Almost every automaker has at least one compact SUV in their lineup nowadays, as they are the hottest-selling segment in the market nowadays. Compact SUVs are very popular among families for their practicality and easy drivability. Most compact SUVs are easy to drive and park in the city, and they offer excellent mileage. They also provide spacious cabins and cargo trunks, which make them great for families and daily use.

Nissan has recently introduced the 2023 iteration of the Rogue with a base price of $27,360. The Japanese company will sell the 2023 Rogue in four trims: the S, SV, SL, and a newly launched Midnight Edition. All trims are powered by a 1.5-liter VC Turbo three-cylinder engine stacked with a CVT gearbox and a front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive system. The compact SUV segment is a crowded place and is presently ruled by the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. However, the Rogue is another impressive Japanese SUV on the market and has a lot to offer. Let us below discuss why the 2023 Nissan Rogue is an excellent choice in the compact market.

Related: Best Compact Crossover: 2022 Hyundai Tucson Vs 2021 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Nissan Rogues Packs A Capable Engine

Under the hood lies a 1.5-liter VC-Turbo three-cylinder engine mated to a CVT gearbox and direct injection fuel system. The engine is capable of producing a stout 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, and power is delivered to either the front or all four wheels.

With such output churning from the engine, the Nissan Rogue is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and takes 15.7 seconds to cover a quarter mile. It also has an electronically limited top speed of 116 mph. While the Rogue’s engine has a smaller capacity considering it is a compact SUV, the turbocharged three-cylinder SUV offers the maximum output at relatively lower revs. This improves fuel economy and delivers punchy engine behavior.

The 1.5-liter VC Turbo three-cylinder engine, when combined with front-wheel-drive, offers 30 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway. The all-wheel-drive models decrease the mileage by 2 MPG, so they offer 28 MPG in the city and 35 on the highway, which is impressive for a mid-size SUV. It comes packed with a 14.5-gallon fuel tank, which helps it offer 507–536 miles on the highway.

Nissan Rogue Offers Refined Handling

All trims come standard with front-wheel-drive, and they are great for regular usage, offering adequate power and good handling for daily usage. For people with a soft corner for adventure, Nissan offers an optional intelligent all-wheel-drive system offering excellent grip off-road. Furthermore, the front-wheel-drive models come equipped with Eco and Sport modes for saving fuel or adding power depending on the situation. The all-wheel-drive models offer snow and off-road modes for extra control in challenging conditions.

The Rogue Has An Outdoorsy Character

The current Nissan Rogue is one of the best-looking compact SUVs on the market. The overall exterior styling is contemporary and sleek. The fascia looks buffed up with sharp wedge DRLs and chunky headlights below. The grille incorporates a distinct design with a chrome Nissan badge. The front bumper looks muscular and offers decent functionality as well.

The latest Rogue looks stronger from the back. The black cladding, bulky diffuser, and wide headlights give it a rugged character. The Rogue boasts a balanced wheelbase of 106.5 feet, and this helps it balance handling and ride comfort like a pro. Besides, the Rogue is a big crossover, but it looks sleek in reality. The SUV features automatic LED headlights with DRLs, LED fog lights, UV glasses, and rear spoilers as standard features, offering decent functionality.

The Nissan Rogue Packs An Upmarket Interior

The Nissan Rogue offers an upmarket cabin with excellent space and comfort on offer. Nissan has used a modern layout and awash the cabin with bright, durable materials that look great and increase the quality quotient. The cockpit looks sporty and it offers excellent functionality. The majority of the cabin is built with textured plastics to help with sound insulation, and they promise excellent build quality. Other parts like the middle dashboard, door panels, armrest, and others are covered with plastic. For decoration, the cabin uses plastic wood-finished trim and metal accents. The dashboard offers intuitive controls and features a docked-styled touchscreen and sleek climate control vents and console below.

The interior seats five people and offers an admirable passenger room of 105.4 cu. ft., making the cabin feel spacious and tidy. The higher models add a dual-pane panoramic sunroof for extra circulation of light and air through the cabin to deliver a fresher ambiance. The front end features a fully digital instrument cluster and a leather-and-heated steering wheel. The cockpit has a pair of manually-or power-adjustable zero-gravity bucket seats that offer 41.1-inches of headroom and 41.5-inches of legroom, providing excellent space even for tall and muscular adults. The rear seats offer 43.3-inches of headroom and 38.5-inches of legroom. Hence, the rear offers adequate space for taller people as well. The higher trims come standard with heated steering and heated front and rear seats. The lower models come with cloth seats while the upper models offer semi-aniline or leather-appointed seats as standard niceties.

For infotainment, the interior provides an 8-or 9-inch touchscreen loaded with the Nissan Connect interface, a Bose premium audio system, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, head-up display, door-to-door navigation with voice assist, a wireless charger, and plenty more features.

Related: This Is The Best Feature Of The Nissan 2021 Rogue Interior

Rogue Offers High Levels Of Safety

The Nissan Rogue offers excellent safety and boasts impressive safety ratings. The IIHS has tested the 2022 Rogue and rated it "Good" and awarded it the "Top Safety Pick+" title. So, we expect it to perform similarly for the 2023 model year. Nissan has constructed the Rogue on a unibody chassis under the Renault–Nissan CMF-CD platform. The chassis is said to be reliable, and it offers excellent strength for protection during a collision.

In addition, Nissan has equipped all trims of the Rogue with Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard equipment. Furthermore, the Rogue also comes equipped with the ProPILOT Assist package for extra safety. The Rogue’s wheels are coupled with ventilated disc brakes that offer a strong bite, and once slammed at 60 mph, the Rogue stops at 114 mph, impressive for its class and weight.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue is certainly one of the best compact SUVs on the market. It comes loaded with features and offers a powerful yet efficient engine. Most importantly, it has great safety scores and plenty of safety tech. That said, we consider it a great buy in 2022.

Source: Nissan USA