2023 Dodge Durango vs 2024 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Dodge Durango, entering its 12th model year without a redesign, maintained a familiar yet attractive appearance. It eschewed the faux ruggedness of some competitors, opting for clean, car-like styling. The Durango avoided the trend of oversized grilles, instead featuring slim styling with forward-leaning headlights and a large lower air intake, giving it a strong presence. At the rear, Dodge's signature "racetrack" taillights provided a distinctive look. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models had unique styling features, such as a Viper-like hood with a functional centre air inlet and heat extractors, but these were subtle. The Blacktop Package and Hemi Orange appearance package offered additional styling options, while the interior, though less distinctive, offered a pleasant environment with materials suited to various price points.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received its first major styling update since the 2021 model year. It featured a new, larger grille that blended well with its stack headlights and daytime running lights, which were among its most distinctive features. The rear fascia saw minor changes, with redesigned inner taillight elements. The Rogue SV grade received a new 18-inch wheel design, while the Platinum model boasted a new 19-inch wheel design with a machined-finish look. The interior saw updates, including a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, giving it a more premium feel. The Rogue Platinum test car featured leather seats with quilted stitching, enhancing its upscale interior design.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, standard on the SXT, GT, and Citadel trims, producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and in Canada, all-wheel drive was standard. The 5.7-litre Hemi V8, standard on the R/T and optional on the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The Durango SRT 392 featured a 6.4-litre naturally-aspirated Hemi V8, producing 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in approximately 4.5 seconds. The SRT Hellcat model, with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8, boasted 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-100 km/h in about 3.5 seconds. The Hellcat's performance was exhilarating, though its size made it somewhat awkward on twisty roads.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue's powertrain was a standout feature, with a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This engine outperformed many competitors, including the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. However, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) was slow to transfer power to the wheels, detracting from the engine's performance. The Rogue's suspension felt firmer than expected, impacting ride quality without improving handling. Despite these drawbacks, the Rogue was quiet, and the engine's performance was impressive, though the exhaust note was less so.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with standard front bucket seats, a three-seat second-row bench, and a two-seat third-row bench on SXT, GT, and R/T models. The Citadel, SRT 392, and SRT Hellcat models featured second-row captain's chairs. Interior space was competitive with other three-row midsize SUVs, though cargo space was less than some rivals, with 487 litres with all seats in place, 1,226 litres with the third row folded, and 2,409 litres behind the first row. The Durango excelled in towing capacity, with V6 models towing up to 2,812 kilograms and V8 models up to 3,946 kilograms.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered nearly identical passenger space to its competitors, with slight differences in legroom. Cargo space was 1,033 litres with rear seats in place (1,028 with the moonroof) and 2,098 litres with seats folded (2,064 with the moonroof). The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations. The Rogue featured a pass-through space in the centre console for added flexibility, though accessing the storage tray at floor level was awkward.

The 2023 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on lower trims, while the GT grade and above received a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The Uconnect infotainment system was responsive and user-friendly, with added personality for SRT models. The Performance Pages app provided performance information, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on higher trims.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue's lower trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while SL and Platinum models received a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and Google built-in apps. The Rogue was the first Nissan to offer Google built-in software, integrating Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play app store. The dual 12.3-inch screen setup was a significant improvement, though the touchscreen was occasionally slow to boot up. Nissan Connect Services offered a three-year free trial, enabling features like remote door lock/unlock and vehicle health reports.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed safety ratings. The IIHS awarded it "Good" marks in some tests but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal crash tests. Standard driver-assist features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, with other technologies available on higher trims.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received top "Good" ratings in several IIHS tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard driver-assist features included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, offered advanced driver assistance, including automated lane centring.