2023 Nissan Rogue

The volume SV AWD uses the KR15DDT 1.5L variable-compression turbo three-cylinder that replaced the 2.5L four for 2022 and carries over unchanged into 2023; with one engine across the range, 201 hp is also the model-range max. That is competitive among compact SUVs but low in the 150–550 hp SUV band.

225 lb-ft is strong for the class — well ahead of the gas CR-V's 1.5T (179 lb-ft) and the Forester's 2.5 (176 lb-ft) — though mid-low in the absolute 130–500 lb-ft SUV band.

Car and Driver's test of the VC-Turbo Rogue ran 60 mph in 7.8 s, only 0.4 s quicker than the 2021 2.5L — mid-pack for a gas compact SUV, quicker than a gas CR-V (~8.4 s) but behind a RAV4 Hybrid (~7.0 s).

The VC-Turbo's broad torque makes around-town driving feel responsive, but reviewers note three-cylinder coarseness and vibration under load and at idle, plus some turbo lag off the line. Competent rather than refined — in line with Ford's 1.5L EcoBoost I3 in the Escape.

The Xtronic CVT (EPA: AV-S8, with eight simulated steps) feels natural in everyday driving and uses step-shift logic under hard throttle to curb rubber-banding, but it still drones when pushed. It is one of the better CVTs in the class, trailing Honda's tuning slightly.

1,500 lbs is enough for a small utility trailer or jet skis only. It matches the gas CR-V and Forester but trails tow-focused compacts like the CX-50 and Escape 2.0T (3,500 lbs), and sits near the floor of the SUV band.

Intelligent AWD is optional on every 2023 trim from S to Platinum. AWD models get a terrain mode selector with Snow and Off-Road modes, new for 2023. It is a conventional on-demand system with no low range or torque vectoring — on par with the CR-V, well short of Subaru's standard AWD.

The Rogue has 8.2 in of ground clearance on every trim and an Off-Road mode on AWD models, which is enough for gravel roads. For 2023 there is no off-road trim: Rock Creek did not arrive until the 2024 refresh, and there are no skid plates, lockers or low range. It is a pavement-first crossover.

The 2023 US Rogue offers exactly one powertrain: the 1.5L VC-Turbo with a CVT, in FWD or AWD. There is no hybrid or PHEV (the e-Power and PHEV X-Trail were not sold here), while the CR-V, RAV4 and Escape all offer hybrids, so this is a take-it-or-leave-it lineup.

EPA rates the 2023 Rogue AWD at 31 MPG combined and FWD at 33. That is excellent for a non-hybrid compact SUV, beating the gas CR-V AWD (29) and RAV4 AWD (30).

28 MPG city for AWD (30 FWD) is strong for a gas powertrain, though it falls far short of hybrid rivals that clear 40 city.

35 MPG highway for AWD (37 FWD) is the Rogue's best cycle, thanks to the small turbo triple and tall CVT ratios. It is near the top of the gas compact-SUV class.

A 14.5-gallon tank at 31 MPG combined gives about 450 miles for the AWD volume config and about 479 miles FWD. That is mid-pack range for a gas compact SUV.

EPA estimates $2,100 a year for the AWD Rogue and $1,950 for FWD on regular fuel, which is low for a non-hybrid compact SUV.

EPA lists regular gasoline for every 2023 Rogue variant. Nissan's peak output figures assume premium, but premium is not required and running regular costs only a few horsepower.

The 2023 Rogue earns NHTSA's top 5-star overall rating in both FWD and AWD form, though the frontal crash rating is 4 stars rather than 5.

The 2023 Rogue won an IIHS Top Safety Pick (not TSP+) under the tougher 2023 criteria. It rates Good in both small-overlap tests, the original moderate overlap, roof strength and head restraints, but only Acceptable in the updated side test and Marginal in the updated moderate-overlap test because of rear-passenger restraints. That puts it at the bottom of the award band.

