Compact SUV Model Year Comparison
We carry both the 2026 and 2025 Nissan Rogue at Miracle Nissan of North Augusta, and the 2026 brings real upgrades worth knowing about. New trim options, expanded tech, and Nissan’s first-ever plug-in hybrid make the 2026 the more capable choice for most buyers in North Augusta, Beech Island, Augusta, and the surrounding Midlands.
The 2026 Nissan Rogue is the smarter buy for drivers who want more standard features, more powertrain options, and a fresh new trim without leaving Nissan’s most trusted compact SUV platform.
The 2025 Rogue was already one of the best compact SUVs on the market. The 2026 builds on that and pushes further in several directions at once.
Nissan added a completely new trim called the Dark Armor. It layers blackout styling, a panoramic moonroof, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a 360-degree camera into one mid-level package. None of that required buyers to step up to SL or Platinum pricing.
The bigger news is under the hood — or rather, plugged into the wall. The 2026 model year introduces the first-ever Nissan Rogue PHEV, delivering up to 38 miles of EPA-estimated all-electric range and a combined EPA-estimated 64 MPGe. For drivers in the Augusta metro who spend most days under 40 miles round-trip, that means most commutes run on electricity alone. Then, when you need it, you have a full gas tank and up to 420 miles of total EPA-estimated range.
Both the 2025 and 2026 Rogue gas models run the same 1.5L VC-Turbo three-cylinder. It makes 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, and it pairs with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. That engine is genuinely good. It uses variable-compression technology to squeeze class-competitive fuel efficiency out of a small turbocharged block.
The 2026 gas models return up to an EPA-estimated 29 city / 36 highway / 32 combined with front-wheel drive. The 2025 edges it slightly at 30/37/33 on FWD S and SV trims. We cover that honestly in the spec table below; one mile per gallon combined is the real-world gap, and it shows up most if you do heavy city driving.
For buyers who want to go much further on efficiency, the 2026 PHEV changes the conversation entirely. Its 248 combined horsepower also makes it quicker off the line than the standard gas model. AWD comes standard on every PHEV unit. Both model years offer available Intelligent AWD on gas trims, so drivers in Graniteville, New Ellenton, and the surrounding SC lowlands have solid all-weather options at any price point.
Nissan Safety Shield 360 comes standard on both model years across every trim level. That covers automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Full safety coverage starts at the base trim. No packages, no add-ons needed.
Where the 2026 moves forward is in how that technology is layered across the lineup. ProPILOT Assist 2.1 — Nissan’s hands-free semi-autonomous highway driving system — is available across multiple 2026 trim levels, expanding access compared to the 2025 lineup. That system handles speed, steering, and braking on mapped highways, which matters for drivers who commute between North Augusta and Columbia or make regular runs down I-20 toward Augusta.
The infotainment platform sees a refresh on the 2026, too. Higher trims gain a faster and more responsive 12.3-inch touchscreen with updated graphics and a redesigned wireless charging pad. The base 8-inch display with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto carries over on both model years. Google built-in is available on upper 2026 trims, bringing Google Maps and Google Assistant directly into the dash.
The Dark Armor is new for 2026, and it fills a real gap in the lineup. It takes the SV as its starting point, then adds a list of features that used to require stepping up to SL-level pricing.
Standard on every Dark Armor: gloss-black exterior accents, 19-inch gloss-black wheels, satin-black roof rails, a dual-panel panoramic moonroof, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 360-degree HD around-view camera system. The interior gains faux-leather upholstery with contrast stitching. Front-wheel drive is standard; AWD is available for buyers who want extra grip on wet Carolina roads.
