2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement with its imposing size and unapologetic design. Its massive grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were scaled to match its bulk, with the taillights evoking classic Cadillac tailfins. The front end, with its tall hood and vertical running lights, resembled a diesel locomotive more than a car. The various styling elements came together to create a distinct look that emphasized the vehicle's size, with 22-inch wheels appearing small against the vast expanse of sheet metal.

The Escalade followed Cadillac's pattern of offering different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featured bright exterior trim and wheels, while the Sport trim had darkened trim, including a mesh grille. Despite sharing its body-on-frame architecture with other GM full-size SUVs and trucks, the Escalade managed to maintain a luxurious appeal. Inside, it offered leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, though it lacked a cohesive design theme and included some cheap-looking plastic bits.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, presented a more conservative design approach, with proper proportions and chiseled styling that conveyed a rugged sense of purpose. The Rogue lineup included S, SV, SL, and Platinum trim levels, with prices ranging from $27,360 to $37,140, plus a $1,295 destination charge. The SV, SL, and Platinum trims offered optional Premium packages, while the new Midnight Edition package was exclusive to the SV trim.

Our test vehicle, a Platinum trim with the Premium option package, came with AWD, two-tone paint, a frameless rearview mirror, floor mats, a cargo area protector, interior accent lighting, exterior ground lighting, illuminated kick plates, and a first-aid kit. These upgrades brought the Rogue's MSRP to $43,100, overlapping with the entry-level Infiniti QX50. The Platinum trim offered upscale features, including soft, diamond-pattern leather seats and high-quality materials, though it lacked the passing power on the highway and had some engine noise and vibration issues.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain choices: a standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a $100 optional Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or optional four-wheel-drive (4WD) drivetrains. A 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V performance model was available, featuring a 682-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8.

We tested the Escalade diesel, which delivered smooth power and impressive torque at low RPMs, making it easy to drive in various situations. However, the brake pedal felt hard and uninspiring. The gasoline engine had a slight towing advantage with a maximum capacity of 8,200 pounds, compared to the diesel's 8,100 pounds. Despite its independent rear suspension and available air suspension and Magnetic Ride Control dampers, the Escalade's ride felt unsettled and un-luxurious, with noticeable body motion and vibrations.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, equipped with a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine featuring variable compression design, produced 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 pound-feet of torque from 2,800 to 4,000 rpm. The engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and offered front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional AWD. The Rogue provided Eco, Auto, and Sport driving modes, with additional Off-Road and Snow modes for AWD versions.

We preferred the new VC-Turbo powertrain over the previous 2.5-liter four-cylinder, as it felt responsive in urban and suburban driving. However, it lacked passing power on the highway and had some engine noise and vibration issues. The Rogue's fuel economy fell short of expectations, averaging 28.9 mpg compared to the EPA's 31 mpg estimate. The Rogue's ride quality was generally good, with Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control enhancing cornering and ride comfort, though it exhibited more body motion on undulating pavement and had lifeless steering.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, while the extended Escalade ESV was a cousin of the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL. The standard Escalade measured 211.9 inches long, while the ESV was 15.1 inches longer at 227 inches. This platform sharing resulted in a cavernous cabin with the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs. The Escalade offered second-row captain's chairs and a 60/40 power split-folding third-row bench seat, with a power-folding 60/40 bench seat available as a no-cost option.

The Escalade excelled in cargo space, offering 25.5 cubic feet with all seats in place, 63.0 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. However, the raised center console provided limited storage space, and the 12-way power adjustable front seats with massage and lumbar support felt like they could have come from one of the Escalade's GM cousins. Cadillac did include dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation and large sun visors for the expansive side-window glass.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue served as a practical replacement for a traditional family car, accommodating four people comfortably and a fifth person when necessary. Our Platinum test vehicle featured a triple-zone automatic climate control system, a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, and premium semi-aniline leather upholstery with diamond-stitched inserts. Both front seats were heated, with the driver's seat offering eight-way power adjustment and the front passenger's seat offering four-way power adjustment. However, ventilated front seats were not available.

The Rogue's Zero Gravity seat designs provided comfort, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Outward visibility was good, but the ambient interior lighting control button was oddly placed inside the split-top center armrest storage bin. The Rogue's rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle, making it easy to load and unload kids. The rear seat offered ample space for adults, though the bottom cushion was mounted low and lacked leg support. Storage space was plentiful but unlined, potentially causing unwanted noise and vibration.

The Rogue's cargo area offered up to 36.5 cubic feet of space behind the back seat, with the Divide-N-Hide feature allowing for six different configurations. Folding the back seats down expanded the cargo space to 74.1 cubic feet, with underfloor storage areas included.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured an elaborate 38-inch curved OLED display, consisting of a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch screen for trip-computer functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, were standard. The display was well-integrated into the dashboard, with icons arranged to fit its shape. Physical toggles for climate control and other functions were retained.

However, the carousel format for changing radio stations was awkward to use while driving, and the rotary controller felt like an afterthought. The Escalade's infotainment system lacked natural language voice recognition. The OLED screens provided excellent resolution for the 360-degree camera system, and the rearview camera mirror eliminated blind spots. Additional tech features included a head-up display, night vision, augmented-reality navigation, and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system, though the latter was difficult to tune properly.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue used an older version of Nissan's infotainment system, with a standard 8-inch or available 9-inch touchscreen display. Our test vehicle had the larger 9-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, NissanConnect services with a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a navigation system with a door-to-door function via a smartphone app. It also featured a wireless smartphone charging pad and a Bose premium audio system. Alexa Built-in was new for 2023 and standard in the Rogue Platinum.

The voice recognition technology struggled with basic commands, and the system failed to find common points of interest. The test vehicle also had a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display, both of which worked well.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came with standard driver-assist tech, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (front and rear), front and rear park assist, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on Premium Luxury and higher trims, with trailer blind-spot monitoring standard on Premium Luxury Platinum trims and above. Super Cruise, a $2,500 option on most trims, offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways and used a driver-facing camera to ensure safety.

Super Cruise impressed with its smooth and natural responses, though it occasionally disengaged for unknown reasons. The Escalade lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA for this model year.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder system, and Safety Shield 360. This included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims included ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance.

ProPilot Assist worked well on Los Angeles freeways, with clear digital instrumentation and effective lane-departure warnings. However, braking action could be abrupt when other vehicles cut in. The 2023 Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received Marginal and Acceptable scores in updated small overlap frontal-impact and side-impact tests, respectively.