2024 Jeep Wrangler vs 2024 Nissan Rogue

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler has often been synonymous with rugged and classic off-road appeal. Despite its plethora of powertrains and off-road systems, all models consistently sported a robust, body-on-frame aesthetic. Enthusiasts noted the larger tires on the more capable models, such as the Rubicon X and Rubicon 392 trims, though the overall appearance remained largely unchanged regardless of what's under the hood.

For 2024, the Wrangler unveiled a newly redesigned grille, initially seen on the 2023 20th Anniversary edition of the Wrangler Rubicon. This grille was shorter and wider, enabling better airflow to the engine bay. Jeep also addressed off-roaders' complaints about the traditional antenna snagging on brush; for 2024, the antenna was integrated into the windshield, ensuring a smoother off-road experience. Additionally, Jeep introduced ten new wheel designs, adding more variety.

Adventure seekers had a plethora of roof options: a traditional soft-top, a full hard top, a hard top with a retractable sunroof over the front seats, and even a power-retractable sunroof that opened up the entire cabin to sunlight. The windshield could fold down, and the doors were removable—a quintessential Jeep feature. More conservative drivers had options like full doors or half doors, or even tube doors from Mopar.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue, by contrast, presented its first major styling update since the 2021 model launch. The lineup maintained its familiar trims: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. An updated, larger grille seamlessly blended with the car’s distinctive stack headlights and daytime running lights. The rear fascia received minor updates, mainly in the form of redesigned inner taillight elements. New satin-finish exterior badging, an 18-inch wheel design for the Rogue SV, and a 19-inch machined-look wheel design for the Rogue Platinum rounded out the 2024 changes. The top trims also got additional black exterior trim and an optional black roof.

Inside, the dashboard saw adjustments to fit a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, providing a premium feel. Rogue SV models received new interior materials, enhancing the overall ambiance. Dual-zone automatic climate control became standard on most models, enhancing comfort.

The Platinum trim, the epitome of the Rogue's lineup, offered upscale features like leather seats with a new Chestnut brown option and quilted stitching, aligning with the vehicle's upscale billing. Unlike some competitors, Nissan's leather didn’t feel like cheap taxi upholstery, blending seamlessly into the well-appointed interior.

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler offered a versatile range of engine options. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Its plug-in hybrid variant produced an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. Jeep also provided a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6, delivering 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The performance pinnacle was the monstrous 6.4-liter V8, churning out 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

Jeep offered various transfer cases for tailored off-road capabilities. The Command-Trac 4WD system in Sport and Sahara trims provided 4WD with low range but lacked locking differentials or top-tier crawl ratios. The full-time Selec-Trac 4WD system featured in the Wrangler 392 ensured a tremendous speed experience. The Rubicon trim, equipped with Rock-Trac transfer cases in both part-time and full-time 4WD options, stood as the off-roading champion.

The 4xe PHEV model emerged as a notable favorite, merging a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with two electric motors and a battery. This combo offered 21 miles of all-electric range, 375 horsepower, and 470 pound-feet of torque, rivaling the 392 trim’s power but more efficiently. The 4xe Rubicon model, featuring front and rear locking differentials, excelled in both sand dune driving and rock crawling thanks to the new Offroad+ mode.

Despite its prowess off-road, the Wrangler's drive on pavement suffered due to its solid front axle, resulting in a bumpy ride and somewhat vague steering. The 2024 model improved with added sound-deadening materials for a quieter cabin, even when equipped with noisy BF Goodrich KO2 tires. Jeep also introduced a WARN winch option for Rubicon models, capable of pulling 8,000 pounds, bolstered by modified front springs to handle the added weight.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue’s powertrain showcased innovative engineering with its 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, leveraging Nissan’s VC-Turbo technology for varying compression ratios. This engine generated 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, outperforming several competitors’ four-cylinder engines in its class.

However, the standard continuously variable transmission (CVT) didn't quite match the engine's eagerness, being somewhat sluggish in transferring power to the wheels. While the Rogue was available with all-wheel drive, it came standard with front-wheel drive. Though not marketed as a spirited driver’s car, the Rogue’s suspension, especially in the Platinum trim, felt firmer than average, impacting ride quality without benefiting handling notably.

