Used 2023 Nissan Rogue

The engine is a good place to start, which is lively yet economical. Standard equipment levels are high, the seats are comfortable, and the Rogue has earned a Top Safety Pick+ accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Rogue also offers the same kind of technology as its rivals, with Amazon Alexa coming on board this year as either an option in the second-from-top trim or standard in the plush Platinum version.

Before putting “nearest Nissan dealership” into Google, though, bear in mind that Honda’s class-leading CR-V enters a new generation for 2023, and some rivals have all-wheel drive as standard. Nissan’s warranties aren’t as good as Hyundai or Kia, either.

The compact SUV class is full of great choices, but the 2023 Rogue is certainly one of them.

Nissan makes an excellent turbocharged V6 engine with variable compression, so think of the Rogue SUV’s 1.5-liter 3-cylinder unit as half of that V6. And just as that larger engine can develop 400 horsepower (in the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400, for instance), this one has half the output. Well, a little more — at 201 horsepower.

The norm among compact SUVs tends to be below the 200 mark, putting the 2023 Rogue at a slight performance advantage. Yet its ability to achieve 37 mpg on the freeway is remarkable for something that’s not a hybrid.

One little norm among reviewers of compact SUVs is to complain about continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) because they tend to be slow in their responses and emit droning noises on occasion (the transmissions, not the reviewers). But this CVT is more than acceptable. However, the level of general noise in the 2023 Rogue’s cabin at freeway speeds should still be lower.

Nissan has done well in other aspects of the driving experience. The 2023 Rogue handles tidily and rides comfortably.

Although the base S comes with a decent amount of standard equipment, the next-up SV is more attractive, thanks to additions like a power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, Wi-Fi, and a few extra driver aids.

Every trim level of the 2023 Rogue SUV has reclining rear seats that split and fold in a 60/40 fashion. Rear legroom is 38.5 inches, a fraction more than the spacious Toyota RAV4.

Behind those seats is a luggage area of 36.5 cubic feet (that’s in the SV and Platinum trims, with their Divide-N-Hide cargo system in its lowest position; the S and SV have 31.6 cubic feet). Fold the rear seats to achieve a maximum cargo area of 74.1 cubic feet — this applies to all four trims. These dimensions are quite good for the class.

Naturally, the nicest interior belongs to the Platinum trim, sporting a digital driver information display, and semi-aniline leather seating surfaces with diamond-patterned stitching. This year’s optional Midnight Edition package for the SV makes most of its impact on the Rogue’s exterior, which also includes seating surfaces of simulated leather.

There’s arguably more roguish charm than before. This third generation debuted for the 2021 model year, with greater character to its exterior design.

Buyers can choose one particular aspect that’s becoming more popular among many new vehicles: 2-tone paint. The 2023 Rogue SUV offers various body colors (including a vibrant bronze known as Sunset Drift ChromaFlair) topped off with a black roof.

The SV trim’s new Midnight Edition cosmetics package brings black exterior elements such as 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, plus front and rear fascias. The base S comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, while the top two trims have 19-inch rims. And every new Rogue comes with LED lighting at both ends.

1. Infotainment system
Amazon Alexa makes it into the SL’s Premium package and Platinum trim this year, giving users the ability to do things like find music and control smart home devices using voice commands. The whole 2023 Rogue lineup has Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration (wireless Apple CarPlay in Platinum trim) and at least one USB-C port.

2. Front seats
Nissan vehicles are known for their comfortable front seats, enhanced with enough support to help keep fatigue at bay during long trips.

3. Variable compression
Although this is a highly specialized feature, variable compression involves clever engineering that helps the Rogue reconcile the conflicting aims of performance and fuel economy. No buttons to press, and everything is done automatically to optimize engine efficiency.

4. Rear passenger doors
Yes, all compact SUVs have rear passenger doors. But these ones open a full 90 degrees. That’s a boon for parents installing a child seat and then installing the child into said seat.

5. Big door pockets
A 36-ounce bottle will fit into any of the 4-door pockets in the 2023 Rogue compact SUV. That’s about the size of a typical water container used by hiking types.

6. Hands-free liftgate operation
Standard in the top two trims, a powered liftgate that opens automatically (when a motion sensor is triggered) is another boon for parents and everyone else who has their hands full with other stuff.

Every new Rogue is propelled by a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine developing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. That makes it one of the more energetic members of the compact SUV class, although the Mazda CX-5 offers a 256-horsepower variant.

An automatic transmission sends drive to the front wheels (FWD) in the standard setup or to an optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

Regular gasoline is fine, which is not always the case when there’s a turbocharger in the picture.

1.5-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine
201 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
225 lb-ft of torque @ 2,800-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 30/37 mpg (FWD S & SV), 29/36 mpg (FWD SL & Platinum), 28/35 mpg (AWD S & SV), 28/34 mpg (AWD SL & Platinum)