2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Nissan Rogue was a testament to thoughtful design in the compact SUV segment. Nissan played it safe but effective, wrapping the Rogue in sleek, chiseled lines and appropriate SUV detailing that exuded a rugged persona. Its balanced proportions and distinctive styling proved critical as aesthetics often influence buying decisions. Available in multiple trims – S, SV, SL, and the luxurious Platinum – the Rogue catered to various tastes and budgets, starting at $27,360 and reaching upwards to $37,140, excluding the $1,295 destination fee.

Our test model, a Platinum trim adorned with premium options, showcased the epitome of Nissan’s craftsmanship. It sported all-wheel drive (AWD), two-tone paint, diamond-pattern leather seats, and a plethora of interior and exterior enhancements. Despite pushing the MSRP to $43,100, the Platinum's luxurious appointments and advanced features, such as the triple-zone climate control and panoramic sunroof, positioned it near entry-level luxury SUVs like the Infiniti QX50. However, some might find this price adventurous for a Nissan.

Conversely, the 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over flashy aesthetics, maintaining its legacy of a utilitarian yet oddly appealing design. The Cascade Green Silica paint, reminiscent of Foresters past, underscored Subaru’s commitment to continuity. This year’s Forester, offered in Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims, was priced between $26,395 to $36,495, plus a $1,225 destination charge, with our Touring trim test vehicle arriving at $37,720.

The Forester’s design featured a practical but somewhat boxy structure, evoking a shrunken Subaru Ascent look. The vehicle's exterior included flared fenders, a narrow waistline, and distinctive pincer-shaped lighting elements. The Touring trim's 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome accents sought to elevate its visual appeal. Moreover, rugged roof rails enhanced the Forester’s adventurous spirit, with certain models even allowing a tent setup atop.

Inside, the Forester Touring stood out with its Saddle Brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, a signature of Subaru’s functional design ethos. Despite the abundance of hard plastics, the vehicle's easy-to-clean interior and a blend of analog and digital displays offered a blend of tradition and modernity. The control-heavy dashboard was user-friendly, cementing the Forester’s reputation for no-nonsense aesthetics and practicality.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue moved away from its old 2.5-liter engine and adopted a cutting-edge 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder powerplant with Nissan’s unique variable compression technology. This VC-Turbo engine churned out 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 pound-feet of torque between 2,800 and 4,000 rpm, promising a blend of efficiency and performance. Customers could choose from front-wheel drive or optional AWD, with the latter offering additional driving modes like Off-Road and Snow.

Despite its technological advancements, the VC-Turbo received mixed reviews. It performed well in city scenarios, offering responsive power delivery, but lagged during highway overtakes. The CVT, while generally unobtrusive, sometimes generated overly dramatic simulated gear changes. Additionally, the engine’s distinct sound and occasional pedal vibrations could be perceived as a lack of refinement.

Fuel economy was another mixed bag. Although the EPA rated the AWD Rogue at 31 mpg combined, real-world testing yielded 28.9 mpg. The Rogue featured brake-induced ride quality enhancements and a strut-type front and multi-link rear suspension, ensuring a balance between ride comfort and stability. However, sharp road undulations revealed some body motion issues, and the steering felt somewhat disconnected from the road.

The 2023 Subaru Forester, powered by a robust 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. Unlike the Rogue, the Forester came standard with all-wheel drive and a CVT equipped with eight simulated gear ratios to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, complemented by Subaru’s SI-Drive sport mode for enhanced responsiveness.

Moreover, the Forester’s X-Mode off-road system, which included multiple terrain settings and hill descent control, showcased the SUV’s remarkable adaptability. Despite a modest power output, the Forester acquitted itself admirably in diverse driving conditions. Urban streets, rain-slicked highways, and muddy trails - the Forester handled each with commendable aplomb, instilling confidence in its capabilities.

