The Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V are two of the most popular and widely respected compact SUVs on the market. Both vehicles have earned their places as top contenders for buyers seeking a reliable, versatile, and comfortable family SUV. With their excellent balance of performance, safety, technology, and comfort, they each cater to a wide range of needs. However, choosing between the two can be challenging, as both have unique strengths and weaknesses.
In this detailed comparison, we will break down the critical aspects of the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V, including their performance, interior features, safety systems, fuel efficiency, and much more to help you make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
Overview
The Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V are two of the most popular compact SUVs on the market. Both vehicles offer a combination of style, comfort, and practicality, making them excellent choices for families and individuals alike.
Nissan Rogue
The Nissan Rogue is Nissan’s best-selling vehicle in many markets, including the United States. Its popularity is a result of its well-rounded nature. It offers a comfortable, tech-savvy cabin, advanced safety features, and efficient powertrain options. The Rogue is known for its family-friendly appeal, thanks to its spacious interior, smooth ride quality, and abundant features. The 2023 model introduces an innovative variable compression turbocharged engine, significantly boosting fuel efficiency while maintaining decent power.
Key Features of the 2023 Nissan Rogue
- 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine
- Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission)
- Advanced driver-assistance systems (Nissan Safety Shield® 360)
- Available all-wheel drive (AWD)
- Maximum cargo capacity of 74.1 cubic feet
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V has been a household name in the compact SUV market for decades. Known for its longevity, reliability, and high resale value, the CR-V delivers a balanced mix of performance, fuel efficiency, and practicality. The 2023 CR-V offers gasoline and hybrid powertrain options, giving buyers flexibility based on fuel economy and driving preferences. Like the Rogue, the CR-V also comes with various safety and driver-assistance technologies, ensuring peace of mind on the road.
Key Features of the 2023 Honda CR-V
- 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine or 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain
- Continuously variable transmission (CVT)
- Honda Sensing® suite of safety features
- Available all-wheel drive (AWD)
- Maximum cargo capacity of 76.5 cubic feet
Performance and Driving Experience
Both the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V offer a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience. However, there are some differences in their performance characteristics.
Nissan Rogue
The 2023 Nissan Rogue is powered by a new 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, which produces 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine replaces the previous 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine found in older Rogue models, offering a more efficient yet powerful driving experience. The Rogue comes with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT, designed to deliver smooth and seamless acceleration.
The Rogue’s handling is more tuned for comfort than sportiness. Its suspension absorbs road imperfections well, providing a refined and quiet ride. While it may not be as athletic as some competitors, it strikes a good balance between comfort and stability, ideal for long-distance driving or urban commutes.
Nissan’s optional Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system is available for buyers looking for added traction in challenging weather conditions or off-road scenarios. The AWD system enhances performance by adjusting power distribution between the front and rear wheels when necessary.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V has two powertrain options: a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque and a 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain that delivers a combined 204 horsepower. Both options are paired with Honda’s CVT, which is similar to the transmission found in the Nissan Rogue. The hybrid variant particularly appeals to buyers seeking greater fuel efficiency without compromising power.
Regarding driving dynamics, the Honda CR-V is known for its balanced and confident handling. Its steering is responsive, and it offers a comfortable ride with minimal body roll. Like the Rogue, the CR-V excels at providing a smooth ride, but it also feels slightly more nimble around corners.
The CR-V also offers an available AWD system, which enhances its capability in wet, snowy, or uneven terrain. While the CR-V is not designed for severe off-roading, it efficiently handles light trails and rough roads.
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel efficiency is one of the most important considerations for many compact SUV buyers, particularly those using their vehicles for daily commutes or family road trips.
Nissan Rogue
The 2023 Nissan Rogue impresses with its fuel efficiency, particularly with the new 1.5-litre turbocharged engine. According to EPA estimates, the Rogue delivers 30 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined for front-wheel-drive (FWD) models. These figures are impressive for the segment, especially considering the Rogue’s size and power.
The Rogue still achieves excellent fuel economy for those opting for all-wheel drive: 28 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is also highly efficient, especially when opting for the hybrid model. The gasoline-powered 1.5-litre CR-V offers 28 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined for FWD models, with slight decreases for AWD versions.
The CR-V Hybrid takes efficiency to the next level, offering up to 40 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 38 mpg combined. For buyers focused on minimising fuel costs, this is a compelling option.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo Space
Both the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V offer comfortable and spacious interiors, making them excellent choices for families or individuals who need plenty of room for passengers and cargo.
