2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, with its bold design inspired by the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The SUV's newly creased and kinked body gave it a more commanding appearance than its predecessor. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, featuring an industrial theme with luxurious touches in the Capstone trim, such as leather, wood, and metallic finishes. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system dominated the dashboard, and the interior was available in a cream white-over-black two-tone colour scheme. Despite its upscale appearance, some interior materials reminded drivers of its pickup truck origins.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue maintained a more conservative design approach, with proper proportions and chiseled styling that conveyed a rugged sense of purpose. The Rogue's lineup included S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from $30,898 to $43,748, excluding destination charges. The Platinum trim, which we tested, featured all-wheel drive, two-tone paint, and a host of upscale features, including diamond-pattern leather seats. While the Rogue's interior offered a comfortable and upscale experience, some drivers found the engine's character and the CVT's simulated gear changes less refined.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This hybrid powertrain delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 4,137 kilograms, and it achieved a fuel economy rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. The SUV offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, but its ride quality was busy and occasionally jittery, especially in Normal mode. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine with a variable compression design, producing 201 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 225 lb-ft of torque from 2,800 to 4,000 rpm. The CVT included paddle shifters, and the Rogue offered Eco, Auto, and Sport driving modes, with additional Off-Road and Snow modes for AWD versions. The Rogue's VC-Turbo powertrain provided responsive performance in urban and suburban settings, but it lacked passing power on the highway. The Rogue's fuel economy was rated at 7.7 L/100 km in combined driving, but our test vehicle averaged 8.1 L/100 km. The Rogue's ride quality was generally composed, but the steering felt lifeless.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs did not slide, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat was mounted above the battery pack, resulting in a high floor and limited comfort. Cargo capacity was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with a maximum of 2,460 litres, significantly less than its predecessor and rivals.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue served as a practical family vehicle, accommodating four people comfortably and a fifth person when needed. The Platinum trim featured premium leather upholstery, a triple-zone automatic climate control system, and a dual-panel panoramic sunroof. The Rogue's Zero Gravity front seats were comfortable, but the rear seat lacked leg support. The Rogue offered up to 1,028 litres of cargo space with the back seat in place and 2,064 litres with the seats folded. The Divide-N-Hide feature allowed for versatile cargo configurations.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, user accounts, and an Intelligent Assistant. However, the system had some bugs, and the head-up display was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Capstone trim included a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue used an older infotainment system with an 8-inch or 9-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The test vehicle had a 9-inch touchscreen, a Bose premium audio system, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The voice recognition technology struggled with certain requests, and the navigation system had limitations. The Rogue also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a head-up display.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Sequoia also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. While crash test ratings were not available, the Tundra, on which the Sequoia is based, received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue offered 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 and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. However, it received lower scores in updated small overlap frontal-impact and side-impact tests.