2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The exterior styling of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe was conservative compared to some of Hyundai's more flamboyant designs. While the Santa Fe maintained an attractive appearance, it lacked the stand-out looks found in other models from the brand. The vehicle continued with the same design as the 2022 model, available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD), with all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option across all trims.

Our test vehicle was the Calligraphy AWD trim, featuring Stormy Sea paint—a rich, dark blue—complemented by a black-on-black interior. The base price was $42,600, with AWD adding $1,700, and carpeted floor mats another $210. Including the $1,335 destination charge, the total MSRP was $45,845.

From an exterior viewpoint, the Santa Fe's most distinctive elements were its wide upper and lower grilles paired with thin LED headlights, which provided a unique front look. However, design elements normalized quickly once moving from the front to the rear.

Inside, our Calligraphy trim featured a black interior with black Nappa leather seats, which were both comfortable and visually appealing. Heated and cooled front seats were standard, and the second row also featured seat heaters. Despite the high-quality materials, the dark and monotone appearance felt somewhat stifling. For better visual contrast, a beige interior was recommended, though a gray interior option was also available in lower trims.

Conversely, the 2023 Nissan Rogue featured chiseled styling with a rugged sense of purpose. The Rogue was offered in 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 allowed for optional Premium packages, while the new Midnight Edition was exclusive to the SV trim.

Our test vehicle was a Platinum trim with the Premium package, featuring all-wheel drive (AWD), two-tone paint, and various other upgrades that brought the MSRP to $43,100. Notably, the Rogue's Platinum trim offered upscale features such as diamond-pattern leather seats, high-quality soft-touch surfaces, and premium materials.

Each 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe model was equipped with a 2.5-liter engine, with an option between natural aspiration and forced induction. The naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine in SE, SEL, and XRT trims produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a turbocharger, boosting output to 281 hp and 311 pound-feet, with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Standard FWD was available on all trim levels, with AWD as an optional upgrade. A drive-mode selector offered four customizable modes: Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart, enhancing driving versatility. Our Calligraphy test vehicle exhibited lively off-the-line acceleration with its turbocharged engine, showing no discernible turbo lag. The vehicle's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering and lane changes.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue's current generation, introduced as a 2021 model, initially featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). For the 2022 model, Nissan replaced this with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine utilizing a variable compression design. This VC-Turbo powertrain achieved 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, providing a more responsive urban and suburban driving experience.

While the Rogue's CVT, equipped with paddle shifters, operated smoothly during most driving situations, it lacked passing power on the highway and its simulated gear changes felt overly dramatic. Additionally, the engine noise and vibration through the accelerator pedal detracted from an otherwise pleasant driving experience. Fuel economy fell short of expectations, averaging 28.9 mpg instead of the EPA-rated 31 mpg combined.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, opting for a two-row seating configuration that eliminated the cramped third row often found in midsize SUVs. This design choice provided 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom and 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. When the second row was folded down, storage space expanded to 72.1 cubic feet. An underfloor storage compartment added to the practicality.

Seat comfort was a strong point for the Santa Fe, particularly in the SEL and higher trims, which included eight-way power driver's seats and heated front seats. The Calligraphy trim offered luxury features such as a head-up display and a microfiber headliner. The extended panoramic sunroof was particularly enjoyable, spanning both rows of seats. However, raising the driver’s seat to its maximum height could push the driver uncomfortably close to the steering wheel, and the wide center console slightly reduced leg and hip space.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue served as an effective family car replacement, accommodating four adults comfortably, with the fifth seat available for short journeys. Our Platinum test vehicle featured premium amenities, including triple-zone automatic climate control, a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, and premium leather upholstery with diamond-stitched inserts.

The Rogue's Zero Gravity front seats offered good comfort, though an additional height adjustment for the front passenger seat would have been beneficial. Rear seat comfort was less satisfactory, with low-mounted bottom cushions and diamond-shaped pleats that felt like sitting on bubble wrap. The Rogue featured ample cargo space, providing 36.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Nissan’s Divide-N-Hide feature allowed for flexible cargo configurations.

In terms of in-vehicle technology, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe stood out. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims featured a 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display, while the Limited and Calligraphy trims offered a larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with clear graphics.

Infotainment options included an 8-inch display audio system in the base SE trim, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, satellite radio, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. Voice-recognition technology produced mixed results, struggling occasionally with commands related to music and cabin temperature.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue used an older version of Nissan’s infotainment system, available with an 8-inch or 9-inch touchscreen display. The test vehicle featured the larger 9-inch screen, offering Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and NissanConnect services with Wi-Fi hotspot access. A new addition for 2023 was the Alexa Built-in system, though its performance left much to be desired in our testing.

With both vehicles featuring digital instrumentation displays, the Rogue also included a head-up display (HUD) that performed well but was not tested under polarized sunglasses conditions.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe was well-equipped with standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and driver monitoring. The Highway Driving Assist feature came standard on SEL and above trims.

In terms of safety ratings, the Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Similarly, the 2023 Nissan Rogue boasted numerous safety features, such as 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder system, and the Safety Shield 360 package with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. Higher trims offered ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance.

The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. However, it received lower scores in updated versions of specific crash tests.