2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive exterior styling, with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood that visually tied it to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these retro callbacks, the design was thoroughly modern, featuring rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave the Defender a unique personality. The modern Defender was also much larger than the original, offering more interior space and improved ergonomics. The interior design emphasized rugged character with bare metal and exposed screws, mixed with leather and suede upholstery, making it both stylish and practical for off-road adventures.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue featured proper proportions and chiseled styling, conveying 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. Our test vehicle, a Platinum trim with the Premium option package, had an MSRP of $43,100. The Platinum trim offered upscale upgrades, including soft, diamond-pattern leather seats and high-quality materials. The Rogue's design was appealing, making it a popular choice among consumers who prioritize aesthetics in their vehicle selection.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, and a new-for-2022 V8 engine producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The V8 engine could accelerate the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph. All Defender models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The Defender was comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. Off-road, the Defender excelled with features like a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance. It also had an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue featured a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with variable compression design, producing 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 pound-feet of torque from 2,800 rpm to 4,000 rpm. The engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and offered front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The Rogue had Eco, Auto, and Sport driving modes, with additional Off-Road and Snow modes for AWD versions. The new VC-Turbo powertrain provided responsive performance in urban and suburban driving but lacked passing power on the highway. The Rogue's fuel economy was rated at 31 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle averaged 28.9 mpg. The Rogue's suspension design and Intelligent Trace Control provided a good balance of ride compliance and body control, though the steering felt lifeless.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access in the two-door Defender 90. The four-door Defender 110 model was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models had 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, 35.4 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions had 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious center-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue was designed as a replacement for the traditional family car, offering ease of entry and exit, better visibility, and a larger cargo area. The Rogue Platinum test vehicle featured a triple-zone automatic climate control system, dual-panel panoramic sunroof, and premium semi-aniline leather upholstery with diamond-stitched inserts. The front seats were heated and featured Nissan's Zero Gravity design for comfort. The rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle, making it easy to load and unload passengers. The back seat was roomy but lacked comfort, with a low-mounted bottom cushion and diamond-shaped pleats. The Rogue offered up to 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the back seats folded. The Divide-N-Hide feature allowed for six different cargo area configurations.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with a standard Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model, and an 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. The interface was user-friendly, with good graphics and menu layouts, though the screen required a strong touch to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was useful for off-roading.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue used an older version of Nissan's infotainment system, with a standard 8-inch or available 9-inch touchscreen display. The 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 had a wireless smartphone charging pad and a Bose premium audio system. Alexa Built-in was new for 2023 and standard in the Rogue Platinum, though the voice recognition technology had limitations. The test vehicle also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display, both of which worked well.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist tech such as lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The Defender had not been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

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 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 trim levels offered ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for 2022 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.