2024 Nissan Rogue vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a conservative yet blocky style, reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from black Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It boasted features like a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, and a large centre console, making it a comfortable and well-built road-trip vehicle.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received its first major styling update since its 2021 launch, with a new larger grille and redesigned taillight elements. The lineup included S, SV Moonroof, SV Premium, SL, and Platinum models. The Rogue's interior was enhanced with a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, giving it a more premium feel. The Rogue Platinum featured leather seats with quilted stitching, offering a luxurious touch. Despite its upscale design, the Rogue's performance was hindered by a firm suspension that affected ride quality. However, it remained quiet and offered a comfortable cabin experience. The Rogue's interior space was competitive, with features like the Divide-N-Hide system for flexible cargo storage and a power liftgate on higher trims.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain, a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid, generated 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All models in Canada came with all-wheel drive, and the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional off-road modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models. While its size made it less maneuverable, the Grand Highlander provided solid braking and adequate acceleration, particularly with the 2.4-litre turbocharged engine.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue's powertrain was a unique engineering feat, featuring a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with a variable compression ratio. It produced 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, outperforming some competitors' engines. However, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) was slow to transfer power to the wheels, affecting overall performance. The Rogue's suspension was firmer than expected, impacting ride quality without enhancing handling. Despite this, the Rogue remained quiet, and its engine performance was commendable, though the exhaust note was less impressive.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, offering a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. With 1,640 litres behind the second-row seats and 583 litres with all three rows up, it provided ample storage space. The Grand Highlander was not only spacious but also comfortable, with good visibility and plenty of room in every row, accommodating even six-foot adults in the third row.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered nearly identical passenger space to its competitors, with slight differences in legroom. Its cargo space was competitive, with a maximum of 2,098 litres with the rear seats folded. The Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations, and the Rogue featured a power liftgate on higher trims. The centre console provided additional storage options, though accessing the lower storage tray was somewhat awkward.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering features like dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available through a connected-services subscription. The Grand Highlander Limited and Platinum trims included an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue featured an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while SL and Platinum models received a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 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 improved the infotainment experience, though the touchscreen was occasionally slow to boot up. The Rogue also included multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad on higher trims.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested, but it included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, and more. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received top safety ratings from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, added automated lane centring for highway driving.