2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2024 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox presented itself as an attractive crossover, even if it didn't boast the futuristic design of a Kia Sportage or the rugged appearance of a Toyota RAV4. Its restrained bodywork was complemented by a chunky front end that made the grille appear smaller, offering a refreshing change from the aggressive front fascias common in the industry. The gold Bowtie emblem, while a bit garish against certain paint colors like Radiant Red Tintcoat, looked appealing on others such as Blue Glow Metallic and Harvest Brown Metallic. The Equinox was available in four trim levels: LS, LT, RS, and Premier, with options for front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The interior of the Equinox Premier test vehicle featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery, standard heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, although the interior design felt somewhat dated compared to competitors.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue underwent its first major styling update since its 2021 launch, maintaining its lineup of S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims. A new, larger grille blended well with the distinctive stack headlights and daytime running lights. The Rogue's rear fascia saw minor changes, with redesigned inner taillight elements. The Platinum grade received more black exterior trim and an optional black roof. Inside, the Rogue's dashboard was updated to accommodate a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, giving it a more premium feel. The Rogue Platinum test car featured leather seats with quilted stitching, and the interior design was upscale, making it feel worthy of its top trim level status.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Despite the additional five horsepower for the 2023 model year, the Equinox didn't feel particularly sprightly. It handled low-speed acceleration well but struggled to accelerate above 30 miles per hour. The Equinox's six-speed automatic transmission held gears longer than newer transmissions, contributing to its powertrain noise. All trims offered AWD, but it required manual engagement. The Equinox's electronically assisted brake-by-wire system provided smooth braking, and its well-sorted suspension handled bumps nicely, making it enjoyable to drive.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, part of Nissan's VC-Turbo lineup, capable of varying its compression ratio for power or fuel economy. With 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, the Rogue's engine outperformed many competitors. However, the CVT transmission was slow to transfer power to the wheels, and the Rogue's suspension felt firmer than the segment norm, affecting ride quality. While the engine impressed, the Rogue's droning exhaust note was less appealing.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox offered 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 63.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. While not the largest in its class, it outstripped the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester. Passenger space was ample, with good headroom and legroom for a six-foot-tall driver. The interior featured higher-quality plastic components, cup holders for every passenger, and a nearly silent power liftgate.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue provided nearly identical passenger space to rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, with differences in legroom. The Rogue offered 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 74.1 cubic feet with them folded. The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations. The Rogue also featured a power liftgate and a motion-activated liftgate on higher trims. The center console offered a pass-through space for added flexibility, though accessing the storage tray was awkward.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox's technology offering included a small touchscreen interface, with a 7-inch screen on lower trims and an 8-inch screen on the Premier. Despite its simplicity, the system was easy to use, with quick response times and good voice recognition. The Premier trim came with a wireless charging pad, and all trims offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while SL and Platinum models received a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Rogue was the first Nissan to offer Google built-in software, integrating Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play app store. The dual 12.3-inch screen setup improved the infotainment experience, though the touchscreen was occasionally slow to boot up. The Rogue included multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad on higher trims. Nissan extended the free trial period for its Nissan Connect Services to three years, offering features like remote door lock/unlock and vehicle health reports.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox came with standard advanced driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. It received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA but scored poorly in some IIHS crash tests.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received top "Good" ratings in several IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard driver assist features included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. ProPilot Assist, Nissan's advanced driver assistance system, was available on higher trims, offering automated lane centering for highway driving.