Every trim gets Safety Shield 360: AEB with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking and high-beam assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear auto-braking are both standard, which is generous for the class. The base S has only conventional cruise and no lane-keeping steer, though; ProPILOT Assist (adaptive cruise plus lane centering) and Intelligent Lane Intervention start at the volume SV trim.

IIHS rates the Rogue Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention (no collision at 12 and 25 mph) and Superior for daytime pedestrian detection. The IIHS page shows no nighttime pedestrian result, so the rating stops short of the top band.

Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are standard on every trim, and Rear Automatic Braking backs up the cross-traffic alert. The volume SV and above add Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention, which actively steers the car back. There is no safe-exit alert.

Lane Departure Warning is standard. The volume SV adds Intelligent Lane Intervention and ProPILOT Assist lane centering, which reviewers describe as competent on well-marked highways but prone to drifting on curves and faded lines. The base S has warning only.

The volume SV has ProPILOT Assist, a full-speed-range adaptive cruise with stop-and-hold and steering assist. SL (optional) and Platinum (standard) add Navi-link, which slows for curves and interchanges. The S has only conventional cruise, so adaptive cruise isn't standard across the range.

No 2023 Rogue offers hands-free driving; every ProPILOT Assist version requires hands on the wheel. Hands-free ProPILOT Assist 2.1 did not reach the Rogue until the 2025 model year (SL/Platinum).

IIHS rates the headlights Good on every trim, and all trims get LED reflector low and high beams with standard High Beam Assist. They are not curve-adaptive.

The upright greenhouse and tall side glass give better-than-average forward and side sightlines, but the thick rear pillars leave blind zones over the shoulder. Only SL and Platinum add the Intelligent Around View Monitor, so the volume SV relies on the rearview camera.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Good, with extra LATCH positions available. The rear doors open close to 90 degrees, which makes loading a car seat much easier. Three full-size seats across is still tight in a compact SUV.

The 2023 Rogue is a strictly two-row, five-seat compact SUV on every trim; the third-generation (T33) car never offered a third row.

41.1 in of front headroom without the moonroof is generous for the compact class.

41.5 in of front legroom is adequate but on the shorter side of the compact-SUV band; the front cabin still feels airy thanks to the upright glasshouse.

39.2 in of second-row headroom is competitive with the CR-V and RAV4.

38.5 in is roomy enough for adults and aided by rear doors that open almost 90 degrees, but trails the class-leading CR-V (41.0 in).

No third row exists on any 2023 Rogue trim; scored in the low band per the item's guidance for two-row SUVs.

36.5 cu ft behind the second row is competitive for a compact SUV, a step behind the CR-V's 39.3 cu ft.

74.1 cu ft with the 60/40 bench folded is mid-pack, between the RAV4 (69.8) and CR-V (76.5).

The clever Divide-N-Hide cargo system (six configurations) is standard only from SL up in 2023, so the volume SV gets a conventional hold; the cabin has a deep console with a pass-under shelf and good door bins. Competitive everyday storage rather than standout.

Nissan's Zero Gravity front seats are consistently praised for long-drive support and TTAC found them comfortable for longer drives; the volume SV gets an 8-way power driver's seat with power lumbar, but cloth trim and a manual passenger seat.

Car and Driver and TTAC both describe a compliant ride well suited to commuting and road trips; body control is unremarkable when pushed and 19-inch SL/Platinum wheels add some sharpness.

Wind noise is well controlled, but TTAC noted tire noise creeping in on the SV and the 1.5L three-cylinder is audibly coarse under hard acceleration.

Dual-zone automatic climate and remote start are standard from SV, but heated front seats and a heated wheel on the volume SV require the SV Premium Package; tri-zone climate is SL Premium/Platinum and heated rear seats are Platinum Premium only. No ventilated seats on any trim.

The 2023 Rogue S FWD starts well below the compact-SUV norm and undercuts a base CR-V and RAV4, consistent with Nissan's entry-price strategy for the Rogue.

SV is the Rogue's volume trim and AWD the majority mix; MotorTrend also singled out the SV AWD as the one to buy. At about $31,900 delivered it is priced a few thousand under comparably equipped CR-V and RAV4 trims.

