How the 2026 Rogue Stacks Up Against the RAV4 Shopping for a compact SUV in 2026 puts two familiar names near the top of almost every list. Nissan's Rogue rolls in with a turbocharged gas engine and a fresh mid-year refresh, while Toyota's RAV4 goes all-in on hybrid power for its newest generation. Both seat five, both haul groceries and gear with room to spare, and both have loyal fans who swear by them. Picking between them comes down to how you drive and what you want under the hood. The refreshed Rogue starts lower and runs on a turbocharged 1.5-liter gas engine with strong low-end torque. RAV4 shoppers now choose between hybrid and plug-in hybrid power, since gas-only is gone. Your pick hinges on whether you want gas simplicity at a friendlier price or hybrid mileage with extra towing muscle. Power Under the Hood Nissan's Rogue uses a 1.5-liter VC-Turbo three-cylinder that makes 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. That torque arrives low in the rev range, so you get a quick pull off the line and confident merging. Pair it with front-wheel drive or Intelligent AWD, which adds five drive modes for snow, sand, and everything between. For 2026, Toyota builds every RAV4 around a hybrid setup. The standard 2.5-liter hybrid makes 226 horsepower with front-wheel drive and 236 horsepower with all-wheel drive. Step up to the plug-in hybrid, and you get 324 combined horsepower, the strongest setup in this matchup. Gas Mileage and Range Hybrid power pays off at the pump. Front-drive RAV4 hybrids carry EPA ratings of 47 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, and Toyota lists up to 54 miles of electric-only driving on the plug-in SE. Those are big numbers if a long commute eats your gas budget. Rogue trims answer with up to 32 mpg combined up front and 31 mpg with all-wheel drive. That won't match a hybrid on paper, but you skip the higher sticker of electrified hardware. For drivers chasing a lower monthly payment, the math often works out fine. Cargo, Towing, and Everyday Room Both SUVs give families plenty of space. Nissan quotes up to 36.5 cubic feet behind the Rogue's second row, while Toyota quotes up to 37.8 cubic feet for the RAV4 without saying which row that figure is measured behind. Since the two brands report cargo room differently, a tape measure and your own gear tell you more than the spec sheet does. Towing tips toward Toyota. Most all-wheel-drive RAV4 grades pull up to 3,500 pounds, though front-drive versions and the hybrid LE with AWD are rated at 1,750. The Rogue tows 1,500 pounds across the board. If a small camper is in your future, the RAV4 has the edge. For bikes or a light pop-up, the Rogue handles weekend hauls fine. Tech and Safety Inside, the Rogue runs an 8-inch touchscreen on most trims and jumps to a crisp 12.3-inch display on the Platinum. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard everywhere, though you'll need the Platinum for the wireless version. ProPILOT Assist, Nissan's hands-on highway helper, is standard from the SV up, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection lands on every model. Over in the RAV4, you get a 10.5-inch touchscreen standard, a larger 12.9-inch unit higher up, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster on every grade. Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 rides along on each one, bundling adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist, and pre-collision braking. Both brands load up on driver aids, so neither leaves you shortchanged. 