2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai’s largest SUV, had an even more commanding presence following its 2023 styling update. The new front fascia, with its bolder strokes and squared-off grille, framed new headlights and gave the SUV a stronger look. LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights were standard across the lineup, while LED taillights became standard on SEL and higher trims. The top Calligraphy trim featured premium rear accent lighting, body-color bumpers, a unique grille, and a wider rear spoiler. The new XRT trim included a dark grille, roof cross rails, and black 20-inch wheels. The Palisade also introduced a new color, Robust Emerald, for Calligraphy models.

Inside, the Calligraphy-trim tester was stylish and brightened by a dual-pane sunroof. Premium Nappa leather was standard in the Calligraphy, while the base SE model came with cloth seats. Heated, eight-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats were standard in all trims except the SE. Limited and Calligraphy models also featured heated and ventilated seats in the first and second rows, and heated third-row seats. Second-row seats came in a bench configuration for SE models, with captain’s chairs standard in the top three trims. The Palisade offered ample space and comfort, making it a strong contender in its class.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue had a design that balanced proper proportions with rugged SUV detailing, making it an appealing vehicle. The lineup included S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from $27,360 to $37,140, plus a $1,295 destination charge. The Platinum trim, which we tested, came with a Premium option package, AWD, two-tone paint, and several other upgrades, bringing the MSRP to $43,100. This price overlapped with the entry-level Infiniti QX50, but the Platinum trim offered upscale features like soft, diamond-pattern leather seats and high-quality materials.

The Rogue’s interior was equipped with a triple-zone automatic climate control system, a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, and premium semi-aniline leather upholstery. The front seats featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity design, providing comfort, though the rear seats were less comfortable. The Rogue’s rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle, making it easy to load and unload passengers. Storage space was plentiful, and the cargo area offered up to 36.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Despite some minor complaints, the Rogue’s interior was practical and well-equipped.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade came with a single powertrain option: a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This made the Palisade more powerful than several competitors, including the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas. The eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with paddle shifters, and power was routed to the front wheels by default, with AWD available for an additional $1,900. The Palisade’s AWD system, HTRAC, proved capable on a muddy off-road course. The Palisade offered a comfortable ride and could tow up to 5,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the FWD model was 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined, while the AWD model achieved 19 city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue featured a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with variable compression, replacing the previous 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The VC-Turbo engine produced 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT that included paddle shifters. The Rogue offered Eco, Auto, and Sport driving modes, with AWD versions adding Off-Road and Snow modes. The new powertrain provided responsive performance in urban and suburban settings, though it lacked passing power on the highway. The engine’s character, including its unusual note and vibration, might not appeal to all drivers. The Rogue’s fuel economy was rated at 31 mpg combined, but our test vehicle averaged 28.9 mpg. The Rogue’s ride quality and handling were generally good, though the steering felt lifeless.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for seven or eight passengers, with 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third. Passenger volume measured 155.3 cubic feet. The second-row seats featured a one-touch slide for easy access to the third row, and the 60/40-split seats folded flat. Cargo space totaled 18 cubic feet with all seats in place, 45.8 behind the second row, and 86.4 with the second and third rows folded. The Palisade included HVAC vents in all three rows, two cupholders per person, and a hands-free smart liftgate on all but the base SE trim. The center console provided additional storage and a phone holder.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue was designed to replace the traditional family car, offering better visibility, AWD, and a larger cargo area. The Rogue comfortably seated four people, with room for a fifth if needed. The Platinum trim featured a triple-zone automatic climate control system, a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, and premium semi-aniline leather upholstery. The front seats were comfortable, though the rear seats were less so. The Rogue’s rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle, and the cargo area offered up to 36.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Storage space was plentiful, though some areas were unlined, potentially causing noise.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade upped the ante on technology, becoming the first Hyundai to offer WiFi hotspot capability as standard. A new 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system was also standard, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth connectivity. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system was available in SEL models and standard in Limited and Calligraphy. The Palisade also offered a 4.2-inch color driver info display or a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. An in-car intercom and rear-seat quiet mode were available, and Hyundai’s Bluelink connected vehicle system was standard on all trims. The Palisade introduced Digital Key 2 Touch, compatible with both Android and Apple devices, allowing owners to unlock, start, and drive the car using their smartphones.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue used an older version of Nissan’s infotainment system, with a standard 8-inch or available 9-inch touchscreen display. The test vehicle had the larger 9-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, NissanConnect services with a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a navigation system. It also featured a wireless smartphone charging pad and a Bose premium audio system. Alexa Built-in was new for 2023 and standard in the Rogue Platinum, though the voice recognition technology had limitations. The test vehicle also had a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display, both of which worked well.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, and the 2023 model included new active and passive safety features. The Palisade came with Hyundai’s Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, high beam assist, and lane-keeping and lane-following assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were newly standard. The Palisade also featured navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, intelligent speed limit assist, and Highway Driving Assist. A full-display digital rearview mirror and safe exit warning were available, and the rear seat occupant alert was standard on all but the SE trim.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue came with a comprehensive set of safety features, including 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder system, and Safety Shield 360. This suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. 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 for 2022, though it received Marginal and Acceptable scores in updated tests. The NHTSA awarded the Rogue a five-star overall rating, with four stars for frontal-impact collisions.