Scheduled service on the 1.5L VC-Turbo is ordinary for the class, but out-of-warranty CVT and early VC-Turbo repair exposure pushes the full maintenance-plus-repair projection to the middle of the segment. CarEdge's lower figure appears to capture routine maintenance only, so a blended estimate in line with how peer scorecards are projected is used.

Resale is the Rogue's weakest ownership dimension. Heavy incentive and fleet volume keep used values well below the CR-V and RAV4, which hold closer to 60% or more.

Nissan's basic coverage is the industry-baseline 3 years / 36,000 miles, level with Honda, Toyota, Ford and GM and two years short of Hyundai/Kia.

Nissan's 5 yr / 60,000 mi powertrain coverage is the bottom of the band and half of Hyundai/Kia/Mitsubishi's 10 yr / 100,000 mi, which matters on a CVT-equipped car.

The 2023 Rogue comes with no complimentary scheduled maintenance, which puts it behind ToyotaCare (2 yr / 25,000 mi) and CR-V dealer-backed plans. Buyers get 3-yr/36k roadside assistance plus NissanConnect Services and SiriusXM trial periods, which is basic coverage only.

$31,915 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (50% retained, or about $15,958) leaves about $15,958 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,400 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $21,358 in total.

Consumer Reports rates the 2023 Rogue about average for its model year. Owners report fuel-system, emissions-sensor and infotainment (CarPlay) problems, and two VC-Turbo engine-failure recalls have since been issued for this model year. That puts it in the mixed-signals band, well below the CR-V and RAV4.

Nissan is mid-pack. It is below the industry average in three-year dependability and in the middle of CR's brand table, but it leads the mass-market brands in J.D. Power initial quality. CR notes that is an improvement on the brand's CVT-era bottom-of-the-table years.

The 2023 Rogue has six NHTSA campaigns. Two are systemic powertrain recalls for VC-Turbo bearing seizure, which risks engine failure, loss of drive power and an oil-fire breach of the block. The second (26V080) re-recalls 2023–2025 Rogues after the first remedy. The rest are seat, seat-belt and airbag manufacturing defects. Repeated powertrain and fire-risk recalls fall in the sub-50 band.

The 2023 US Rogue's only engine is the 1.5L KR15DDT variable-compression turbo three-cylinder, new for 2022 and paired with an Xtronic CVT. The engine family now has two bearing-failure recalls. The CVT family has a long durability record. Together that is the 'known problem / unproven high-risk design' band.

The T33 cabin is widely praised as above class, with good soft-touch coverage and quilted semi-aniline leather on the Platinum. The volume SV uses cloth and more hard plastic in low-touch areas, so it falls short of class-leading.

Nissan's initial quality is strong at brand level, and reviews show no pattern of rattles or panel-gap complaints for the T33. Three small 2023 recalls for seat and belt fastener or weld defects show some assembly lapses, which keeps it in the generally-solid band.

Nissan's roughly 1,000-dealer US network gives nationwide coverage. Service satisfaction runs at or below the mass-market average, and the Rogue has no complimentary scheduled maintenance, unlike Toyota's.

The Rogue is one of the best-selling US SUVs, so routine parts are abundant and cheap and independent shops know it well. The tail risk is above segment norm: a CVT replacement or a specialized VC-Turbo engine job is dealer territory, although the recalls cover engine replacement where damage is found.

The volume SV uses the 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen; the 9-inch unit is reserved for Platinum and the SL Premium Package. The 12.3-inch screen did not arrive until the 2024 refresh.

The pre-refresh NissanConnect system is simple and logically laid out and keeps physical climate buttons and a volume knob, which reviewers like, but its graphics and responsiveness are dated next to Hyundai/Kia and Honda rivals.

Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard; wireless CarPlay is limited to Platinum and the SL Premium Package, and the 2023 brochure lists no wireless Android Auto — so the volume SV is wired-only.

The volume SV has basic voice recognition and no native navigation; Door to Door Navigation with Premium Traffic and Alexa Built-in come only on Platinum or the SL Premium Package, so most owners rely on phone projection.

