2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape moved away from the rugged, boxy design of its earlier generations to embrace a more European aesthetic. This update featured a refreshed front end with a sleek LED light bar and a prominent Ford blue oval logo, enhancing its modern look. Ford provided several trim levels for the Escape, with the ST-Line Elite showcasing 19-inch wheels, diamond-stitched leather upholstery, and a stylish yet practical interior. Despite abundant plastic materials, the design elements looked and felt durable, and the vehicle's seats were both comfortable and easy to adjust, ensuring a pleasant driving experience.

Contrastingly, the 2024 Nissan Rogue embraced a significant styling update, incorporating a larger grille and stack headlights, which added to its distinctive front fascia. For the Nissan Rogue SV, new 18-inch wheels and a 19-inch option on the Platinum model were standout features. The Platinum trim included additional black exterior trims and an optional black roof, further refining its aesthetic appeal. Inside, Nissan upgraded the Rogue's interior, introducing a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that greatly enhanced its premium feel. Materials such as quilted leather seats in the Platinum trim spoke volumes about Nissan's attention to detail in crafting a sophisticated cabin environment.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered versatility with two engine options: a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder producing 180 horsepower and a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivering 250 horsepower. The latter, paired exclusively with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, presented capable acceleration and high-speed performance. However, the Escape didn't aim to be a performance-oriented SUV, focusing more on comfort with its soft suspension suitable for city drives. Its braking system provided predictability, and while steering wasn't razor-sharp, it offered well-weighted controls, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue, powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder VC-Turbo engine, produced 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This variable compression engine excelled in delivering both power and fuel efficiency. Still, the Rogue's continuously variable transmission (CVT) appeared sluggish, delaying power delivery to the wheels. Despite the firm suspension that compromised ride comfort, the Rogue maintained quietness in its cabin. The impressive engine performance was unfortunately marred by the exhaust note's droning sound.

The 2023 Ford Escape emphasized comfort with well-designed interiors, offering supportive, soft seats and excellent ergonomics. However, its cargo space, at 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with seats folded, lagged behind mainstays like the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, and Toyota RAV4. While rear-seat legroom was slightly less than competitors, the Escape did provide decent headroom and well-padded front-seat backs, which enhanced passenger comfort, particularly for taller occupants in the rear.

In comparison, the 2024 Nissan Rogue matched competitors regarding passenger space, excelling most notably in legroom. When it came to cargo, the Rogue offered 36.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and an expansive 74.1 cubic feet with them folded. Features like the Divide-N-Hide system allowed for customizable cargo solutions, and a molded-in space for grocery bags added functionality. The vehicle included a center console pass-through for added storage flexibility, even if some storage areas were slightly challenging to access.

Technology in the 2023 Ford Escape was advanced thanks to its Sync 4 system. Most trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, expandable to a 13.2-inch display standard on higher trims like the ST-Line Elite and Platinum. Sync 4 included seamless transitions between navigation, music, and Bluetooth applications. However, its input response could be slow, and the placement of the volume knob was inconvenient. Minor drawbacks aside, Sync 4 impressed with its comprehensive features and user-friendly interface.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Nissan Rogue advanced its tech game with a standard 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a new 12.3-inch display in SL and Platinum models. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were highlights, along with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and Google built-in apps. These features ensured better performance and connectivity, though only for five years without a data plan. The usability of Google Maps and other apps was a direct advantage for Google ecosystem users. Multiple USB-C ports and an extended free trial of Nissan Connect Services further added to Rogue's tech appeal.

Ford's 2023 Escape garnered a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and fared well in most IIHS tests, except for its Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. Standard Co-Pilot360 ADAS features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. The Co-Pilot360 2.0 upgrade added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, lane-centering technology, and a surround-view camera, enhancing driver assistance capabilities.

Similarly, the 2024 Nissan Rogue received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and good ratings in various IIHS tests, with an acceptable rating in the updated side-impact test. The Rogue's standard safety features encompassed automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered ProPilot Assist, which provided advanced lane-centering and navigation-based speed adjustments, enriching the overall safety suite.