2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a standout in the crowded crossover market due to its distinctive aesthetic choices. Unlike many of its competitors that opted for a rugged look, Chevy designed the Blazer with styling cues more reminiscent of road cars. This included a low roofline and sleek front and rear pillars, complemented by a substantial grille flanked by stacked headlights. Despite these road car elements, the Blazer retained the visual heft of an SUV, thanks in part to its tall ride height and robust body sides. The Blazer RS test vehicle amplified this striking appearance with blackout trim, a vibrant Red Hot paint job, and 21-inch wheels featuring a new design for 2023.

For the 2023 model year, the Blazer received minor styling updates, such as new taillights with unique twisted, filament-like elements. The grille and LED headlights were also tweaked to keep the design fresh. These changes were subtle but effective. New wheel designs in 18-inch, 20-inch, and 21-inch variants, along with new color options like Sterling Gray Metallic, Copper Bronze Metallic, and Radiant Red Tintcoat, rounded out the updates.

Inside, the Blazer sported a more dynamic and sporty aesthetic compared to other Chevy crossovers. The dashboard had an upright design with large round air vents that evoked the Camaro muscle car. Standard models came with cloth seats, but higher trims offered leather upholstery. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard across all models. Our Blazer RS featured a jazzier interior with blue trim, chrome accents, and a dark blue and black two-tone upholstery scheme. The material quality in the high-end RS trim was particularly impressive.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Nissan Rogue stayed true to classic design principles, characteristic of popular vehicles. It boasted well-proportioned, chiseled styling with just enough SUV detailing to deliver a rugged, purposeful look. This approach made the Rogue an appealing choice, essential for attracting a broad consumer base.

The 2023 Rogue lineup included S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from $27,360 to $37,140 (plus a $1,295 destination charge). The SV, SL, and Platinum trims offered optional Premium packages, while the new Midnight Edition package was exclusive to the SV trim. Our test vehicle was the Platinum trim with the Premium package, equipped with AWD, two-tone paint, a frameless rearview mirror, and various other upgrades, pushing its MSRP to $43,100.

This price point overlapped with entry-level luxury crossovers like the Infiniti QX50, yet the Platinum trim delivered a luxurious experience. The interior showcased soft, diamond-pattern leather seats and tactile materials that met the quality standards of the compact SUV segment.

Under the hood, the 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried forward its powertrain options from the previous year. Most models featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6, standard on the Blazer RS and optional on the 3LT and Premier trims, generated 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque.

Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). However, even the AWD models defaulted to FWD unless the driver manually switched to AWD via a knob on the center console. This manual intervention felt outdated compared to rivals' automatic shift systems. Our Blazer RS with the V6 engine performed admirably, although we kept it in AWD mode to manage the V6’s power and mitigate torque steer.

The Blazer was impressively quick for a mainstream crossover and offered a satisfying exhaust note. Its performance, however, didn’t extend to a sporty driving experience. Despite its flashy appearance, the model's hefty weight and top-heavy design impacted its handling. On highways, the Blazer provided a comfortable ride, aided by Active Noise Cancellation and a well-tuned suspension, though the 21-inch wheels slightly compromised ride quality.

The Blazer's off-roading capabilities were limited, with an AWD system, suspension, and tires optimized for pavement rather than rough terrain. Although Chevy did not list the ground clearance, the low front bumper indicated it wasn’t suited for serious off-road use. The Blazer's towing capacity stood at 4,500 pounds for V6 models equipped with the trailering package, aligning with other midsize SUVs.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue saw significant changes under the hood when it replaced the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine in the previous model year. This new engine featured Nissan’s exclusive variable compression (VC-Turbo) design, aimed at balancing performance and fuel efficiency. The 1.5-liter turbocharged engine produced 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 pound-feet of torque between 2,800 and 4,000 rpm.

Paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) featuring paddle shifters, the engine drove the front wheels by default, with AWD as an option. The Rogue offered Eco, Auto, and Sport driving modes, plus Off-Road and Snow modes for AWD models. While the new powertrain felt responsive in urban and suburban settings, it lacked passing power on highways. Additionally, the engine's unique sound and vibrations might have been unsettling for some drivers.

