2023 Nissan Rogue: Still a Solid Choice
What new features come with a 2023 Nissan Rogue? What stayed the same? Does it do well against competitors? Find out in this 2023 Nissan Rogue review.
2023 Nissan Rogue – usa.nissannews.com | Shop 2023 Nissan Rogue on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2023 Nissan Rogue?
The Nissan Rogue has been around since the 2008 model year, and it’s still selling well in the ever-competitive compact SUV segment. How does Nissan keep it fresh? It makes tweaks as necessary in between the big changes. Nissan just kicked off the third generation of the vehicle with the 2020 model year, so this year is one of those years with just a few tweaks.
Those tweaks include the available Midnight Edition package on the Rogue SV. A new generation of the Xtronic transmission is also used in the 2023 Rogue. That’s pretty much where the updates end. The 2022 Nissan Rogue made our list of the Best compact SUVs of 2022, but how does the 2023 Nissan Rogue compare without a bunch of new changes? Are the tech and safety features, along with best-in-class fuel economy and torque, enough to make this SUV one worth looking at? Keep reading to find out.
The Breakdown
Impressive fuel economy
Comfortable ride
Good looking vehicle
Quality selection of materials in the cabin
Up-to-date features
5 two-tone or 9 solid colors
Some cabin noise on freeways
Warranties could be better
Acceptable handling
2023 Rogue Specs
- 201 horsepower from base engine
- 225 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- 36.8 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 72 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- 8.0- or 9.0-inch touchscreen
- 5-star overall NHTSA rating
- 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
2023 Nissan Rogue Powertrain
The 2023 Nissan Rogue sticks with just one engine option: a 201-horsepowered 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that makes 225 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and uses front-wheel drive to push the vehicle forward. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional on the 2023 Rogue.
This 1.5-liter inline-three isn’t new. It was introduced in the 2022 model, but it’s still much better than the previous 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that was being used to power the Nissan Rogue. This engine has enough strength to make acceleration less of a hassle in the 2023 Rogue than in previous Rogue models or other compact crossovers. It rides nicely as a get-around-town vehicle, as a commuter vehicle from the suburbs into the city, or as a road trip vehicle. The handling isn’t exciting, but it’s also not problematic.
2023 Nissan Rogue Fuel Economy & MPG
If you want to get the most miles out of your ride, the 2023 Nissan Rogue should be a contender. At worst, with AWD on the SL and Platinum trims, the 2023 Rogue gets 28 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and 34 MPG On the highway. At best, when the S and SV trims are configured with FWD, the 2023 Rogue achieves 30 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway! Any type of gasoline can be used to fill this Rogue.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The interior of the 2023 Nissan Rogue ranges from modern to fairly upscale. Seats are comfortable, and so is the spacing throughout the cabin. Cloth, leatherette, leather-appointed, or quilted semi-aniline leather-appointed seats are used in the Rogue trims. Up front, the driver and passenger get 41.5 inches of leg room and 41.1 inches of headroom (without a moonroof). Rear passengers get 38.5 inches of leg room and 43.3 inches of headroom. With a moonroof, headroom drops to 39.2 inches up front and 39.2 inches in back.
Cargo space measures 36.8 inches if all seats are upright in their normal positions. That space expands to 72.0 inches with the rear seats folded down. There’s a front-passenger seatback pocket on every 2023 Rogue. The butterfly armrest in the front center console has some decent space to it, but there’s also a ‘floating’ center console underneath the main console. The open-access area can be easily used by the driver or front passenger.
Entertainment & Technology
Nissan does a pretty decent job of offering good standard infotainment features. An 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and satellite radio all come in every 2023 Nissan Rogue. Spending on premium packages and other trims will get buyers a Bose stereo system, a wireless smartphone charging pad, a bigger 9.0-inch touchscreen, a 10.8-inch head-up display, and a 12.3-inch digital cluster.
