2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid borrowed styling elements from Toyota's Tacoma pickup, notably its trapezoidal grille and upright fascia, giving it a rugged look that was popular among midsized SUVs. However, the side profile introduced a softer character line that swooped over the rear wheel arch, a design flourish also seen on the Toyota Supra and Sienna. This added unnecessary visual weight, making the Highlander appear somewhat bloated. The rear design echoed the trapezoidal grille, but the overall body felt disjointed compared to more cohesive designs like the Kia Telluride or Honda Pilot.

Inside, the Highlander Hybrid's interior was unconventional yet less jarring. The asymmetrical dash featured a metallic styling element that spanned the passenger side, creating a helpful storage tray. The infotainment touchscreen was mounted high on the dash, reducing driver distraction. The Bronze Edition test vehicle featured 18-inch bronze alloy wheels and light grey fabric seat upholstery with a triangle motif, which seemed more suited to a paper towel than a car. The Softex synthetic leather substitute felt more like vinyl, disappointing compared to more convincing alternatives. The rear seating area had more hard plastics, typical for family SUVs, but the third row suffered from even more plastic, making it uncomfortable.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, maintained a more traditional design approach, with proper proportions and chiseled styling that conveyed a rugged sense of purpose. The Rogue lineup included S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from $30,898 to $43,748, excluding a $1,920 destination charge. The Platinum trim offered upscale features like diamond-pattern leather seats and soft-touch surfaces, meeting the quality standards of the compact SUV segment. The Rogue's design was appealing, critical for attracting buyers who prioritize aesthetics.

Our test vehicle, a US-specification Platinum trim, featured AWD, two-tone paint, and a host of premium features, including a frameless rearview mirror, interior accent lighting, and illuminated kick plates. The Rogue's Platinum trim offered a long list of upgrades, making it competitive with luxury brands like Infiniti. The Rogue's interior was comfortable, with Nissan's Zero Gravity seat designs providing natural support. However, the rear seat comfort was lacking, with low-mounted cushions and diamond-shaped quilted pleats that felt like sitting on bubble wrap.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and hybrid system, producing 243 horsepower. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada. Toyota estimated it could reach 100 km/h in just over eight seconds, slightly slower than gasoline-only SUVs in its class. The hybrid powertrain provided a quick but tepid response from a standstill, with the gasoline engine supplying more power as speed built. The CVT's uninspired drone was noticeable when ascending hills, but braking was traditional, with no discernible transition from regenerative to physical brakes.

The Highlander Hybrid offered a soft ride quality, with the suspension smoothing over road bumps. It wasn't sporty, but comfort was prioritized for a family vehicle. The cabin remained mostly free of wind and road noise on the highway, making it one of the quieter midsize SUVs.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue, meanwhile, featured a new turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with variable compression design, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. The CVT included paddle shifters, and AWD was standard on all but the base trim in Canada. The Rogue offered Eco, Auto, and Sport driving modes, with AWD versions adding Off-Road and Snow modes. The VC-Turbo powertrain was preferred over the previous 2.5-litre engine, providing responsive performance in urban settings. However, it lacked passing power on the highway, and the engine's unusual note and vibration through the accelerator pedal could be off-putting.

Fuel economy was a concern, with the test vehicle averaging 8.1 L/100 km, falling short of expectations. The Rogue's ride quality was enhanced by Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, but the steering felt lifeless. Despite some body motion on undulating roads, the Rogue demonstrated a good balance of ride compliance and body control.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offered well-cushioned front seats with plenty of adjustments for drivers of all sizes. However, the driver's door armrest was awkwardly positioned, leaving the elbow unsupported. Storage was ample, with a deep tray under the infotainment screen, a small shelf in front of the passenger, and a large centre armrest bin. The second-row seats were spacious, accommodating six-footers with ease, and offered versatility with sliding and reclining captain's chairs. The third row was less accommodating, intended for occasional use by children, with limited headroom and legroom.

Cargo space behind the third row was 453 litres, expanding to 1,370 litres with the seatbacks folded, and 2,387 litres with the second row stowed. A hands-free power liftgate was included on Limited and Platinum trims.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue served as a replacement for the traditional family car, accommodating four people comfortably, with room for a fifth in the back seat. The Platinum trim featured premium semi-aniline leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Rogue's Zero Gravity seat designs provided comfort, though height adjustment for the front passenger was lacking. Outward visibility was good, but the ambient interior lighting control button was oddly placed inside the centre armrest storage bin.

The Rogue's rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle, facilitating loading and unloading. Rear seat comfort was lacking, with low-mounted cushions and diamond-shaped quilted pleats. Storage space was plentiful, but most locations were unlined, causing potential noise and vibration. The hands-free power liftgate revealed up to 1,028 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,064 litres with the back seats folded.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch option available on top trims. The system was quick to respond, with logically organized menus and physical shortcut buttons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless charging on Limited and Platinum trims. Navigation and an 11-speaker JBL audio system were also standard on higher trims.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue used an older infotainment system with an 8-inch or available 9-inch touchscreen. The test vehicle had the larger screen, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a navigation system. Voice recognition technology was limited, struggling with requests outside of finding nearby Starbucks locations. The test vehicle also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display, both of which worked well.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid achieved a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for frontal collision and rollover protection. The IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick+, with the highest "Good" scores across the board. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The systems generally worked as advertised but could use fine-tuning.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue came equipped with 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder system, and Safety Shield 360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Higher trims offered ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assistance. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received lower scores in updated crash tests.