2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

In 2022, the Chevrolet Equinox received notable styling updates. Changes included a new grille design, advanced LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights, complemented by subtle rear fascia adjustments. The headlights were creatively bisected by trim pieces extending from the grille, giving the vehicle a sleeker appearance. The grille itself appeared more upright and was flanked by large faux air intakes, making the Equinox look slightly chunkier compared to its predecessor.

Unlike the rugged styling of Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4, which emphasized old-school, truck-based SUV aesthetics, the Equinox had a more car-based crossover look. However, its tall roofline and enhanced front fascia provided a balanced appearance, unlike the car-like Ford Escape. The dashboard design was notably creative, consisting of two petal-like elements with an easily accessible touchscreen and large air vents in the center. This cohesiveness in design was a rare sight in commodity crossovers.

Interior materials and the fit and finish were decent, especially considering the vehicle's price point. Most trim levels came standard with cloth seats, but options for perforated leather upholstery were available. The RS model stood out with black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, a black interior with red stitching, and a unique shift knob. While the black exterior trim added personality, the interior felt a bit too subdued, resembling a taxi's insides.

Nissan played it safe but effective with the 2023 Rogue design. It featured well-proportioned, chiseled styling, complete with just the right amount of SUV detailing to convey a rugged sense of purpose, essential for consumer appeal. The lineup included S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from $27,360 to $37,140, plus a $1,295 destination charge. Each trim level offered additional Premium and Midnight Edition package options.

The test vehicle, equipped in Platinum trim, came with a premium option package that included AWD, two-tone paint, a frameless rearview mirror, and a first-aid kit, among other features, hiking up its MSRP to $43,100. This price point overlapped with the entry-luxury levels of the Infiniti QX50, a compact crossover from Nissan’s luxury brand. However, it did offer a myriad of upscale features, most notable in its soft, diamond-pattern leather seats and other soft-touch materials on the dashboard and controls, giving it a superior quality feel.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox streamlined its powertrain options to a single choice: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered either FWD or AWD. Despite having less horsepower compared to rivals, the Equinox boasted more torque than many.

In city driving, the Equinox’s turbo-four engine showed its value. With peak torque available between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm, the vehicle accelerated smoothly from stops. However, at higher speeds, the lack of horsepower became apparent. The engine felt coarse and unresponsive at higher rpm, making overtaking on highways a challenge and exposing some roughness in shifts.

Though the RS trim had sporty aesthetics, the Equinox wasn’t designed for sporty handling. Its performance felt less refined compared to competitors like the Mazda CX-5 or Honda CR-V. It was decently comfortable on poorly maintained roads but lacked the solid feel and refinement.

For 2023, the Nissan Rogue featured a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with variable compression design. This VC-Turbo engine replaced the previous 2.5-liter four-cylinder, boasting 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 pound-feet of torque from 2,800 rpm to 4,000 rpm. Paired with a CVT that included paddle shifters, this engine powered the Rogue’s front wheels, with AWD available as an option. It also came with three driving modes and additional modes for AWD versions.

The new VC-Turbo powertrain improved the Rogue’s urban and suburban responsiveness but fell short in highway passing power. The engine had a unique sound and vibrational character, likely due to its three-cylinder configuration, which some may find less refined.

Fuel economy for the test vehicle was expected to be 31 mpg combined but averaged 28.9 mpg during testing. The Rogue’s suspension and handling systems, including Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, provided a balanced drive, but the handling over varied road surfaces revealed some unwanted body motion. Steering felt lifeless, though the ride quality was generally composed.

The 2022 Equinox offered seating for five with decent headroom in both rows, though legroom could feel slightly restricted for front seat occupants. The seating position was tall, enhancing driver visibility, although the rear pillars and small rear window created some blind spot challenges.

In terms of cargo space, Chevy advertised 29.9 cubic feet with the rear seats up, expanding to 63.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. These figures were on the lower end within its segment. The vehicle’s design included a prominent cluster of climate control buttons and knobs, which some might find awkward but were functionally accessible. While the Equinox featured a power liftgate, it lacked useful options like a sliding second-row seat or additional cargo area storage bins seen in competitors.

By contrast, the 2023 Rogue provided a versatile and family-friendly interior. It was spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably, with the ability to seat a fifth person when necessary. The test vehicle came with premium features including a triple-zone automatic climate control system, a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, and heated, diamond-stitched leather front seats.

The rear doors opened nearly 90 degrees, aiding in easy loading and unloading. The ample rear seat space was somewhat compromised by uncomfortable seating, with the bottom cushion mounted low, offering little leg support.

Cargo space in the Rogue was generous, boasting up to 36.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Divide-N-Hide feature allowed versatile cargo management with six different configurations, providing underfloor storage areas as well.

The Equinox came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims included an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen, with optional navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system.

The infotainment system, praised for its user-friendly interface and responsiveness, featured large, smartphone-like menu icons and clear graphics. The availability of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant advantage over competitors, who often required tethered connections. The vehicle included multiple USB ports and power outlets, though a dedicated space for phones was noticeably small.

The 2023 Rogue’s infotainment system featured an 8-inch or optional 9-inch touchscreen with stereo volume and tuning knobs. The test vehicle had the 9-inch screen with Bluetooth, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a navigation system with smartphone compatibility. It also included a wireless charging pad and a Bose premium audio system. Newly introduced Alexa Built-in was standard for the Rogue Platinum.

Although the infotainment attempted to be comprehensive, voice recognition was subpar. Experiences with the Alexa Built-in were disappointing, failing simple navigation tasks and highlighting the need for improved voice-command functionality. The vehicle also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display, both performing well during testing.

The 2022 Equinox earned strong safety ratings, receiving top “Good” scores in most IIHS crash tests but a “Marginal” rating in the updated side crash test. It achieved the highest “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle tests and earned an “Advanced” rating in vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall rating.

Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, a Safety Alert Seat, and Teen Driver system. Optional features encompassed adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera.

The 2023 Rogue came equipped with a comprehensive range of safety features. Standard offerings included 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder, and the Safety Shield 360 suite, which bundled collision avoidance and driver-assist technologies like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring.

Higher trims added ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. This system performed well in real-world testing, providing clear and effective lane-keeping and adaptive responses. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, albeit with “Marginal” and “Acceptable” scores in updated tests. NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall rating, despite four-star ratings for frontal-impact collisions.