There is no equivalent to the Dark Armor on the 2025 Rogue. The 2025 Rock Creek covers the adventure-ready end of the spectrum, but buyers who wanted a premium blackout look had to pay SL pricing. The 2026 closes that gap cleanly.
| Feature | 2026 Nissan Rogue | 2025 Nissan Rogue | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L VC-Turbo, 201 hp | 1.5L VC-Turbo, 201 hp | Equal |
| Transmission | Xtronic CVT | Xtronic CVT | Equal |
| Drivetrain | FWD std.; AWD avail. | FWD std.; AWD avail. | Equal |
| EPA MPG (FWD, base gas) | Up to 29/36/32 (est.) | Up to 30/37/33 (est.) | 2025 (+1 mpg combined) |
| Safety Suite | Safety Shield 360 — all trims | Safety Shield 360 — all trims | Equal |
| PHEV Option | Yes — 64 MPGe, 38 mi EV range | No | 2026 |
| Unique Styling Trim | Dark Armor (new) | Rock Creek only | 2026 |
| ProPILOT Assist 2.1 Availability | Multiple trim levels | Upper trims | 2026 |
| 12.3-inch Screen Availability | Platinum | SL and Platinum | 2026 |
| Infotainment Generation | Updated (2026) | Previous generation | 2026 |
| Warranty | 3/36 B-to-B; 5/60 Powertrain | 3/36 B-to-B; 5/60 Powertrain | Equal |
A straight acknowledgment: The 2025 Nissan Rogue returns slightly better EPA-estimated fuel economy on FWD gas models — up to 33 mpg combined compared to 32 mpg combined on the 2026 FWD. That one-mpg difference is real, and buyers who prioritize maximum gas efficiency on base or SV trims will find the 2025 a strong option. Both vehicles use the same engine. The 2025 simply tuned it for a slightly higher combined figure at those lower trims.
Your Decision, Made Simple
The right choice depends on what you actually use your SUV for. We can help you figure that out in about five minutes on our lot.
Choose the 2026 if: you want the PHEV for lower fuel costs on daily commutes, you like the Dark Armor’s look and features at a mid-level price, or you want the most current technology and the latest interior refinements, including updated infotainment graphics and a redesigned wireless charging pad. The 2026 is also the stronger long-term buy for anyone planning to keep their Rogue for five-plus years.
Choose the 2025 if: you want to maximize initial value and prefer the proven gas-only powertrain at a potential cost advantage. The 2025 Rogue is the same excellent platform and earns the same warranty coverage. For buyers who don’t need the PHEV or the Dark Armor, it remains a genuinely strong compact SUV.
Either way, we stock both. Come see them side-by-side at Miracle Nissan of North Augusta.
The 2026 introduces two things the 2025 doesn’t have: the Dark Armor trim with blackout styling, panoramic moonroof, 360-degree camera, and heated seats, and the first-ever Nissan Rogue PHEV with up to 38 miles of EPA-estimated all-electric range and 64 MPGe.
We carry Nissan Rogue inventory for both model years in North Augusta, SC, serving Augusta, Beech Island, Graniteville, New Ellenton, and Columbia. Contact us directly or browse our online inventory to see current PHEV and gas Rogue availability.
Yes, by a small margin on FWD gas models. The 2025 S and SV FWD trims earn an EPA-estimated 33 mpg combined, compared to 32 mpg combined on the 2026 FWD equivalents. Both use the same 1.5L VC-Turbo engine. The 2026 PHEV, however, achieves an EPA-estimated 64 MPGe on combined electric-and-gas driving.
The Dark Armor is a new 2026-exclusive trim built on the SV grade. It adds gloss-black exterior accents, 19-inch gloss-black wheels, satin-black roof rails, a dual-panel panoramic moonroof, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a 360-degree around-view camera as standard equipment on that trim.
Yes. Both model years carry Nissan’s standard factory coverage: a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Nissan also includes 2 years/24,000 miles of complimentary maintenance on new vehicles.
We carry both the 2025 and 2026 Nissan Rogue in stock right now. Whether you want the proven value of the 2025 or the upgraded features and plug-in hybrid option of the 2026, we have the trim and configuration to match. Come see us on Jefferson Davis Highway and drive them both.
Serving North Augusta, Beech Island, New Ellenton, Graniteville, Columbia SC, and Augusta GA