2023 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, a staple in Nissan's lineup since 2007, continued to impress with its mature and sophisticated design. The latest model carried forward the grown-up look introduced in the previous year, featuring a V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a sleek floating roof. Inside, the Rogue boasted a layered dash with contrasting colors and surfaces, an electronic gear selector lever, and a spacious center console. The Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats and roomy second row added to its appeal, making it a comfortable and stylish choice for families and commuters alike.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Defender stood out with its rugged, boxy design reminiscent of the classic LR4. The Defender's square-jawed face, rectangular hood, and steeply angled fittings gave it a distinctive, industrial look. Tasteful accents like the dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylights along the roof, and a full-size spare wheel mounted on the hatch paid homage to the original 1980s Defender. The interior, while functional and durable, featured rubber and plastic coatings, exposed screws, and plain-looking air vents, maintaining the Defender's hardcore character.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a significant boost in performance with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine, part of the Variable Compression Turbo family, offered a balance of power and efficiency by mechanically adjusting the combustion chamber size. The Rogue's new CVT transmission provided a wider range of gear ratios, enhancing acceleration and responsiveness. The chassis and suspension delivered a smooth, controlled ride with minimal body roll, and the electric power-assisted steering offered good feel and a tight turning diameter of 35.4 feet. The Rogue also impressed with its fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled off-road, with its permanent four-wheel drive, Terrain Response 2 system, and impressive wheel articulation and clearance. The Defender's turbocharged inline-six and supercharged V8 engines provided ample power, with the V8 delivering 518 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission was flawless, but the Defender's on-road performance was less impressive, with excessive body roll, slow steering, and noticeable wind noise. The mild-hybrid inline-six offered a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency, while the V8's fuel economy was less favorable at 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway/16 mpg combined.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue offered a well-thought-out interior with numerous storage options, including bottle holders, cupholders, a glove compartment, a center console bin, and more. Rear-seat passengers had access to storage in the doors, seatbacks, and center armrest, along with USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports. The Rogue's cargo area provided 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled in seating configurations, with the Defender 90 offering a jump seat for three across in the front, and the 110 and 130 models providing optional third rows. The Defender 130 could seat up to eight passengers, with a separate moonroof, air vents, cupholders, USB ports, and armrests for third-row occupants. Cargo space varied by model, with the 130 offering 77 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Defender also featured a metal roof rack, console refrigerator, heated windshield, and other practical options.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue's technology upgrade included a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display on upper trim levels. The Rogue supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on higher trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan's hands-on driver-assist technology, was available and integrated with the navigation system for predictive speed control.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender featured two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro software. The standard 10-inch screen and optional 11.4-inch touchscreen offered quick and simple operation. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, connected apps, and navigation. Higher trims added heated 12-way power seats, a Meridian stereo, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue came equipped with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link provided advanced driver-assist features. 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 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. safety organizations but received a five-star rating from Euro NCAP. Standard safety features included lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Optional features included a digital instrument panel, head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system.