Nissan Rogue vs Toyota Highlander: Specs Compared
Also searched as Toyota Highlander vs Nissan Rogue specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Toyota Highlander is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 36 mpg combined versus 34 mpg for the Nissan Rogue, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Toyota Highlander leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Nissan Rogue
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 56 configurations
2015–2026
Toyota Highlander
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 72 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Nissan Rogue | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 34 mpg | 36 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 33 mpg | 36 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 37 mpg ✓ | 35 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $1,800 | $1,700 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 261 g/mi | 245 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI, SIDI; Stop-Start, 2.5, SIDI; Hybrid | SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-Start, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-start |
| Transmissions | Automatic (AV-S8), Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic (AV-S7) | Automatic (AV-S6), Automatic (S8), Automatic (S6) |
| Drivetrains | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 56 | 72 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Nissan Rogue vs Toyota Highlander dimensions and size
The Toyota Highlander is 12.2 inches longer than the Nissan Rogue on a wheelbase 5.9 inches longer, and 577.6 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Nissan Rogue (2026) | Toyota Highlander (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 182.7 in | 194.9 in | 12.2 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 72.4 in | 76 in | 3.5 in |
| Height | 66.5 in | 68.1 in | 1.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in | 112.2 in | 5.9 in |
| Curb weight | 3,545 lbs | 4,123 lbs | 578 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Nissan Rogue vs Toyota Highlander: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Toyota Highlander burns about $1,700 of fuel annually against $1,800 for the Nissan Rogue. That $100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $500 over five years and $800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Toyota Highlander is the stronger commuter at 36 mpg city, while the Nissan Rogue pulls ahead on the interstate at 37 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Nissan Rogue is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, SIDI; Stop-Start, 2.5), the Toyota Highlander with 4 (SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-Start). Across 56 recorded Nissan Rogue configurations and 72 for the Toyota Highlander, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Nissan Rogue is offered with Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, the Toyota Highlander with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Toyota Highlander emits 245 g/mile of CO2 versus 261 g/mile for the Nissan Rogue. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Rogue vs Highlander: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Nissan Rogue or the Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 36 mpg combined versus 34 mpg for the Nissan Rogue, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Toyota Highlander runs about $1,700 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $1,800 for the Nissan Rogue — a difference of roughly $100 per year.
What engines do the Rogue and Highlander offer?
Nissan Rogue: SIDI, SIDI; Stop-Start, 2.5, SIDI; Hybrid. Toyota Highlander: SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-Start, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-start.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Nissan Rogue as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Toyota Highlander as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Rogue comparisons
More Highlander comparisons
Comparison id: nissan-rogue-vs-toyota-highlander