2026 Nissan Rogue vs. Toyota RAV4 Trim and Spec Comparison Category 2026 Nissan Rogue 2026 Toyota RAV4 Starting MSRP, excludes destination $29,490 S trim per Nissan press kit. Nissan's consumer specs page lists SV FWD at $30,490 as its lowest shown trim $31,900 hybrid LE FWD Trim Levels S, SV, Dark Armor, Rock Creek, Platinum. The S is listed in press materials but is not shown on Nissan's consumer specs page HEV LE, SE, XLE Premium, Woodland, XSE, Limited plus PHEV SE, Woodland, XSE, GR SPORT Engine 1.5L VC-Turbo 3-cylinder 2.5L 4-cylinder hybrid or plug-in hybrid Horsepower 201 hp 226 hp FWD / 236 hp AWD hybrid; 324 hp plug-in hybrid Torque 225 lb-ft 163 lb-ft gas engine, plus 153 lb-ft front electric motor and 89 lb-ft rear motor on AWD. Toyota does not publish a combined system torque figure Transmission Xtronic CVT Electronic CVT Drivetrain FWD or Intelligent AWD FWD or electronic AWD; AWD standard on plug-in hybrid Fuel Economy (best) Up to 32 mpg combined (FWD) 43 mpg combined, hybrid FWD, EPA. Toyota lists a manufacturer estimate of 44 mpg combined Electric-Only Range Not available Up to 54 miles, plug-in hybrid SE per Toyota Max Towing 1,500 lb 3,500 lb on most AWD grades. FWD models and hybrid LE AWD are rated 1,750 lb Cargo Room Up to 36.5 cu ft behind 2nd row per Nissan Up to 37.8 cu ft. Toyota does not publish a row-by-row breakdown, so the two figures are not measured the same way Seating 5 5 Standard Touchscreen 8-in, 12.3-in on Platinum. CarPlay and Android Auto standard on all trims, wireless on Platinum 10.5-in, 12.9-in available. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto standard Driver Assist ProPILOT Assist (SV and up) Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 (standard) Basic Warranty 3 yr / 36,000 mi 3 yr / 36,000 mi Powertrain Warranty 5 yr / 60,000 mi 5 yr / 60,000 mi Hybrid Battery Warranty Not applicable 10 yr / 150,000 mi Matching the Right SUV to Your Kentucky Commute Run through the 2026 Nissan Rogue vs. Toyota RAV4 matchup, and a pattern shows up fast. On mpg and towing, the RAV4 comes out ahead, which suits drivers logging heavy highway miles or pulling a trailer. Nissan's Rogue counters with a lower entry price, torquey turbo response, and gas that's easy on the wallet and easy to find. Kentucky drivers who want a roomy daily crossover without the hybrid price bump tend to pick the Rogue. Its refreshed cabin makes long drives to Lexington feel relaxed. Why Buy Your Next Rogue at Gates Nissan At Gates Nissan of Richmond, we love helping Central Kentucky drivers see these two SUVs side by side. Sliding behind the wheel settles a comparison like this faster than any spec sheet, so we keep a strong selection of 2026 Rogue trims ready for you to test drive around Richmond, Lexington, and Nicholasville. Our team can walk you through the turbo powertrain, the AWD drive modes, and the tech on each trim, no pressure. When you're ready, our finance crew works with local and national lenders to fit a payment to your budget, and our Nissan-certified techs keep your Rogue running strong for years. Stop by and let us help you find the compact SUV that fits your life.
Nissan Frontier Towing Capacity: Real Numbers by Trim and Drivetrain
How Much Weight Every 2026 Frontier Configuration Can Pull Ask three Frontier owners how much their truck pulls and you'll probably hear three different numbers. All of them can be right. Nissan builds this midsize pickup in enough cab, bed, and drivetrain combinations that the trailer rating swings by almost 900 pounds across the lineup. Every 2026 Frontier runs the same 310-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 and 9-speed automatic, so trim never changes the engine. Ratings run from 7,150 pounds in the King Cab S 4x2 down to 6,270 pounds in the PRO-4X Crew Cab Long Bed 4x4. Cab style, bed length, and drivetrain move the number far more than the badge on the tailgate does. One Engine, Eleven Different Answers Nissan keeps things simple under the hood. A 3.8-liter direct-injection V6 rated at 310 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 281 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm powers every grade, backed by a 9-speed automatic. No four-cylinder base engine, no diesel, no hybrid to sort through. So why does the Nissan Frontier towing capacity move around so much? Weight. Each build carries a different curb weight, and whatever the truck weighs is the weight the powertrain isn't using to pull a trailer. Cab and Bed Move the Needle Most The highest rating in the lineup belongs to the least expensive truck. A King Cab S 4x2 with the 6-foot bed is rated at 7,150 pounds. Slide over to a Crew Cab S 4x2, and you're at 7,070, which costs you 80 pounds for two extra doors and a fifth