The Nissan Rogue is the type of vehicle that critics either love or hate. The Subaru Forester, on the other hand, tends to run under the radar, but has a loyal following. There is one that is much cheaper in the long-term, however, and the final cost difference is staggering.

You won’t find many differences on the 2023 Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester

From the starting price to the specs, the Subaru Forester and Nissan Rogue have so much in common, it’s hard to really compare them based on this alone. There are a few notable differences, however.

For one, all-wheel driver comes standard on the Forester, as it does on almost all Subarus except the BRZ. The Nissan Rogue base model comes with front-wheel drive.

Another difference is that the Rogue is equipped with alloy wheels, while the Forester has steel. 

 Surprisingly, the Forester gets more ground clearance than the Rogue. It has 8.7 inches, as compared to the Rogue’s 8.2 inches ground clearance.

Finally, the Rogue gets better fuel mileage. Drivers will get 30 city, 37 highway, and 33 MPG combined. The Forester only gets 26 city, 33 highway, and 29 combined by comparison.

Other than that, there really aren’t that many differences. Here are the areas where the two are almost equal.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue and 2023 Subaru Forester have almost identical specs

There’s absolutely no difference in the warranties, although there rarely is with most automakers unless you’re comparing it to Kia. The curb weight is a mere two pounds difference. The length is 0.3 inches in difference, and cargo space is 2.7 inches. 

None of these factors are enough to really determine which vehicle you should buy. If you’re on the fence between the Nissan Rogue and the Subaru Forester, however, then the five-year cost to own, courtesy of Edmunds, could clear things up very quickly.

Which vehicle will save you in the long term?

The MSRP for a base model 2023 Nissan Rogue is $27,360. The true cost to own over five years is $40,489. The Subaru Forester is significantly cheaper. It already starts out with a lower price of $26,495. That’s only about $800 less, but the price gap only grows. In the next five years, Edmunds estimates that owners will pay out $9,709, for a total of $36,204.

In terms of insurance, this really depends on several factors such as the state you live in, your driving record, and in some cases, even your credit score. There is about $100 difference between the two, however, with the Forester being the cheaper option.

Maintenance is another big factor, as the Forester is almost $1,000 cheaper. Some people prefer to do their own basic maintenance like changing the oil in their vehicle, but for bigger ticket items, Forester owners will definitely feel less stressed swinging by their local dealership or mechanic.

There are two areas where the Forester costs more than the Rogue. Edmunds estimates that it will cost $8,021 to fuel the Rogue over five years, while Forester owners will invest $9,113. This goes back to the superior fuel mileage that the Rogue gets.

The other area where the Rogue surpasses the Forester in terms of overall cost is in repairs. Owners can expect to pay $768 on the Rogue versus $793.

Other than these two factors, owners who buy the Forester will save significantly more. They’ll also be better suited for going off-road if that interests them.