Despite the engine’s admirable performance, the noisy exhaust note detracted from the overall experience. However, the Rogue's quiet cabin was a definite plus.

For 2024, the Jeep Wrangler significantly improved its towing capacity. The introduction of a full-float solid rear axle allowed select four-door Rubicon models with the gas-powered 2.0-liter or 3.6-liter engines, automatic transmission, and 33-inch tires to tow up to 5,000 pounds. This was a marked improvement from the previous 3,500-pound maximum.

Inside, the Wrangler offered heated seats and a heated steering wheel, though ventilated seats were conspicuously absent. New 12-way power-adjustable front seats allowed easy adjustments, and Jeep assured that these seats remained functional even during water fording, despite potential submersion scenarios with the doors off. The 4xe models stood out with a 30-amp Power Box that could power accessories from its 17.3-kWh battery.

In cargo capacity comparisons, the Wrangler’s off-road focus meant it didn’t prioritize interior space as much as the Rogue. While exact figures for cargo space weren’t highlighted for the Wrangler, its design aimed at accommodating off-road gear and configurations more than matching the Rogue’s more family and cargo-centric layout.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue, distinct for its compact crossover segment, offered nearly identical passenger space compared to competitors, with slight variances in legroom. Cargo space in the Rogue was quite impressive, boasting up to 36.5 cubic feet with the rear seats upright and 74.1 cubic feet when folded down, slightly less than a CR-V or Tucson but more than a Forester.

Nissan's Divide-N-Hide system provided flexible cargo storage options. This setup allowed a flat cargo floor with hidden storage below or a lower floor for increased height, achieving the maximum cargo space figure. Additional touches included a grocery-bag holder molded into the cargo area's right side and optionally, a power liftgate for the SV trim, and a motion-activated liftgate for the SL and Platinum trims. The center console featured a pass-through space, though accessing the lower storage tray was somewhat cumbersome.

All 2024 Jeep Wrangler models were equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen running the upgraded Uconnect5 system, with optional navigation. This interface boasted cleaner graphics and an intuitive user experience compared to previous iterations. Multiple USB-A and USB-C ports were standard, alongside wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new Uconnect5 system's speed was noticeably improved, especially with the Off-Road Pages feature, which now displayed key data instantaneously. The Trails Offroad feature offered over 200 trail guides for free, including all Jeep Badge of Honor trails, with a subscription option for access to over 3,000 trails. Users could also record and share trail data.

Additional tech features included a wireless hotspot, dual Bluetooth phone pairing, and the ability to store up to five user profiles, enhancing the Wrangler’s usability and customization options.

For 2024, the Nissan Rogue’s tech offerings were equally impressive. Lower trims (S and SV) featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SL and Platinum trims upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity options, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Amazon Alexa connectivity, and Google built-in apps.

Nissan was the pioneer in its segment to integrate Google built-in software, allowing direct use of Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play without requiring a smartphone connection. Connectivity was free for five years, although third-party app data plans were necessary immediately.

The dual-screen setup provided modern graphics and user-friendly interfaces. While our test model experienced slow boot-up times, the overall system performance was a significant improvement. Nissan also offered ample charging options, including four USB-C ports in higher trims and a wireless device charging pad.

The Nissan Connect Services free trial period extended to three years from the previous six months, providing connectivity for remote start/stop, door lock/unlock, vehicle health reports, and emergency calling for most trim levels.

The Jeep Wrangler's significant safety improvement for 2024 was the addition of first- and second-row side-curtain airbags. Standard forward collision warning appeared on all but the base model, while advanced aids like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and park assist were optional. The High Altitude and 392 trims included these aids as standard. However, features like lane-keeping assist or highway assist were unavailable.

The Wrangler had yet to be rated for 2024 by the NHTSA or IIHS. Ratings from 2023 indicated four out of five stars for frontal crash protection and three out of five stars for rollover protection from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler well in roof strength but moderate in frontal and side crashes. These ratings were expected to improve with the new side curtain airbags.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received commendable safety ratings, achieving top "Good" ratings in multiple IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Rogue excelled in side crash tests and provided substantial standard safety features including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking.

Optional safety tech included ProPilot Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, standard on the SV trim with an advanced version available on SL and Platinum models. This system enhanced the Rogue’s safety suite though still required active driver engagement.