The SV's six-speaker system is merely adequate; a 10-speaker Bose system with dual-driver woofer is available only on Platinum or the SL Premium Package.

S/SV/SL get a 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist color display between analog gauges; the 12.3-inch fully digital dashboard is exclusive to Platinum — classic partial-digital middle band.

The 2023 Rogue offers only limited over-the-air updating of navigation map data on nav-equipped Platinum/SL Premium cars; there is no whole-vehicle or feature-adding OTA program, and the volume SV has no native nav to update.

NissanConnect Services (remote start, lock/unlock, locate, alerts) comes on SV and above with a trial period before subscription; phone-as-key exists only as a dealer-installed Virtual Key accessory, and the NissanConnect app has mediocre user ratings.

The volume SV has two USB-A plus two USB-C ports across the rows, but a wireless charger is Platinum-only (or an accessory) and there is no 120V outlet.

Nissan Intelligent Key with four door request switches, push-button start and Remote Engine Start come standard from the volume SV; a power liftgate needs the SV Premium Package and the hands-free Motion Activated Liftgate is SL Premium/Platinum. Phone-as-key only as an accessory.

The volume SV has a RearView Monitor with rear sonar; Nissan's well-regarded Intelligent Around View Monitor starts at SL and front/side sonar needs Platinum or the SL Premium Package. No automated parking.

A 10.8-inch color head-up display exists but only in the Platinum Premium Package, well out of reach of volume-trim buyers.

Rear doors that open almost 90 degrees, a roomy 38.5-in second row and 36.5 cu ft of cargo make car-seat installs and stroller loading easy; the Divide-N-Hide floor that adds flexibility is only on SL and up in 2023.

Safety Shield 360 (AEB with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, lane departure warning, high-beam assist) plus Rear Door Alert are standard on every trim including S; ProPILOT Assist arrives at SV. NHTSA 5-star overall.

Rear vents, rear USB-A/USB-C ports on SV, a compliant ride and a large hold behind row two make it a capable tourer for four, but heated seats need the SV Premium Package, tri-zone and heated rear seats are top-trim extras, and there is no rear entertainment.

A relaxed commuter: light steering, compliant ride, good outward visibility, Zero Gravity seats and ProPILOT Assist with stop-and-go on the volume SV, plus Automatic Brake Hold. The three-cylinder's coarseness and some off-idle lag keep it out of the top band.

31 MPG combined for the SV AWD (33 FWD) on regular fuel is competitive for a gas-only compact SUV, but there is no hybrid option to match the CR-V and RAV4 hybrids that dominate commuter costs.

A tidy compact footprint, an unusually tight ~35.4 ft turning circle and an upright glasshouse make it easy to park; the volume SV has a rear camera and rear sonar, with the Around View Monitor reserved for SL and up.

Not meaningfully a work vehicle: towing is just 1,500 lbs on every trim, well below the 3,500 lbs of the RAV4 or turbo Escape, and the CVT has little torque reserve under load; the 74.1 cu ft hold is the only real work asset.

The 1.5L variable-compression turbo three-cylinder with Xtronic CVT is complex and unproven under sustained load, and sits behind Nissan's long-running CVT durability reputation; cloth seats on S/SV help, but nothing here is fleet-proven.

Few work provisions: roof rails need the SV Premium Package or SL, there is no 120V outlet, no washable cabin option and no commercial upfit ecosystem; accessory cargo blocks and nets are the extent of it.

Zero Gravity seats, a compliant highway ride and ProPILOT Assist on the volume SV make it a good mile-eater, with roughly 450 miles of range from the 14.5-gal tank; tire noise and a droning three-cylinder under load are the endurance limits.

Intelligent AWD with Snow and Off-Road modes handles gravel and trailheads, but the 1,500 lb tow ceiling rules out most campers and boats, roof rails are not standard on the SV, and there is no all-terrain package.

A 60/40 folding bench and 74.1 cu ft maximum hold swallow normal luggage well; the Divide-N-Hide multi-level floor and roof rails that add real flexibility are SL-and-up (or packaged) in 2023, so the volume SV is conventional.

