Compare the2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-In HybridVS 2026 Ford Explorer

The Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Explorer doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Explorer doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Explorer.

Both the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid and the Explorer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 13th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 5 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 310) than the Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Explorer:

On the EPA test cycle the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Explorer:

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 38 miles. The Explorer can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Explorer doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Explorer requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port with a power remote release convenient to the driver and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Explorer doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid higher (6 out of 10) than the Ford Explorer (5 to 6). This means the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Explorer every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Explorer:

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Explorer ST are solid, not vented.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Explorer’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Explorer.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Explorer doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Explorer’s (36.2 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Explorer (7.9 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid is 1 foot, 1.3 inches shorter than the Explorer, making the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid has .6 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more third row hip room than the Explorer.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid’s middle and third row seats recline. The Explorer’s third row seats don’t recline.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Explorer doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Explorer (except Active), the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid Platinum has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Explorer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Explorer’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Explorer’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Explorer doesn’t offer headlight washers.

When the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid Platinum is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Explorer’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Explorer and isn’t available on the Explorer Active.