seat. Stretch out to the Crew Cab Long Bed in SV trim, and the 4x2 rating settles at 6,920 pounds. Longer trucks ride better behind a trailer, but that extra length shows up on the scale, too. What Four-Wheel Drive Costs on Paper Adding 4x4 shaves 110 to 160 pounds off the trailer rating across the board. King Cab S drops from 7,150 to 7,000. Crew Cab S goes from 7,070 to 6,960. SV Long Bed slides from 6,920 down to 6,760. The transfer case, front driveshaft, and the rest of the four-wheel-drive hardware all add to curb weight. Payload takes an even bigger hit. That same King Cab S gives up 160 pounds of payload moving from 4x2 to 4x4, dropping from 1,590 to 1,430. Tongue weight counts against payload rather than towing, so watch that column closely. The PRO-4X Trades Numbers for Trail Hardware PRO-4X buyers give up the most on the spec sheet, and they usually know it going in. Bilstein off-road shocks, an electronic locking rear differential, skid plates over the oil pan and fuel tank, and 265/70R17 all-terrain tires all weigh something. A PRO-4X Crew Cab 4x4 with the 5-foot bed tows 6,680 pounds. Order the Long Bed version, and it lands at 6,270, the lowest figure Nissan publishes for 2026. PRO-X, a 4x2 grade with a similar look, rates at 6,900 pounds. 2026 Nissan Frontier Towing and Payload by Trim Grade Cab and Bed Drivetrain Max Towing Max Payload EPA City / Hwy / Comb S King Cab, 6-foot bed 4x2 7,150 lbs 1,590 lbs 19 / 24 / 21 mpg S King Cab, 6-foot bed 4x4 7,000 lbs 1,430 lbs 17 / 21 / 19 mpg S Crew Cab, 5-foot bed 4x2 7,070 lbs 1,490 lbs 19 / 24 / 21 mpg S Crew Cab, 5-foot bed 4x4 6,960 lbs 1,330 lbs 17 / 21 / 19 mpg SV Crew Cab, 5-foot bed 4x2 7,000 lbs 1,480 lbs 19 / 24 / 21 mpg SV Crew Cab, 5-foot bed 4x4 6,880 lbs 1,310 lbs 17 / 21 / 19 mpg SV Crew Cab Long Bed, 6-foot 4x2 6,920 lbs 1,400 lbs 19 / 24 / 21 mpg SV Crew Cab Long Bed, 6-foot 4x4 6,760 lbs 1,200 lbs 17 / 21 / 19 mpg PRO-X Crew Cab, 5-foot bed 4x2 6,900 lbs 1,430 lbs 19 / 24 / 21 mpg PRO-4X Crew Cab, 5-foot bed 4x4 6,680 lbs 1,220 lbs 16 / 20 / 18 mpg PRO-4X Crew Cab Long Bed, 6-foot 4x4 6,270 lbs 1,100 lbs 16 / 20 / 18 mpg Towing and payload figures are maximums for properly equipped 2026 Frontier models as published by Nissan. Actual capacity varies with options and equipment. Check the Window Sticker Before You Hitch Up One detail trips people up at the lot. The Class IV tow hitch receiver and its wiring aren't standard on any 2026 Frontier, and Nissan doesn't offer them from the factory on the S grade at all. They come bundled in the SV Convenience Package or the PRO Convenience Package on PRO-X and PRO-4X. Tow-Haul Mode follows the same pattern, standard on the PRO grades and packaged on SV. Trailer Sway Control is standard on SV and PRO grades, while hill start assist shows up on every truck. Picking a Frontier That Matches Your Trailer Pulling a bass boat, a pair of jet skis, or a utility trailer under 4,000 pounds? Any Frontier in the lineup handles that load without breaking a sweat. Shopping a travel trailer in the 5,500 to 6,500 range tightens things up, and that's where the 4x2 builds earn their keep with a little breathing room left over. Four-wheel drive for a slick boat ramp or a muddy Kentucky job site narrows the field. Most 4x4 builds land between 6,760 and 7,000 pounds, while the PRO-4X drops to 6,680 with the short bed and 6,270 with the long one. The largest number Nissan publishes is for the King Cab S 4x2, which also happens to be the least expensive Frontier on the lot. See the Frontier Lineup in Person at Gates Nissan Numbers on a page only go so far. We stock Frontier trucks in a mix of cab styles, bed lengths, and drivetrains at our Richmond store, and the fastest way to settle a towing question is to read the door jamb sticker on the truck you're actually considering. Our team can point out which packages add the Class IV hitch receiver and Tow-Haul Mode, then let you compare a 4x2 against a 4x4 back-to-back. Bring your trailer's weight numbers along, and we'll steer you toward a build with room to spare. Our service department can add a hitch receiver later if the right truck shows up without one.