2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier rugged, boxy design, embracing a more European aesthetic. This shift was evident in the refreshed front end, which replaced the previous grille with a more traditional design, featuring the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. Despite its sleek appearance, the Escape maintained a compact stature within Ford's SUV lineup, positioned alongside the Bronco Sport. The ST-Line Elite trim, which we tested, boasted 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps, giving it an upscale look akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape's diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though visually appealing, felt hard and plasticky. The interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cost-cutting, but the seats were comfortable and supportive, making it a pleasant vehicle for long drives.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, received its first major styling update since its 2021 launch. The new, larger grille seamlessly integrated with the stack headlights and daytime running lights, while the rear fascia saw minor changes. The Rogue Platinum trim, which we tested, featured more black exterior trim and an optional black roof, enhancing its premium feel. Inside, the Rogue's dashboard was updated to accommodate a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, contributing to a more upscale interior. The Platinum model's leather seats, available in a new Chestnut brown colour with quilted stitching, added to the cabin's overall appeal. Unlike some competitors, the Rogue's leather upholstery felt high-quality and complemented the well-appointed interior.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered a range of powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. This engine could be paired with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, providing competitive performance within its segment. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. Despite its impressive output, the Escape's suspension remained soft, prioritizing comfort over performance. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue's powertrain was a standout feature, with its 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder VC-Turbo 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 the segment norm, 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 Ford Escape provided a comfortable driving experience with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The interior featured a head-up display and well-positioned armrests, enhancing driver comfort. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space, offering up to 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the second row folded. This was less than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Passenger space was also slightly limited, with less rear-seat legroom than many rivals, though headroom was impressive.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered competitive passenger space, with differences mainly in legroom compared to rivals like the Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Forester. The Rogue's cargo space was slightly less than the CR-V and Tucson but more than the Forester, with a maximum of 2,098 litres with the rear seats folded. The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations, and the Rogue featured a power liftgate and motion-activated liftgate on higher trims. The centre console provided additional storage options, though accessing the lower tray was awkward.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a larger 13.2-inch screen on higher trims like the ST-Line Elite. The system was well-organized, with easy navigation between features like Android Auto and the native navigation system. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system was optional on higher trims. While Sync 4 was occasionally slow to respond, its overall feature set and ease of use were commendable.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue introduced a dual 12.3-inch screen setup on SL and Platinum models, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Google built-in apps. This integration allowed for seamless use of Google Maps and other features without a smartphone connection, though connectivity was free for only five years. The Rogue's infotainment system was a significant improvement over previous models, with modern graphics and intuitive menus. Charging options were plentiful, with multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad on higher trims. Nissan Connect Services extended its free trial period to three years, offering features like remote door lock/unlock and vehicle health reports.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with high scores in frontal and side crash tests. However, the IIHS did not award it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. Standard safety features included Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, with options to upgrade to Co-Pilot360 2.0 for more advanced driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue also received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and good ratings from the IIHS in most tests. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, offered advanced driver assistance with lane centring and navigation-based speed adjustments, though it required driver attention at all times.