2023 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's evolution from conservative styling to a more modern and upscale design. Historically known for its softer lines and functional interiors, Buick had shifted its focus to SUVs, reflecting the broader market trend. The Enclave, with its mid-cycle refresh, showcased several exterior enhancements, including a new grille and updated fascias, headlamps, and taillamps. The Avenir trim, in particular, stood out with its unique grille and 20-inch wheel design. Inside, the Enclave offered a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials, enhancing the overall comfort and luxury feel. The Avenir trim further elevated the experience with climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and a split sunroof, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a near-luxury SUV experience.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue maintained a more traditional approach to design, focusing on proper proportions and rugged SUV detailing. The Rogue's lineup included various trims, with the Platinum trim offering a host of upscale features. Our test vehicle, equipped with AWD and a two-tone paint job, boasted diamond-pattern leather seats and soft-touch materials, providing a sense of luxury. However, the Rogue's design choices, such as the low-contrast key fob, left room for improvement in terms of user-friendliness. Despite this, the Rogue's overall design was appealing, making it a popular choice for those seeking a stylish and practical compact SUV.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, all trims came standard with AWD, offering a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave was renowned for its quiet and smooth ride, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. The Avenir Technology package further enhanced the driving experience with a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, providing good acceleration and a pleasant engine sound. While not designed for off-road adventures, the Enclave's 19 centimetres of ground clearance and AWD made it capable of handling light trails and wintry conditions.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, featured a new turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with a variable compression design, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a CVT, the Rogue offered a choice of FWD or AWD, with various driving modes to suit different conditions. The VC-Turbo powertrain provided responsive performance in urban settings, though it lacked passing power on the highway. The Rogue's ride quality was enhanced by Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, ensuring a smooth and composed driving experience. However, the engine's unusual note and vibration through the accelerator pedal might not appeal to all drivers. Fuel economy was slightly below expectations, with our test vehicle averaging 8.1 L/100 km.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with easy ingress and egress and excellent visibility. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated, along with tri-zone climate control. The Enclave's cabin was roomy, accommodating six full-size adults comfortably, thanks to its second-row captain's chairs. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, though the potential for spills raised concerns. Cargo space was generous, with 668 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,758 litres with all seats folded. Power-folding third-row seats added convenience.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, designed as a family car replacement, offered good visibility and easy access, with rear doors opening to nearly 90 degrees. The Platinum trim featured premium leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the rear seat comfort was lacking, with low-mounted cushions and diamond-shaped quilted pleats. Storage space was ample, though unlined compartments could cause noise. The Rogue's cargo area offered up to 1,028 litres with the back seat up, expandable to 2,064 litres with seats folded, thanks to the Divide-N-Hide feature.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with an 8-inch version on higher trims. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system supported up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and HD surround vision, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue's infotainment system, though older, offered an 8-inch or 9-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, satellite radio, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The test vehicle included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display. However, the voice recognition technology struggled with certain requests. The Rogue's infotainment system also featured a wireless smartphone charging pad and a Bose premium audio system, providing a decent audio experience.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came standard with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keep assist. Premium trims added enhanced automatic emergency braking and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue boasted an extensive array of safety features, including 10 airbags, Safety Shield 360, and ProPilot Assist with Navi-link on higher trims. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, though it received "Marginal" and "Acceptable" scores in updated crash tests. The NHTSA awarded the Rogue a five-star overall rating, with four stars for frontal-impact collisions.