2023 Nissan Pathfinder vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder carried over its redesign from the 2022 model year with minimal changes, except for the new Rock Creek trim. Its design featured futuristic headlights and an angular C-pillar, blending traditional elements with forward-thinking aesthetics. This modern look extended into the cabin, which boasted clean lines and a sensible layout, making it both visually appealing and practical for everyday use.

The Pathfinder offered various trims: S, SV, SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum. The base S trim included 18-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable seats, cloth upholstery, push-button start, remote keyless entry, and tri-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims added features like heated front seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, leather upholstery, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Rock Creek trim stood out with off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, and a rugged aesthetic, while the Platinum trim topped the range with upgraded leather upholstery, 20-inch alloy wheels, and advanced tech features.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, maintained a conservative design approach, featuring proper proportions and chiseled styling that conveyed a rugged sense of purpose. The Rogue lineup included 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 offered optional Premium packages, and the new Midnight Edition package was exclusive to the SV trim.

The Platinum trim of the Rogue, which was tested, came with AWD, two-tone paint, a frameless rearview mirror, and various interior and exterior upgrades. This trim level offered a luxurious experience with soft, diamond-pattern leather seats and high-quality materials. However, the fully loaded Platinum model's price reached $43,100, overlapping with entry-level luxury vehicles like the Infiniti QX50.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The Rock Creek trim featured the same engine but tuned to deliver 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Power was routed through a 9-speed automatic transmission to either front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The Rock Creek trim aimed to enhance off-road capability with a slightly taller suspension and off-road shocks.

The Pathfinder's engine provided ample power for city and highway driving, and the automatic transmission was smooth and quiet. However, the new proprietary shifter design was criticized for being unintuitive and potentially unsafe. The Pathfinder featured a rotary drive mode dial with various modes, including Eco, Sport, Normal, Sand, Mud/Rut Snow, and Towing, with an additional All-Terrain mode in the Rock Creek trim. The Pathfinder's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds, but the Rock Creek trim could tow up to 6,000 pounds.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, introduced with a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine featuring variable compression design, replaced the previous 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. This VC-Turbo engine produced 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 pound-feet of torque from 2,800 rpm to 4,000 rpm. The engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and powered the front wheels, with optional AWD available.

The new VC-Turbo powertrain was preferred over the previous engine, offering responsive performance in urban and suburban driving. However, it lacked passing power on the highway and had an unusual engine note and vibration. The Rogue's fuel economy fell short of expectations, averaging 28.9 mpg in combined driving compared to the EPA's estimate of 31 mpg. The Rogue featured brake-induced ride quality and cornering enhancements, with a strut-type front and multi-link rear suspension design. The test vehicle demonstrated a good balance of ride compliance and body control, though the steering felt lifeless.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder provided up to 80.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded flat. With the second row in use, it offered 45 cubic feet of cargo space, and with all seats upright, it provided 16.6 cubic feet. The first two rows offered ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was suitable for shorter trips. The optional second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easier. The Pathfinder featured 12 cupholders and four bottle holders, along with plenty of storage compartments. The Rock Creek trim's roof racks were practical, holding up to 220 pounds, though removing snow from the roof could be challenging.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, designed as a replacement for the traditional family car, offered a practical and comfortable interior. The Platinum trim featured a triple-zone automatic climate control system, a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, and premium semi-aniline leather upholstery with diamond-stitched inserts. The front seats were heated and featured Nissan's Zero Gravity design, though height adjustment for the front passenger seat was lacking. The Rogue's rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle, making it easy to load and unload passengers. The rear seat was roomy but lacked comfort, with a low-mounted bottom cushion and diamond-shaped pleats.

The Rogue offered up to 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Divide-N-Hide feature allowed for six different cargo area configurations, and underfloor storage areas were included.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a 9-inch touchscreen system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though some might find the graphics dated. The Pathfinder also included four USB ports, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and voice recognition. The SV trim added a Wi-Fi hotspot, while the SL trim added wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, and a third-row USB port. The Platinum trim added a second third-row USB port.

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 featured 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 had 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 was unreliable.

The test vehicle also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display (HUD), both of which worked well.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward and reverse collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, rear parking sensors, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SV trim added ProPilot Assist, which included lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The SL trim added front parking sensors, a 360-degree parking monitor, and traffic-sign recognition. The Platinum trim added rain-sensing wipers and a head-up display. The Rock Creek trim featured front- and side-view cameras for off-road driving.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue came standard with 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder system, and Safety Shield 360, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, 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 and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.