On regular roads, the Forester’s powertrain proved sufficient, if not exhilarating. Light and accurate steering, effective brakes, and a well-tuned suspension made for a pleasant driving experience. Unlike many crossovers, the Forester avoided excessive body motions on undulating surfaces, maintaining composure and comfort. Still, the lack of a turbocharged engine sometimes restricted its performance, particularly at higher elevations, and fuel economy was a concern. The Forester averaged 25.9 mpg in real-world testing, falling short of the EPA’s 29 mpg estimate.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue was clearly designed as a midsize sedan alternative, offering a higher ride height, better all-around visibility, and the practicality of versatile cargo space. Able to comfortably accommodate four adults, with a fifth in a pinch, the Rogue boasted a plush interior. The Platinum trim featured premium leather seats, advanced climate control, and a panoramic sunroof, though ventilated seats were conspicuously absent.

Nissan’s thoughtful design extended to the outward visibility, aided by large mirrors and slender windshield pillars. However, some design choices seemed less effective. The ambient light control hidden within the center storage bin and the poorly marked remote key fob stood out as usability downgrades. Rear seat comfort was also a letdown despite the spaciousness and additional features like rear climate controls and heated seats.

With its rear seats up, the Rogue offered 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Nissan’s Divide-N-Hide system allowed versatile storage configurations, expanding to a generous 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2023 Subaru Forester, true to its form-over-function nature, prioritized practicality with features like easy entry/exit, panoramic sunroof, and multiple comfort upgrades across its various trims. Visibility was a Forester hallmark, thanks to a high seating position and large windows. Despite the extensive standard features in Premium trim, higher trims still offered luxurious upgrades like heated steering wheels and perforated leather seats.

A downside to the Forester's spacious interior was the underwhelming rear seat comfort. With ample headroom and legroom, the seats themselves could have offered better support. Interesting incidents, like improperly sealed doors causing rainwater to soak the interior or fussing with power liftgate configurations, highlighted functionality over finesse.

Cargo capacity in the Forester was impressive, though slightly less than the Rogue. Offering 26.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 69.1 cubic feet with the seats down, the Forester ingeniously utilized every inch, from grocery bag hooks to under-floor storage.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue felt in need of a tech update, especially compared to newer siblings like the Altima. The Rogue came with either an 8-inch or a 9-inch touchscreen with familiar and easy-to-use knobs and buttons. Our test vehicle featured the 9-inch display alongside Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, navigation, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Upgraded audio, a wireless charging pad, and an inoperative Alexa Built-in system rounded out the tech suite. The Rogue also boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display (HUD), both working admirably.

However, the voice recognition system left much to be desired, frequently misunderstanding and misdirecting. Simple tasks like finding a hospital or restaurant became unreliable and frustrating, emphasizing the dependence on smartphone integration over built-in assistants.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Subaru Forester appeared deceptively traditional but effectively functional in its tech offerings. All trims centralized on usability, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen (Base trim) or an 8-inch screen available in higher trims. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and, for those nostalgic, even a CD player. The Touring trim added navigation and an excellent Harman Kardon sound system, though a wireless charging pad was notably missing.

The Forester technology interface was user-friendly with physical controls for climate and audio systems, avoiding potential touchscreen distractions. Refined yet straightforward, its voice recognition system mirrored the Rogue’s inadequacies, often misinterpreting commands and frustrating users who’d prefer expedience.

Safety in the 2023 Nissan Rogue was robust, starting with standard features like 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder, and the Safety Shield 360 package. This suite included critical systems like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warnings. Higher trims added ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering. In practice, ProPilot Assist performed admirably, providing ease and reassurance, especially during high-speed commutes.

The Rogue earned high marks, such as the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2022 and a five-star NHTSA rating. However, it received lower scores in updated overlap and side-impact tests, suggesting areas needing improvement.

Similarly, the 2023 Subaru Forester came with the latest EyeSight technology suite, enhanced with new software and wider-view cameras for better performance. Features like Automatic Emergency Steering and the exclusive DriverFocus Mitigation System (Touring trim) provided additional layers of safety. However, Rear Automatic Braking (RAB) sometimes misfired, mistakenly reacting to non-threats like angled driveway pavers, posing potential concerns.

The Forester’s safety record reflected solid ratings, with a five-star crash-test rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from IIHS. Nonetheless, it dropped from its previous Top Safety Pick+ due to new side-impact and small overlap frontal-impact test results, indicating room for progress.