Secure and predictable with well-controlled body motions, but Car and Driver notes its 'blasé cornering attitude' — it never rewards a quick pace like a CX-5 or CR-V. Competent, not agile.

Light and accurate enough for easy parking, with a Sport mode that adds weight, but the electric assist is numb and communicates little as cornering loads build.

Four-wheel vented discs and a firm, easy-to-modulate pedal; no instrumented 60-0 figure specific to the 2023 VC-Turbo model was retrieved, so this is held mid-band.

The 2023 Rogue is the first full year with the 201-hp 1.5L VC-Turbo three-cylinder; its 225 lb-ft from 2,800 rpm gives decent mid-range punch (7.8 s to 60, only 0.4 s quicker than the old 2.5L), but off-idle lag and a CVT that TTAC calls 'unremarkably average' hold it back.

The three-cylinder has an inherent thrum at idle and a coarse, offbeat note under load, and the CVT holds revs high enough to drone on grades — the most common complaint about how the VC-Turbo Rogue drives.

A 35.4-ft turning diameter is tight for a compact SUV, tighter than the CR-V and RAV4, making the Rogue easy to maneuver in lots.

Zero Gravity front seats, an 8-way power driver's seat with lumbar on SV, a tilt/telescoping column, a high H-point with good sightlines, wide door openings and real physical climate/volume controls make the cockpit easy to live with; memory seating is SL-and-up.

Engineered as transport: numb steering, comfort-first damping, a CVT and a thrummy three-cylinder add up to what TTAC calls a 'pleasantly inoffensive' drive — calm, never engaging.

Every 2023 Rogue, including the $27,360 S, comes with Safety Shield 360 (AEB with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, high-beam assist), Intelligent Key with push-button start and LED headlights. Rivals often hold back blind-spot monitoring for higher trims. It falls short of the top band because the S uses the 8-inch screen, and ProPILOT Assist and the bigger display start at SV.

At $31,915 delivered, the volume SV AWD undercuts comparably equipped CR-V and RAV4 trims and includes ProPILOT Assist, and the 201-hp VC-Turbo posts class-competitive fuel economy. The weak ~50% five-year resale gives much of that sticker advantage back, and there is no hybrid option, so this sits in the upper-fair band rather than standout.

There are four evenly spaced grades (S, SV, SL, Platinum), each offered with FWD or AWD at a flat $1,500 step, plus a new SV Midnight Edition package for 2023, covering roughly $27K to $39K. The gap is powertrain choice: every trim uses the same 1.5L VC-Turbo with a CVT, and there is no hybrid.

The Rogue was Nissan's best-selling US model in 2023, and sales recovered 46% to 271,458 once chip-shortage supply constraints eased. That puts it among the top sellers in the largest US segment, behind only the RAV4 and CR-V.

Nissan's image is neutral to weak in this segment. Its CVT durability reputation, history of discount-led selling and weak residuals all weigh on the Rogue, and it trails Toyota, Honda, Subaru and Mazda in the cross-shop. The brand is widely known and has a broad dealer network.

As inventory recovered through 2023, Nissan brought back Rogue cash allowances and subvented APR and lease offers, and dealers negotiated well below MSRP while CR-V and RAV4 buyers still paid close to sticker. The buyer benefit is real, but it was smaller early in the model year while supply was still tight.

2023 is the third model year of the T33 generation, which launched for MY2021. MY2022 brought the new 1.5L VC-Turbo three-cylinder, so both the platform and the powertrain are recent. A facelift followed for MY2024, but that was a mid-cycle refresh rather than a redesign, so a 2023 buyer faces little obsolescence risk.

Reviews of the 2023 Rogue are strongly positive: MotorTrend ranked it ahead of the RAV4, CR-V and Forester in comparison testing, IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick+, and NHTSA gave it five stars. Critics still fault the three-cylinder's coarseness and CVT drone, and it is not a consistent winner across outlets (no 10Best or NACTOY), so it sits at the top of the well-reviewed band.