru Forester | Subaru of America, Inc.

You can get started in a 2020 Nissan Rogue for about $25,490. The 2020 Subaru Forester begins at about $24,495. These prices are the MSRP before destination fees, and dealership fees have been added. 

The Rogue has 39.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats with up to 70 cubes total. In the Forester, you get 31.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats with up to 74.3 cubes total. Both options provide plenty of space for four adults to sit comfortably. 

With the Rogue, you get a 7.0-inch touchscreen. The Forester has a standard 6.5-inch display, but you can upgrade to the 8.0-inch unit. Both options come with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The Forester scored a bit higher in safety rating tests. The Rogue comes with blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, rear-cross traffic alert, while the Forester provides adaptive cruise control. 

Both of these options are very closely matched. The Rogue may have a more comfortable performance on the road, but the Forster is better equipped for adventures. They’re both excellent and popular choices to consider test driving. 

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.