2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Nissan Rogue was a testament to the brand's commitment to maintaining a classic yet appealing design. It featured well-proportioned, chiseled styling with just enough SUV detailing to convey a rugged sense of purpose. This design approach was crucial, as aesthetics play a significant role in consumer decisions. The Rogue's lineup included various trims, from the base S FWD to the upscale Platinum, offering a range of features and prices. The Platinum trim, in particular, boasted luxurious upgrades such as diamond-pattern leather seats and a host of high-quality materials, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a touch of luxury in a compact SUV.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, showcasing similar design cues like hexagonal grilles and muscular stances. The exterior colour significantly influenced its appearance, with the Capstone model featuring chrome accents and a Celestial Silver finish. Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard layout, complete with physical dials and buttons for climate control. The Capstone trim offered semi-aniline leather upholstery, while the base SR5 TRD Offroad trim featured SofTex leatherette seating. The Sequoia's interior was spacious, with power-adjustable front seats and a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, enhancing its appeal as a family-friendly SUV.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, delivering 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 lb-ft of torque from 2,800 to 4,000 rpm. This VC-Turbo engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), offered a balance of performance and fuel efficiency. The Rogue's AWD system, standard on all but the base trim in Canada, provided additional driving modes like Off-Road and Snow. While the Rogue excelled in urban and suburban settings, it lacked highway passing power and exhibited some engine noise and vibration. Fuel economy was slightly below expectations, averaging 8.1 L/100 km in combined driving. The Rogue's suspension and handling were generally well-balanced, though it struggled on undulating roads.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia, on the other hand, featured the iForce MAX hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor. This setup produced an impressive 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, significantly outperforming its V8 predecessor. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. The standard 4WD system included a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD, while the TRD Pro models added off-road enhancements. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 4,137 kilograms, with available towing upgrades. Its 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the on-road handling was adequate for its class.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue offered a practical alternative to traditional family cars, with its higher ground clearance and available AWD. It comfortably accommodated four passengers, with the option to squeeze in a fifth. The Platinum trim featured premium amenities like a triple-zone automatic climate control system and a dual-panel panoramic sunroof. The front seats, designed with Nissan's Zero Gravity concept, provided excellent comfort, though the rear seats were less impressive. The Rogue's cargo space was versatile, with up to 1,028 litres behind the back seat and 2,064 litres with the seats folded. However, the rear seat comfort and key fob design left room for improvement.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia offered a spacious interior with a maximum cargo capacity of 2,460 litres. The second-row seats were easy to move for third-row access, though the third-row seats did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. This affected headroom and legroom, making the rear seats less comfortable for taller passengers. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs, available on higher trims, provided ample space but lacked bolstering. Despite these limitations, the Sequoia's interior was well-suited for families, with thoughtful features like automatic power-deploying running boards.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue featured an older infotainment system with an 8-inch or optional 9-inch touchscreen. The test vehicle included the larger screen, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a Bose premium audio system. However, the voice recognition technology was limited in its capabilities. The Rogue also offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display, enhancing the driving experience.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with a more advanced infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch screen on higher trims. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system prioritized functionality over flashiness. The Sequoia's driver information display was a full-colour 12.3-inch unit, and the Panoramic View monitor was standard on higher trims. The Capstone trim also featured a 10-inch colour head-up display and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue boasted a comprehensive suite of safety features, including 10 airbags, Safety Shield 360, and ProPilot Assist with Navi-link. The Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for 2022, 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.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia offered the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite as standard across all trims. This included features like a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. The Sequoia also had front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring. While the Sequoia had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, the similar 2024 Toyota Tundra received a Top Safety Pick+ designation.