2023 Dodge Hornet vs 2024 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Dodge Hornet showcased a front end that unmistakably carried the Dodge DNA, featuring muscle-car styling cues such as the wide, aggressive “raccoon mask” face, bulging hood, dual extractors, and the signature Dodge “mail slot” beneath the illuminated Rhombi logo. From the rear, the Hornet bore a resemblance to the Porsche Macan or Cayenne, with upward-pointing windows giving it a premium feel. The standard silver 17-inch wheels appeared cheap from afar, but the Blacktop and Track Pack packages offered more appealing wheel options. Inside, the Hornet emphasized performance with red stitching accents and a flat-bottomed steering wheel, while higher trims offered more luxurious seating options.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received its first major styling update since its 2021 launch, featuring a new, larger grille that blended well with its distinctive stack headlights and daytime running lights. The rear fascia saw minor changes, with redesigned inner taillight elements. The Rogue SV grade got new 18-inch wheels, while the Platinum grade received new 19-inch wheels and more black exterior trim. Inside, the Rogue Platinum boasted a premium feel with leather seats and quilted stitching, and the dashboard was updated to accommodate a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, enhancing the overall upscale interior design.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet boasted "best-in-class performance" with its Hurricane 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, producing 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This outperformed competitors like the Chevy Trailblazer, Honda HR-V, and Hyundai Kona. The Hornet's Sport mode sharpened throttle responses and steering, achieving a zero-to-60 time of 6.5 seconds. However, there was a noticeable lag in acceleration at higher speeds. The Hornet R/T's hybrid powertrain improved pickup pace, making it a more balanced option for performance enthusiasts.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with VC-Turbo technology, allowing it to vary its compression ratio for power or fuel economy. With 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, it outperformed the Honda CR-V's 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and the Subaru Forester's 2.5-liter boxer-four. However, the Rogue's CVT was slow to transfer power to the wheels, and its suspension felt firmer than competitors, affecting ride quality. Despite the impressive engine, the Rogue's overall driving experience fell short of expectations.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet's GT Plus trim offered comfortable leather seats with four-way powered lumbar adjustment and memory settings, while the base GT trim had cloth seats. The cockpit layout was driver-oriented, with the screen and controls angled towards the driver. However, the A-pillar's angle occasionally obstructed the view of traffic. The Hornet's interior design emphasized performance, with heated and ventilated seats available on higher trims.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue provided nearly identical passenger space to its competitors, with slight 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 the seats folded. The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations. The center console featured a pass-through space for added storage, though it was somewhat awkward to reach. Overall, the Rogue's interior was well-designed for practicality and comfort.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet featured a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen, both angled towards the driver. The Uconnect 5 system was intuitive and easy to use, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, dual-phone Bluetooth connectivity, and Amazon Alexa. The GT Plus trim added a 14-speaker Harman Kardon system and navigation. The touchscreen's layout made it easy to operate, though the navigation system occasionally continued giving instructions after ending a route.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue's lower-level trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Amazon Alexa, and Google built-in apps. The Google built-in software integrated Google Maps, Assistant, and Play store directly with the infotainment system, though connectivity was free for only five years. The Rogue also offered multiple USB ports and a wireless charging pad on higher trims. Nissan Connect Services extended its free trial period to three years, providing remote access features via a smartphone app.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet came standard with advanced driver-assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and a rear backup camera. The Tech Pack added a 360-degree camera, driver-attention monitoring, and Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. However, the Hornet had not yet been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received top safety ratings from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and rear automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered ProPilot Assist, which added automated lane centering and navigation-based speed adjustments for highway driving.