The would-be trail-tackler’s squared-off looks suggest serious storage space
While the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek we borrowed for a week definitely focused on light off-roading rather than long-distance hauling, we think a good small SUV should be able to do both. It’s important to consider how the Rogue stacks up against other small SUV segment leaders, like the Honda CR-V. The results speak for themselves, so let’s get to it.
Steven Paul
Steven Paul
By the numbers, the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek cargo capacity isn’t class-leading
The spec sheet says that the 2025 Nissan Rogue touts 74.1 cubic feet of cargo space when the second row of seats is folded down. Nissan’s own website suggests comparing the Rogue to the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Hyundai Tucson. With 74.1 cubic feet of cargo space, the Rogue trounces the Ford Escape, which trails by 10 cubic feet. The Honda CR-V is so close that it won’t really make a difference, with 76.5 cubic feet of space. The Tucson, though, wins handily, offering 80.3 cubic feet. The stats remain close between all four if you leave the second-row of seats up. In that scenario, the Rogue Rock Creek offers 36.5 cubic feet of space, which trails all competitors but is within two cubic feet of the Tucson and Escape.
The Rogue utilizes space better than some competitors
While the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek’s cargo capacity may look lacking on paper, it’s only half the story. The Rogue is a couple of inches shorter than the CR-V and narrower than all the competitors mentioned here, making it perhaps more maneuverable but obviously sapping some space. In practice, the Rogue offers just as much—if not more—usability than its rivals. As usual, we’ve crammed four pieces of average-sized cargo into the Rogue. The black duffel measures 11.5 x 18.5 x 9.0, and there’s a smaller teal/green bag measuring 16.1 x 8.3 x 15.7. The blue roller/hardcase measures 13.6 x 9.5 x 20.9, and the striped black and white bag measures 21.3 x 10.3 x 11.8.
Steven Pauls
Steven Paul
As you can see, the space fills up quickly, but all four pieces of luggage fit without any trouble, and you could fit two or three more similarly sized bags if you wanted to really optimize the floor space. You could also quite comfortably stack at least the same amount of luggage on without obstructing the driver’s view. The Rogue’s wheel-well cutouts are certainly more storage-friendly than those in the Tucson and CR-V, and there’s even a full-size spare underneath it all, which is a rare but welcome addition. Folding down the back seats—which go almost completely flat—reveal that there’s still plenty of space for a few more suitcases or bags, depending on what you need to bring. Folding the seats is a simple process, thanks to latches that are easily accessible from the trunk.
Final thoughts
The new CR-V, which I have had experience with, is the clear frontrunner in this segment. Even so, I actually think the Rogue Rock Creek has better, more usable space behind the second row. The dimensions of the trunk make it so that the trunk lends itself particularly well to stacking and fitting squared-off objects. The Rogue, therefore, receives more than a passing grade when facing the Autoblog luggage test—it’s a great choice if you need a small mid-size SUV.
About the author
Steven Paul
Contributing Writer, Autoblog