The compact SUV segment has grown increasingly popular, offering drivers a versatile mix of style, performance, and practicality. Among the top contenders in this category are the 2023 Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue. With both vehicles boasting redesigned models and advanced features, choosing between the two can be a challenging task.
In this in-depth comparison, we delve into the strengths and weaknesses of each vehicle to provide you with the insights needed to make an informed decision.
Exterior Design:
The 2023 Honda CR-V has a sleek and modern look, with a bold front grille, sharp LED headlights, and distinctive character lines along the sides. The overall design is both aggressive and elegant, giving the CR-V an air of sophistication.
In contrast, the Nissan Rogue sports a more robust and rugged appearance. Its V-motion grille, angular headlights, and muscular body lines give it an assertive presence on the road. Both vehicles have their own unique aesthetic appeal, so it ultimately depends on personal preference.
Interior Design:
Inside, the 2023 Honda CR-V boasts a refined and upscale cabin, with high-quality materials and a well-organized layout. The dashboard design is uncluttered and modern, featuring a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a digital instrument cluster.
On the other hand, the Nissan Rogue’s interior is equally impressive, featuring a stylish dashboard, an available 9-inch touchscreen display, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Both vehicles offer a comfortable and inviting environment, making it a close call in the interior design department.
Seating:
When it comes to seating, both the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue provide ample space for five passengers. The CR-V offers comfortable and supportive seats, with plenty of headroom and legroom in both rows. In addition, the rear seats can be reclined for added comfort during long trips.
The Rogue also offers spacious seating, with its NASA-inspired Zero Gravity seats providing excellent support and comfort. However, the Rogue’s rear seats offer slightly more legroom than the CR-V, giving passengers a bit more space to stretch out.
Storage:
Storage is an essential factor for compact SUV buyers, and both the CR-V and Rogue deliver in this department. The Honda CR-V offers a generous 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, which expands to 75.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
The Nissan Rogue provides a slightly smaller cargo area with 36.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. While both vehicles offer impressive cargo capacities, the CR-V edges out the Rogue in terms of overall storage space.
Performance:
The 2023 Honda CR-V is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. It comes standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option.
The Nissan Rogue features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, also offering standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. While both vehicles offer adequate performance for daily driving, the CR-V has a slight advantage in terms of horsepower.
Fuel Efficiency:
Fuel efficiency is a crucial consideration for many buyers, and both the CR-V and Rogue deliver competitive numbers. The 2023 Honda CR-V achieves an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, while the all-wheel-drive version gets 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.
The Nissan Rogue’s fuel efficiency is slightly lower, with an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway for the front-wheel-drive model, and 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway for the all-wheel-drive variant. While both vehicles offer respectable fuel economy, the Honda CR-V has a slight edge in city driving, while the Nissan Rogue performs marginally better on the highway.
Safety:
Both the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue take safety seriously, offering a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance features. The 2023 CR-V comes standard with the Honda Sensing package, which includes collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. Additionally, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are available on higher trim levels.
Similarly, the Nissan Rogue features the Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard equipment, which includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and high beam assist. The Rogue also offers available ProPILOT Assist, which combines adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology for a semi-autonomous driving experience.
Trim Levels:
The 2023 Honda CR-V is available in four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Each trim offers progressively more features and options, with the base LX model equipped with essential features like a rearview camera, automatic climate control, and the Honda Sensing suite. The top-of-the-line Touring trim adds luxury features such as leather upholstery, a hands-free power tailgate, and a premium audio system.
The Nissan Rogue also offers four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. The base S trim comes with standard features like the Nissan Safety Shield 360, an 8-inch touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The range-topping Platinum trim adds upscale amenities like quilted leather seats, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a head-up display.
Pricing:
When it comes to pricing, both the 2023 Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue are competitively positioned within the compact SUV segment. The base CR-V LX has a starting price of around $26,000, while the top-tier Touring trim starts at approximately $35,000.
The Nissan Rogue S starts at a slightly lower price point of around $25,000, with the fully loaded Platinum trim coming in at about $37,000.
Key Differences
While the 2023 Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue share many similarities as compact SUVs, there are several key differences between the two vehicles. Here, we highlight the most significant aspects that set them apart:
Interior Space:
The Nissan Rogue offers slightly more rear legroom compared to the Honda CR-V, providing passengers with a bit more space to stretch out during long trips. However, the CR-V compensates for this by offering greater cargo capacity, with 39.2 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 75.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, compared to the Rogue’s 36.5 and 74.1 cubic feet, respectively.
Performance:
The Honda CR-V is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. In comparison, the Nissan Rogue features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. Although the difference is not substantial, the CR-V holds a slight advantage in terms of horsepower.
Fuel Efficiency:
The Honda CR-V has marginally better fuel efficiency in city driving, with an EPA-estimated 28 mpg for the front-wheel-drive model, compared to the Nissan Rogue’s 27 mpg. However, the Rogue offers slightly better highway fuel economy, boasting 35 mpg versus the CR-V’s 34 mpg.
Final Thoughts:
When it comes to choosing between the 2023 Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue, it’s evident that both vehicles have their own distinct advantages. While the CR-V offers a sleek design, more cargo space, and slightly better city fuel efficiency, the Rogue excels with its rugged appearance, more rear legroom, and superior highway fuel economy. The decision ultimately comes down to your individual preferences and priorities. To ensure you make the best choice for your needs and lifestyle, we recommend test-driving both models and experiencing their unique offerings firsthand.
Features Breakdown
2023 Honda CR-V Features:
- Exterior Design:
- Sleek and modern look
- Bold front grille
- Sharp LED headlights
- Distinctive character lines
- Interior Design:
- Refined and upscale cabin
- High-quality materials
- 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Digital instrument cluster
- Seating:
- Comfortable and supportive seats
- Ample headroom and legroom
- Reclining rear seats
- Storage:
- 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row
- 75.8 cubic feet with rear seats folded down
- Performance:
- 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine
- 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque
- Standard front-wheel drive, optional all-wheel drive
- Fuel Efficiency:
- 28 mpg city and 34 mpg highway (front-wheel drive)
- 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway (all-wheel drive)
- Safety:
- Honda Sensing suite
- Excellent safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS
- Trim Levels and Pricing:
- Four trims: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring
- Starting price of around $26,000 for the base LX trim
2023 Nissan Rogue Features:
- Exterior Design:
- Robust and rugged appearance
- V-motion grille
- Angular headlights
- Muscular body lines
- Interior Design:
- Stylish dashboard
- Available 9-inch touchscreen display
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Seating:
- Spacious seating
- NASA-inspired Zero Gravity seats
- More rear legroom compared to the CR-V
- Storage:
- 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row
- 74.1 cubic feet with rear seats folded down
- Performance:
- 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine
- 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque
- Standard front-wheel drive, optional all-wheel drive
- Fuel Efficiency:
- 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway (front-wheel drive)
- 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway (all-wheel drive)
- Safety:
- Nissan Safety Shield 360
- Available ProPILOT Assist technology
- Excellent safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS
- Trim Levels and Pricing:
- Four trims: S, SV, SL, and Platinum
- Starting price of around $25,000 for the base S trim
