2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Nissan Rogue underwent its first major styling update since the 2021 model year, maintaining its lineup of S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims. The new design featured a larger grille that seamlessly integrated with the stack headlights and daytime running lights, which were signature elements of the Rogue. The rear fascia saw minor changes with redesigned inner taillight elements. The Rogue SV received a new 18-inch wheel design, while the Platinum trim boasted a 19-inch machined-finish look and additional black exterior trim, with 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 throughout the interior, and the Platinum trim offered leather seats with quilted stitching, adding to the upscale ambiance.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, creating a visual link to other Land Rover models. However, its interior was more rugged and adventure-ready, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with more soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims. Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, featured the County visual package with white wheels and vintage graphics, emphasizing its retro appeal. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof. The Defender's interior was a blend of refinement and utility, with a straightforward touchscreen setup and practical features like grip handles and rubberized floors.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured a unique 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, part of Nissan's VC-Turbo lineup, which could vary its compression ratio for power or fuel economy. With 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, the Rogue's engine outperformed many competitors, including the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. However, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) was slow to transfer power to the wheels, and the suspension felt firmer than expected, affecting ride quality. The Rogue was available with front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive as an option.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model had a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, with the P500 making 493 hp and the P525 producing 518 hp. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system. The most powerful V8 in the Defender 110 Carpathian Edition could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, showcasing its impressive performance.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered competitive passenger space, with differences mainly in legroom compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson. The Rogue provided 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 74.1 cubic feet with them folded, less than the CR-V or Tucson but more than the Subaru Forester. The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations, and the Rogue featured a power liftgate on SV models and a motion-activated liftgate on SL and Platinum trims. The center console offered additional storage space, though accessing it could be awkward.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials and practical features like grip handles and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row, though space was limited. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 offered up to 58.3 cubic feet. The cargo area featured hard plastic surfaces, making it easy to clean.

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 and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Rogue was the first Nissan to offer Google built-in software, integrating Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play app store. The system provided better performance and streamlined connectivity for Google users, though it required a vehicle data plan for third-party apps. The Rogue also included multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad on higher trims. Nissan extended the free trial period for its Nissan Connect Services to three years, offering features like remote door lock/unlock and vehicle health reports.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, suited the Defender's utilitarian nature. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup and home buttons on the touchscreen made it user-friendly, providing essential features without overwhelming the driver.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received good safety scores from the IIHS, with top ratings in several crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating in the updated side-impact test. It also earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard driver assist features included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, and rear automatic emergency braking. ProPilot Assist, Nissan's advanced driver assistance system, was available on higher trims, offering automated lane centering and adaptive cruise control.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were noted to be overly sensitive, but they could be deactivated if needed. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.