Nissan Rogue
Inside the Nissan Rogue, the cabin is designed for comfort and modern convenience. The materials used in the interior are of high quality, with soft-touch surfaces and available leather upholstery. The Rogue’s front seats are exceptionally comfortable, featuring Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats, designed to reduce fatigue during long drives.
The cabin is spacious, with plenty of headroom and legroom for front and rear passengers. The Rogue offers ample rear-seat space for families, making it easy to fit child seats or accommodate taller passengers. The rear doors open wide, making ingress and egress a breeze.
The Rogue’s cargo capacity is also impressive. It offers 36.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, which expands to a maximum of 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Nissan has also included several clever storage solutions, such as a Divide-N-Hide® cargo system, which allows for versatile storage configurations.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V’s interior is as comfortable and spacious as the Rogue’s, with high-quality materials and a well-organised layout. Honda has prioritised functionality, with easy-to-use controls and intuitive infotainment. The CR-V’s cabin feels airy and open, thanks partly to its large windows and panoramic sunroof (available on higher trims).
In terms of seating, the CR-V offers comfortable and supportive seats in both rows. Like the Rogue, it provides ample room for passengers and ample space for adults to sit comfortably in the back. The rear seats also recline slightly, adding to passenger comfort on long journeys.
The CR-V leads the segment when it comes to cargo space. It offers 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 76.5 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded flat. This makes the CR-V an excellent choice for those prioritising storage capacity, whether for weekend getaways or grocery runs.
Technology and Infotainment
Both the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V come well-equipped with a variety of technology features, making them enjoyable and convenient to drive. Here’s a breakdown of their key features:
Nissan Rogue
The 2023 Nissan Rogue offers a wide array of modern technology features, making it a tech-forward choice in the compact SUV class. The Rogue’s infotainment system includes a standard 8-inch touchscreen, with a 9-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. Both systems support Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, allowing seamless smartphone connectivity.
For those who appreciate premium sound, the Rogue offers a Bose® audio system. Other tech highlights include a wireless charging pad, digital instrument cluster, and head-up display (HUD), providing important driving information without taking your eyes off the road.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V also features modern technology, including a standard 7-inch touchscreen on lower trims and an available 9-inch touchscreen on higher trims. Like the Rogue, it supports Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, though only the higher trims offer wireless functionality.
Honda has equipped the CR-V with a user-friendly infotainment system, though some may find the touch interface less responsive than competitors. The CR-V also offers a wireless charging pad, a premium audio system, and a digital driver display.
Safety Features
Both the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V prioritise safety, offering a range of advanced driver-assistance systems.
Nissan Rogue
The Nissan Rogue comes standard with the Nissan Safety Shield® 360, which includes:
- Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
- Rear Automatic Braking
- Blind Spot Warning
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Lane Departure Warning
- High Beam Assist
Additionally, higher trims offer ProPILOT Assist, which is Nissan’s semi-autonomous driving system. This system can handle highway driving tasks such as maintaining lane position and following a preset distance from the vehicle ahead.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is equipped with the Honda Sensing® suite, which includes:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™)
- Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
Honda’s system is comparable to Nissan’s, and both SUVs score highly in safety ratings.
Pricing and Trims
The Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V are available in a variety of trims and packages, ranging from base models to fully loaded luxury versions. The exact pricing will vary depending on factors such as location, options, and dealer
Nissan Rogue
The 2023 Nissan Rogue starts at approximately £25,000, with higher trims and AWD models reaching around £35,000. The Rogue is available in several trims, including the S, SV, SL, and Platinum.
Honda CR-V
The 2023 Honda CR-V starts at a slightly higher price point, around £27,000 for base models, with fully loaded hybrid models reaching £38,000. The CR-V is available in trims like LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring.
Conclusion
Choosing between the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V is no easy task, as both SUVs are leaders in their class. The Nissan Rogue stands out with its excellent fuel efficiency, innovative turbocharged engine, and advanced tech features like ProPILOT Assist. It’s a fantastic option for those seeking a family-friendly SUV with a strong balance of comfort, efficiency, and technology.
On the other hand, the Honda CR-V offers superior cargo space, a hybrid option for exceptional fuel economy, and a reputation for reliability and longevity. It’s ideal for buyers prioritising practicality, space, and a well-rounded driving experience.
In the end, your choice will depend on your individual preferences. If fuel efficiency and technology are top priorities, the Nissan Rogue may be better. However, if you need more cargo space and value Honda’s long-standing reputation, the CR-V might be your ideal choice.