2022 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2022 Nissan Rogue continued to build on its established reputation with a mature and sophisticated design. Its exterior featured a V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a sleek floating roof, all contributing to a refined appearance. Inside, the Rogue boasted a layered dash design with contrasting colors and surfaces, creating a detailed and tasteful look. The center console was a standout feature, offering ample storage space and a modern electronic gear selector. The cabin was equipped with Nissan’s Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats, providing comfort and support, while the second row offered generous legroom. The fit and finish were exemplary, especially in the top-tier Platinum model, showcasing high-quality materials.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from its previous blocky exterior. The refreshed front end featured a traditional grille with the Ford logo and a stylish LED light bar. The ST-Line Elite trim, which we tested, sported 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Escape's diamond-stitched leather upholstery looked appealing but felt somewhat hard. Despite this, the seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat allowed for easy customization. The interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy, but the overall design was functional and durable.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue impressed with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, delivering 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine, part of the VC-Turbo family, featured a variable compression ratio, enhancing both power and efficiency. The Rogue's performance was lively, with improved fuel economy figures of 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The new CVT transmission offered a wider range of gear ratios, providing better acceleration and responsiveness. The Rogue's chassis and suspension handled the engine's power smoothly, ensuring a controlled ride with minimal body roll. The electric power-assisted steering offered good feel, and the tight turning diameter made maneuvering easy.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and could be configured with FWD or AWD. The higher trims, like the ST-Line Elite, featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with AWD. While the Escape's suspension was soft and compliant, it lacked the precision of a performance crossover. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior space and storage options. The front cabin was thoughtfully designed with numerous storage compartments, including bottle holders, cupholders, and a center console bin. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed additional storage in the doors and seatbacks, along with USB-A and USB-C ports. The Rogue's cargo area offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded, making it a practical choice for families and commuters.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable interior with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The front-seat cupholders were conveniently arranged, and the head-up display was easy to adjust. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space compared to some competitors, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. While passenger space was adequate, the rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some rivals, though headroom was impressive.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured a comprehensive technology suite, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless CarPlay available on higher trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan’s driver-assist technology, offered advanced features like adaptive cruise control and navigation integration, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and provided easy navigation through various applications. While Sync 4 was intuitive, it occasionally lagged in response. The system included features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Sirius XM Satellite Radio, with a static "Home" button for easy access.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue came equipped with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, offering features like automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. ProPilot Assist provided Level 2 advanced driver-assist capabilities, including adaptive cruise control and steering assist. The Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2021 model.

The 2023 Ford Escape earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with high scores in frontal and side-crash tests. However, it received a Marginal score in the IIHS side-impact test. The Escape's Co-Pilot360 suite included features like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology for a semi-autonomous driving experience.