2023 Kia Telluride vs 2024 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models showcased a refreshed design with updated front and rear styling, new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs. The SUV was available in new paint colors like Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, with interior options in Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line model replaced the Nightfall Edition, featuring a raised suspension, unique grille, and black 20-inch wheels, while the X-Pro model added exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road appeal. Inside, the Telluride boasted a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed under a curved 24-inch glass, pushing the SUV into a modern era.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received its first major styling update since its 2021 launch, maintaining its trim levels of S, SV, SL, and Platinum. It featured a larger grille, stack headlights, and redesigned taillight elements. The Rogue SV grade received new 18-inch wheels, while the Platinum model sported 19-inch wheels with a machined finish and additional black exterior trim. Inside, the Rogue's dashboard was updated to accommodate a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, giving it a more premium feel. The Rogue SV models received new materials throughout the interior, enhancing the overall upscale design, especially in the Platinum model with its leather seats and quilted stitching.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its mechanical prowess with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow, with an AWD system featuring a low-speed Lock setting for power distribution. The Telluride X-Line averaged 24.1 mpg, while the X-Pro returned 20.4 mpg, with official EPA ratings at 21 mpg combined for AWD models. The X-Line and X-Pro models had a raised suspension, increased ground clearance, and improved off-road capabilities, with the X-Pro offering a towing capacity of 5,500 pounds. The Telluride excelled in off-road conditions, showcasing its stability and traction control systems, while providing a smooth and quiet ride on highways.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, outperforming many competitors in its class. Despite its impressive engine, the Rogue's CVT transmission was slow to transfer power to the wheels, and its suspension felt firmer than expected, affecting ride quality. The Rogue was quiet, but its handling did not match the agility of some rivals. While the engine's performance was commendable, the overall driving experience was less engaging, with the exhaust note being a minor drawback.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered seating for seven or eight passengers, with premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. The interior was spacious, with a power lumbar stabilization system for long trips. The second-row seats were comfortable, with manual sunshades, USB ports, and storage pockets. The third-row seating was accessible and more comfortable than many competitors, though not as spacious as the Volkswagen Atlas. The Telluride provided ample storage space, with a smart power tailgate and generous cargo capacity, offering 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows down.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered competitive passenger space, with slight variations in legroom compared to rivals. It provided 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 74.1 cubic feet with them folded, less than some competitors but more than others. The Rogue featured the optional Divide-N-Hide system for flexible cargo storage and a molded space for grocery bags. It also offered a power liftgate and a motion-activated liftgate on higher trims. The center console had a pass-through space for added flexibility, though accessing the storage tray was somewhat awkward.

The 2023 Kia Telluride came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, navigation, and Kia Connect services. It included a voice recognition system, though climate control adjustments required manual input. The Kia Access app allowed remote control of some vehicle functions, with OTA updates and Bluetooth pairing for two devices. The Telluride offered Driver Talk and Quiet Mode, a Harman Kardon sound system, wireless charging, digital-key technology, and a Full Display Mirror. It also featured a head-up display and a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue's lower trims had an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while SL and Platinum models received a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, a digital instrument cluster, and Amazon Alexa. The Rogue was the first Nissan with Google built-in software, integrating Google Maps, Assistant, and Play store, though connectivity was free for only five years. The dual 12.3-inch screen setup improved the infotainment experience, though the touchscreen was occasionally slow to boot. The Rogue offered multiple USB ports and a wireless charging pad, with an extended free trial for Nissan Connect Services.

The 2023 Kia Telluride included a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, such as forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and automatic emergency braking. It also offered blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Telluride featured adaptive cruise control, Highway Drive Assist, and a range of collision avoidance features. It also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver attention warning system, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The Highway Drive Assist 2.0 system provided semi-autonomous driving assistance, performing well in various conditions.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received good safety scores from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, and rear automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control was available on higher trims, along with ProPilot Assist, which offered lane centering for highway driving. The advanced version of ProPilot Assist used navigation data to slow for curves and interchanges, providing more capability than many rivals' systems.