2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave showcased Buick's shift from conservative styling to a more modern and upscale design. Historically, Buick's designs were softer and less aggressive, catering to an older demographic focused on comfort and tradition. However, the Enclave's 2022 refresh included several exterior enhancements like a new grille, updated fascias, and redesigned headlamps and taillamps. The Avenir trim level featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels, elevating its visual appeal. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled center console, upgraded materials, and available heated, cooled, and massaging front seats, making it a comfortable and luxurious option. In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue maintained a more conservative design approach, focusing on proper proportions and rugged SUV detailing. The Rogue lineup included S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from $27,360 to $37,140. The Platinum trim, which we tested, came with a host of upscale features, including diamond-pattern leather seats and a range of optional packages. Despite its entry-luxury price, the Rogue's interior materials and controls met the quality standards of the compact SUV segment, offering a comfortable and appealing cabin.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept things straightforward with a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for the Enclave's 4,300-pound frame. The Enclave offered a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Avenir Technology package, featured a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping, ensuring a comfortable ride on various terrains. The Enclave's AWD system and 7.5 inches of ground clearance made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions. The 2023 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, featured a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with variable compression technology, replacing the previous 2.5-liter four-cylinder. This engine produced 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Rogue offered Eco, Auto, and Sport driving modes, with additional Off-Road and Snow modes for AWD versions. While the new powertrain provided responsive performance in urban and suburban settings, it lacked passing power on the highway. The Rogue's fuel economy fell short of expectations, averaging 28.9 mpg in combined driving. The SUV's ride quality and handling were generally good, but the steering felt lifeless, and the rear seat comfort was lacking.

The 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in interior space and comfort. With easy ingress and egress, excellent visibility, and standard power-adjustable heated front seats, the Enclave provided a comfortable driving experience. The spacious cabin accommodated six full-size adults comfortably, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in all three rows. The second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easy, and the power-folding third-row seats added convenience. The Enclave offered 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The 2023 Nissan Rogue also provided a practical and spacious interior, making it a suitable replacement for a traditional family car. The Rogue's rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle, facilitating easy loading and unloading. Our test vehicle featured premium semi-aniline leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the rear seat comfort was disappointing, with low-mounted cushions and diamond-shaped pleats that felt uncomfortable. The Rogue offered 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Divide-N-Hide feature allowed for versatile cargo configurations.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system supported up to 10 paired devices and included a built-in WiFi hotspot. Additional features included adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and HD surround vision, enhancing the driving experience. The 2023 Nissan Rogue featured an older infotainment system with an 8-inch or available 9-inch touchscreen display. Our test vehicle had the larger screen, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a navigation system. The Rogue also included a wireless smartphone charging pad and a Bose premium audio system. However, the voice recognition technology was unreliable, and the key fob design was frustrating. The Rogue's digital instrumentation display and head-up display worked well, providing clear information to the driver.

The 2022 Buick Enclave received significant safety updates, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package now standard on all trims. This package included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance, rear park assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features on higher trims included enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, and rear pedestrian alert. The Enclave earned high safety ratings from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test. The 2023 Nissan Rogue came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder system, and Safety Shield 360. This package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims offered ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received lower scores in some crash tests.