2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade, which replaced the Santa Fe XL as Hyundai's flagship SUV, showcased a sophisticated and striking exterior design. It featured distinctive lines, a prominent grille, and expressive LED lighting, making it stand out in the crowded SUV market. The interior was equally impressive, with high-quality materials, a horizontally arrayed screen, and spacious seating for up to eight passengers. The Palisade's fit and finish were near-luxury levels, making it a worthy flagship for Hyundai.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue had a more conservative design approach, with proper proportions and rugged SUV detailing. The Rogue lineup included various trims, with the Platinum trim offering upscale features like diamond-pattern leather seats and a host of advanced technology. However, the Rogue's interior had some quirks, such as an oddly placed ambient lighting control button and a frustrating key fob design. Despite these issues, the Rogue provided good outward visibility and a roomy back seat, although rear seat comfort was lacking compared to the Palisade.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, combined with a four-wheel independent suspension, provided a smooth and powerful driving experience. The Palisade's towing capacity was impressive, with the ability to tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes. However, its fuel efficiency was middling, with EPA estimates of 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway for FWD models and 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway for AWD models.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, featured a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with variable compression technology, producing 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), offered responsive performance in urban and suburban settings. However, the Rogue's drivetrain lacked passing power on the highway, and the engine's unusual note and vibration might not appeal to all drivers. The Rogue's fuel economy also fell short of expectations, averaging 28.9 mpg in combined driving, compared to the EPA estimate of 31 mpg.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade excelled in interior space and functionality. It offered comfortable seating in all three rows, with ample storage options throughout the cabin. The Palisade's luggage space was generous, with 18.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The Palisade also featured a compact shift-by-wire setup, intuitive controls, and high-end luxury features in the upper trim levels, such as a dual-panel sunroof and premium Nappa leather upholstery.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, designed as a replacement for the traditional family car, provided good interior space for four people, with the option to carry a fifth person. The Platinum trim offered premium features like a triple-zone automatic climate control system, a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, and heated front seats. However, the rear seat comfort was lacking, with a low-mounted bottom cushion and diamond-shaped pleats that felt uncomfortable. The Rogue's cargo space was practical, with up to 36.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 74.1 cubic feet with the back seats folded.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess with a range of advanced features. The Limited and Calligraphy models came with a 1920 x 720 color touchscreen, a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Palisade also offered multiple USB ports, a Qi wireless charging pad, and a head-up display. Hyundai's Blue Link connected car system provided remote engine start and vehicle monitoring, while the digital instrument cluster integrated with turn signals and blind-spot monitor cameras.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, while equipped with a decent infotainment system, lagged behind in some areas. The test vehicle featured a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a Bose premium audio system. However, the voice recognition technology struggled with basic commands, and the Alexa Built-in system was not fully functional. The Rogue also had a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display, but the overall technology experience was less impressive compared to the Palisade.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade boasted a comprehensive list of safety features, including seven airbags, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, and forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection. The Palisade also offered advanced driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Highway Driving Assist. It earned top safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue also came with a robust set of safety features, including 10 airbags, Safety Shield 360, and ProPilot Assist with Navi-link. The Rogue's safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for the 2022 calendar year and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. However, it received lower scores in updated small overlap frontal-impact and side-impact tests.