2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2024 Ford Bronco

The 2024 Nissan Rogue underwent its first major styling update since the launch of its current generation in 2021. Despite retaining the same lineup of trim levels—S, SV, SL, and Platinum—the Rogue featured a new, larger grille that seamlessly integrated with its distinctive stack headlights and daytime running lights. The rear fascia saw minor changes with redesigned inner taillight elements. The Rogue SV received a new 18-inch wheel design, while the Platinum model boasted a new 19-inch machined-finish wheel design and additional black exterior trim, including an optional black roof. Inside, the Rogue's dashboard was updated to accommodate a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, enhancing the vehicle's premium feel. The Rogue SV models received new materials across the interior, and the Platinum trim offered leather seats with quilted stitching and a new Chestnut brown color option, contributing to a more upscale cabin experience.

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design reminiscent of the 1960s, particularly successful in the two-door model. The Sasquatch Package, a notable upgrade, added a suspension lift, 35-inch mud-terrain tires, and exclusive wheels, giving the Bronco a rugged and purposeful appearance. The Bronco offered nine trim levels, including the Raptor performance model, with prices ranging from $41,525 to $91,930. Our test vehicle, a four-door Big Bend trim with the Sasquatch Package, featured Hot Pepper Red paint, LED signature lighting, and a hardtop, priced at $55,415. The Bronco's interior, while not as breathable due to its marine-grade upholstery, provided a comfortable experience with an 8-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Bronco's design and features made it a formidable competitor to the Jeep Wrangler, offering a unique and enjoyable driving experience.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, part of Nissan's VC-Turbo lineup, capable of varying its compression ratio for optimal power or fuel economy. This engine delivered 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, outperforming competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. However, the Rogue's continuously variable transmission (CVT) was slow to transfer power to the wheels, detracting from the engine's performance. The Rogue offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. Despite its impressive engine, the Rogue's suspension was firmer than expected, affecting ride quality without improving handling. The vehicle was quiet, but the droning exhaust note was a downside.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend came with a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It offered a seven-speed manual transmission with a low first gear for rock crawling or an optional 10-speed automatic transmission. The Bronco's maximum towing capacity was 3,500 pounds. An optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivered 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, while the Raptor model featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft. The Bronco's part-time four-wheel-drive system was standard, with an advanced system available as an upgrade. Off-roading technologies like Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist enhanced its capabilities. However, the Bronco's fuel efficiency was lacking, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway. Despite this, the Bronco excelled in off-road conditions and provided a fun driving experience on-road.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered competitive passenger space, similar to rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, with slight differences in legroom. The Rogue's cargo space was 36.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 74.1 cubic feet with them folded, less than the CR-V and Tucson but more than the Forester. The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations, and the Rogue featured a molded-in space for grocery bags. A power liftgate was available on SV models, with a motion-activated liftgate on SL and Platinum trims. The center console provided additional storage space, though accessing it could be awkward.

The 2024 Ford Bronco, particularly the Big Bend Sasquatch, required some effort to enter and exit due to its lifted design. However, it offered comfortable seating for four adults in both two-door and four-door models. The four-door Bronco was roomier than a Jeep Wrangler, with no rollbar obstructing rear-seat passengers. The Bronco's marine-grade vinyl upholstery was less breathable, but cloth seats were available in the Heritage Edition. The two-door model had a standard hardtop with removable panels, while the four-door offered a fabric soft top with an optional hardtop. The Bronco's interior storage was good, with MOLLE panels for customization. Cargo space varied, with the two-door offering 22.4 cubic feet and the four-door providing up to 83 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on lower trims, while SL and Platinum models received a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The Rogue was the first Nissan to offer Google built-in software, integrating Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play app store. This feature was free for five years, with a vehicle data plan required for third-party apps. The dual 12.3-inch screen setup improved the infotainment experience, though the touchscreen was occasionally slow to boot up. The Rogue included multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad on higher trims. Nissan Connect Services offered a three-year free trial, enabling remote features via a smartphone app.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. Higher trims included a connected navigation system and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. However, the Bronco's Sync 4 technology experienced issues with Apple CarPlay connectivity and voice recognition. The Bronco Trail App provided access to trail maps and information. The 8-inch digital instrumentation panel required a learning curve, and the steering wheel controls could be distracting. Despite these challenges, the Bronco offered a comprehensive infotainment experience.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received favorable safety ratings, earning top "Good" scores in several IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, and rear automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control and ProPilot Assist, which added automated lane centering for highway driving. While not the most advanced system, ProPilot Assist was more capable than many competitors' offerings.

The 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend included standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and a backup camera. The Mid Package added Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, including lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system were available as options. The Bronco's safety systems performed as expected, though the lane-keep assist was less preferred. The IIHS rated the Bronco four-door favorably, except for its headlight performance, while NHTSA ratings were incomplete, with a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance score.