Despite its promising fuel economy, our test vehicle averaged 28.9 mpg on evaluation, falling short of the EPA's 31 mpg combined rating, which was consistent with past experiences with VC-Turbo engines.

Other notable features included Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, enhancing cornering and ride quality. The suspension setup handled local speed humps and sharper bumps well, though roads with uneven pavement caused more body motion than desired. Steering felt lifeless, detracting from the overall driving experience.

Nonetheless, the Rogue generally showcased a balanced ride and handling, providing consistent and secure performance in various situations.

As a two-row, five-seat midsize SUV, the 2023 Chevrolet Blazer faced competition from various two- and three-row models. Front-seat headroom was comparable to rivals like the Ford Edge, Honda Passport, and Nissan Murano, although rear-seat headroom was slightly below average. However, the Blazer outperformed the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport in this area. Legroom was adequate, with a bit more space in the front, while the rear seats provided a decent amount of room.

The Blazer’s cargo capacity lagged behind its competitors, offering 30.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded. In contrast, the Honda Passport offered 41.2 cubic feet and 77.7 cubic feet, respectively, while the Nissan Murano provided 32.1 cubic feet when the rear seats were up and 67 cubic feet when folded.

Despite these numbers, the Blazer's interior felt spacious and comfortable, with thoughtful design details such as USB port placement and innovative air vent controls.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue positioned itself as a viable alternative to traditional family cars, offering several advantages such as higher ground clearance, available AWD, and a larger cargo area. The Rogue comfortably seated four adults, with the capability to fit a fifth passenger in the middle of the rear seat when necessary.

Our test vehicle, a Platinum trim, featured premium amenities such as a triple-zone automatic climate control system, a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, and semi-aniline leather upholstery with diamond-stitched inserts. Both front seats were heated, with the driver's seat offering eight-way power adjustment and the passenger's seat offering four-way power adjustment. While the front seats were comfortable, the rear seats were less so, with a low seat cushion and diamond-shaped pleats that felt like sitting on bubble wrap.

Outward visibility was good, hampered only by difficulties with the keyless entry fob in low light conditions. The rear doors opened nearly 90 degrees, making it easier to load and unload passengers. The Rogue's cargo capacity was 36.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 74.1 cubic feet with them folded. The Divide-N-Hide feature allowed for various cargo area configurations, adding practicality to the roomy interior.

For 2023, the Chevrolet Blazer saw tech enhancements with a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen on all models and wireless charging availability across all trims. The RS and Premier trims, in particular, got more tech upgrades like the 8-inch digital instrument cluster, standard built-in navigation, and an upgraded Bose audio system. These models also featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM.

The infotainment system was user-friendly, similar to other Chevy models. However, the lack of a dedicated button for the optional 360-degree camera was a minor inconvenience. The large 10.2-inch touchscreen was among the most expansive in its segment, enhancing user experience.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, needed an update to its infotainment system similar to the one introduced in the refreshed 2023 Altima sedan. As it stood, our test vehicle employed an older version with an 8-inch or optional 9-inch touchscreen. The larger screen-equipped Rogue also featured Bluetooth, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, NissanConnect services, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. It included a navigation system with a door-to-door feature through a smartphone app, a wireless charging pad, and a Bose premium audio system. Alexa Built-in was new for 2023 and included in the Rogue Platinum.

Despite these features, the voice recognition technology was disappointing. Requests for destinations were often misunderstood or inaccurately processed. In addition to infotainment, the Rogue had a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a head-up display, both of which performed well.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer didn’t make all safety features standard but offered a reasonable selection. The standard Chevy Safety Assist Package included automatic emergency braking, a following distance indicator, forward-collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control became available on more trims, and other optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, and GM’s Teen Driver monitoring system.

The Blazer received high safety marks, including the IIHS's highest rating in crash tests and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. However, it lacked more advanced features like GM’s Super Cruise system.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue came packed with standard safety features, including 10 airbags, Safety Shield 360, and a range of driver assistance technologies. Higher trims offered ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. ProPilot Assist worked well on highways, albeit with a slight activation lag and some abrupt braking.

The Rogue received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for 2022 but earned lower scores in updated crash tests. It also had a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, similar to the Blazer.