The design of Nissan’s infotainment system makes sense. You don’t have to go into multiple different menus to find basic functions. Knobs are used to control the audio and radio tuning while the touchscreen controls most other functions. Steering wheel buttons also help with making calls, ending calls, changing music, and accelerating while using cruise control. The engine-starting button is moved from the traditional ignition location by the steering wheel to the area just under the temperature controls. That location switch can take some getting used to for those not accustomed to it being there.
Safety Features
Just like with entertainment features, Nissan offers a variety of safety features even at the most basic trim level. Automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, hill-start assist, and driver alertness technology are all included with every Nissan Rogue.
More features come with the higher trims though. Adaptive cruise control (with a semi-autonomous driving mode), lane keep assist, and traffic sign recognition are some of the available features or the ones offered specifically with the Platinum trim.
2023 Nissan Rogue Trims & Pricing
The Nissan Rogue keeps its four trims for the 2023 model: the S, SV, SL, and Platinum. Here’s what you can expect out of each of them:
S – $27,360
Nissan was pretty generous with the amount of features the 2023 Rogue starts off with. This base model has an eight-inch touchscreen, satellite radio functionality, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, two USB ports, and a four-speaker audio system. The driver’s seat is height-adjustable and rear passengers have their own air vents to utilize. Outside are 17-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights. Forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning are all included. So is a rear-cross traffic alert and rear automatic braking.
SV – $29,050
Wheels are upgraded to 18 inches, a remote start has been added, and the entry and ignition are keyless at this trim level. Heated mirrors have body-colored caps and the cabin gets more comfortable with a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Lane departure mitigation and adaptive cruise control are added driver assists on the SV.
If you are willing to go up to $33,245, you can get the special Midnight Edition package on your SV. Most of the features in that package are stylistic on the exterior of the vehicle. Gloss-black is extensively used on a variety of elements, like the 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, the grille, and front and rear bumper trimming, giving the Rogue a blacked-out feel. Hence the midnight name. It also has a black rear diffuser, black roof rails, and black outside mirrors. Satin black rear badging is also included.
SL – $33,710
Another step up comes with more additional features. 19-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and a hands-free liftgate enhance the SL even more on the outside of the SUV. A 360-degree camera is standard at this level. So is an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The 2023 Rogue SL is outfitted with leather upholstery, driver’s seat memory settings, and a power-adjustable passenger seat. The cabin also has tri-zone automatic climate control. Starting with the SL trim, Nissan offers built-in Amazon Alexa.
Platinum – $37,140
At the top of this 2023 lineup is the Nissan Rogue Platinum. It comes with voice controls, wireless Apple CarPlay, a 10-speaker Bose audio system, a navigation system, and a nine-inch touchscreen. Passengers in front can charge devices with the wireless charging pad, too. Adaptive cruise control and front and rear parking sensors help with operating the vehicle. Rear seats are heated while all seats have leather upholstery with a quilted stitch design.
Warranties
Nissan warranties aren’t particularly special. What you get is pretty standard. With three years or 36,000 miles on the limited warranty and five years or 60,000 miles on a powertrain warranty, these warranties aren’t as long as those offered by a handful of competitors, like Hyundai or Kia. Nissan doesn’t offer any complimentary scheduled maintenance as part of either of the warranties.
What we think
2023 Nissan Rogue – usa.nissannews.com | Shop 2023 Nissan Rogue on Carsforsale.com
How does the Nissan Rogue compare to other SUVs? The Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson have better warranties. The Subaru Forester has more cargo space when seats are lowered. The Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 are a little bit cheaper. None of that makes the Rogue less noteworthy though. It’s a good mix of functional, stylish, powerful, modern, customizable, and reliable when it’s put up against competitors.
While some other models may shine in a certain area, the 2023 Nissan Rogue combines a lot of desirable aspects for car buyers in the market for a new SUV. If you’ve got the funds, going up to the SV or SL should get you most of what you’re looking for without having to go all the way to the top of the 2023 Rogue price range.
For a detailed analysis of recent, but older, Nissan Rogue models, read our 2022 Nissan Rogue review or our 2020 Nissan Rogue review. Both give a category-by-category breakdown of everything those models have to offer.
