2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Cadillac XT5

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 aimed to deliver affordable luxury, but its cabin materials fell short of expectations, resembling those found in a Buick or a high-end Chevy rather than a true luxury vehicle. Despite this, the XT5's interior was well-organized and spacious, offering good headroom and legroom in both rows. The cargo space was a strong point, with 30 cubic feet available behind the second-row seats, making it practical for everyday use. Cadillac's decision to retain many physical controls added to the intuitive feel of the cabin, although it did make the interior seem somewhat dated.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue featured a design that balanced rugged SUV aesthetics with modern appeal. The Rogue's interior was well-equipped, especially in the Platinum trim, which included premium leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a host of other upscale features. The Rogue's cabin was spacious and comfortable for four adults, with the option to squeeze in a fifth passenger if needed. The rear seats, however, were less comfortable than the front, lacking adequate leg support. The Rogue also offered a generous cargo area, with up to 36.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed the XT5 to accelerate from 0-60 mph in the high-seven-second range. An optional V6 engine delivered 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, providing better performance but still lacking driving excitement. The XT5's handling was decent, but the ride quality suffered on rough roads, with noticeable vibration and noise in the cabin. Fuel economy for the XT5 ranged from 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined for the turbo-four with FWD, to 18/25/21 mpg for the V6 with AWD.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue featured a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with variable compression, producing 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and offered front-wheel drive as standard, with optional all-wheel drive. The Rogue's powertrain provided responsive performance in urban and suburban settings, though it lacked passing power on the highway. The CVT generally performed well, but its simulated gear changes could feel overly dramatic. The Rogue's fuel economy was rated at 31 mpg combined, but real-world testing showed an average of 28.9 mpg. The Rogue's ride quality was enhanced by features like Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, though it exhibited more body motion on undulating roads.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's interior, while featuring more hard plastics than expected, offered plenty of useful storage spaces, including a deep center console storage bin and large seatback pockets. The cargo area was easily accessible, with 30 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 63 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The wide liftgate opening and low load floor made loading and unloading items convenient.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue excelled as a family vehicle, offering a spacious and practical interior. The Platinum trim included premium features like a triple-zone automatic climate control system, a panoramic sunroof, and heated front seats. The Rogue's rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle, making it easy to load and unload passengers and cargo. The cargo area offered 36.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and up to 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Rogue also featured Nissan's Divide-N-Hide system, allowing for versatile cargo configurations.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 featured the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system, which ran on an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and more. The system was intuitive and responsive, with physical buttons for climate controls and steering wheel functions. A Bose premium audio system with 14 speakers, wireless charging, and navigation was also available.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue used an older version of Nissan's infotainment system, with a standard 8-inch or available 9-inch touchscreen. The test vehicle had the larger screen, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a navigation system. The Rogue also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display. However, the voice recognition technology struggled with accuracy, and the key fob design was frustratingly difficult to use in low light.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's last full crash test results were from the 2021 model, which earned top "Good" scores in all crash test areas but missed a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS due to "Marginal" headlight scores. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane-keep assist, and more. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and a rear camera mirror.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including 10 airbags, Safety Shield 360, and NissanConnect services with automatic collision notification and emergency assistance. Higher trims offered ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received "Marginal" and "Acceptable" scores in updated crash tests.