2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe had a more conservative exterior styling compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs. While it was still an attractive SUV, it didn't stand out as much as other models in the brand's lineup. The 2023 model continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 version, available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. The test vehicle, a top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD trim, featured Stormy Sea paint and a black-on-black interior, with a total MSRP of $45,845.

The Santa Fe's exterior was marked by its wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights, giving it a distinctive look. Inside, the Calligraphy trim had a high-quality, albeit dark and monotone, interior. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats standard in the Calligraphy trim. The second row also featured seat heaters, making it a comfortable ride in varying weather conditions.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received its first major styling update since its 2021 launch. The lineup included S, SV, SL, and Platinum models. The new, larger grille blended well with the stack headlights and daytime running lights, while the rear fascia saw minor changes. The Rogue SV got new 18-inch wheels, and the Platinum trim featured 19-inch wheels and more black exterior trim, with an optional black roof.

Inside, the Rogue Platinum test car had an upscale design with leather seats and quilted stitching. The new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and updated materials on the SV trim enhanced the premium feel. The Rogue's interior design and features made it a worthy competitor in its segment, although the leather upholstery and overall cabin quality stood out.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version delivering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The naturally aspirated engine was paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission, while the turbocharged engine used an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option on all trims.

The turbocharged Santa Fe provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and no discernible turbo lag. The handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The turbocharged version could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the non-turbo version could tow 2,000 pounds. Overall, the Santa Fe's performance was impressive for its price point.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This VC-Turbo engine could vary its compression ratio for better power or fuel economy. Despite its impressive engine, the Rogue's continuously variable transmission (CVT) was slow to transfer power to the wheels. The suspension in the Rogue Platinum test car felt firmer than expected, affecting ride quality without improving handling.

The Rogue's engine performance was notable, but the CVT and suspension detracted from the overall driving experience. The Rogue was quiet, but the droning exhaust note was a downside.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe benefited from not having a cramped third row, resulting in more rear-seat legroom and additional cargo space. The Santa Fe offered 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom and 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. Folding down the second row provided 72.1 cubic feet of storage space. The SEL and higher trims featured an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats, with additional comfort and convenience features in the Limited and Calligraphy trims.

The Santa Fe's extended panoramic sunroof and head-up display were standout features. However, the wide center console cut into driver leg and hip space, and raising the driver's seat to its maximum height pushed the driver closer to the steering wheel.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered nearly identical passenger space to its competitors, with slight differences in legroom. The Rogue provided 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo space configurations. The Rogue also featured a power liftgate and a motion-activated liftgate on higher trims.

The Rogue's center console had a pass-through space for added flexibility, but the storage tray at floor level was awkward to reach. Overall, the Rogue's interior space and features were competitive in its segment.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. The base SE trim had an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The Santa Fe's infotainment system was user-friendly, with clearly marked icons and logical arrangement. The voice-recognition system had mixed results, handling navigation commands well but struggling with music requests and climate control adjustments.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue came with an 8-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on lower trims. The SL and Platinum models featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Amazon Alexa connectivity, and Google built-in apps. The Rogue was the first Nissan to offer Google built-in software, providing better performance and streamlined connectivity for Google users.

The dual 12.3-inch screen setup in the Rogue Platinum test car was a significant improvement, with modern graphics and easy-to-navigate menus. The touchscreen was occasionally slow to boot up, but this might have been due to the pre-production status of the test vehicle. The Rogue also had multiple USB ports and a wireless device charging pad on higher trims.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Highway Driving Assist was standard on SEL and above trims. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from IIHS.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received top "Good" ratings in several IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Standard driver assist features included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, added automated lane centering for highway driving.