- 2023 Nissan Rogue vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Comparison
- What’s New
- Fuel Economy
- Engine
- Transmission
- Drivetrain
- No of Seats
- Warranty
- Combined
- City
- Highway
- 2023 Nissan Rogue vs. Toyota Rav4: Which One’s Best for Me?
- At a Glance
- Overview of the Nissan Rogue:
- Mechanical
- Warranty
- Safety
- Overview of the Rav4:
- Mechanical
- Warranty
- Safety
- How Do These SUVs Stack Up?
- Performance
2023 Nissan Rogue vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Comparison
Fully redesigned for 2021, the Nissan Rogue is in the midst of a renaissance of sorts. The previous second-gen model sold well, but it lacked the current model’s attractive and comparatively chiseled exterior and powerful, efficient turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine. A stylish interior, comfortable and supportive front-row seating and a quiet ride hold up their end of the equation, putting the Rogue on par with segment leaders. Though it leaves a little on the table in terms of lively handling, its complement of standard tech and safety features make it a legitimate contender in the compact crossover segment.
The RAV4 is not only the top-selling vehicle across Toyota’s entire lineup, but the best-selling SUV in America. It comes in a wide range of competitively priced trims to suit needs and budgets, and with a gasoline engine or hybrid system, along with the Prime plug-in hybrid (reviewed separately). While some rivals offer a bit more space, the RAV4 is still roomy and comfortable, and with good safety ratings and numerous driver-assist technologies. For 2023, the RAV4 adds a new multimedia system with updated screens, and the off-road-specific Hybrid Woodland Edition trim.
- Simple, intuitive controls
- Standard driver-assist safety features
- Fuel economy
- Soft handling
- CVT can be a bit schizophrenic
- Top trim pricing approaches premium territory
What’s New
- Midnight Edition package for the SV trim adds black trim, badging and wheels; interior gets black faux leather
- Platinum models and SL with premium package get Amazon Alexa voice assistant
- Hybrid Woodland Edition adds TRD-tuned off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, roof rails and cross bars, 120-volt inverter, all-weather floor and cargo mats and black accents
- New Toyota Audio Multimedia system standard on all trims, including over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and available connected services
- Standard 8-inch multimedia screen on lower trims; new 10.5-inch multimedia screen is standard on upper trims
Fuel Economy
Engine
Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-3
Transmission
Drivetrain
No of Seats
Warranty
Drivetrain:
5 Years/60,000 Miles
Corrosion:
5 Years/Unlimited Miles
Roadside Assistance:
3 Years/36,000 Miles
Drivetrain:
5 Years/60,000 Miles
Corrosion:
5 Years/Unlimited Miles
Roadside Assistance:
2 Years/Unlimited Miles
Maintenance:
2 Years/25,000 Miles
Combined
City
Highway
Safety-Mechanical:
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Traction Control System (TCS) ABS And Driveline Traction Control
Safety-Exterior:
Side Impact Beams
Safety-Interior:
Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
Rear Parking Sensors
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) Blind Spot
Intelligent Emergency Braking (IEB)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Lane Departure Warning
Collision Mitigation-Front
Driver Monitoring-Alert
Collision Mitigation-Rear
Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
Airbag Occupancy Sensor
Driver And Passenger Knee Airbag and Rear Side-Impact Airbag
Rear Child Safety Locks
Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Rear Center 3 Point
Height Adjusters and Pretensioners
RearView Monitor Back-Up Camera
Safety-Mechanical:
Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ABS And Driveline Traction Control
Safety-Exterior:
Side Impact Beams
Safety-Interior:
Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
Safety Connect with 1-year trial Emergency Sos
Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0
Lane Departure Alert (LDA) Lane Keeping Assist
Lane Departure Alert (LDA) Lane Departure Warning
Collision Mitigation-Front
Low Tire Pressure Warning
Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
Airbag Occupancy Sensor
Driver Knee Airbag and Passenger Cushion Front Airbag
Rear Child Safety Locks
Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Rear Center 3 Point
Height Adjusters and Pretensioners
Back-Up Camera
2023 Nissan Rogue vs. Toyota Rav4: Which One’s Best for Me?
There is no clear winner in this head-to-head. Both Nissan and Toyota offer excellent options if you’re looking to get into a compact SUV. You won’t find your answer in performance, safety, or warranty because both brands compete fiercely. As a result, their specs are almost identical in many areas. However, there are some slight differences that we will discuss in this article.
While their specs may be similar, they each have their own identity. Each SUV is crafted with care and precision, and both have their own unique colors, curves, and lines. If horsepower doesn’t make up your mind, maybe the visual appeal will.
At a Glance
Let’s look at how these two SUVs stack up to each other.
- Starting MSRP: $26,850
- Warranty: 36 months / 36,000 miles
- Horsepower: 201
- Engine: 1.5-liter VC-Turbo™ engine
- Drivetrain: All-wheel drive (AWD) / Front-wheel drive (FWD)
- Estimated mpg: Up to 30 city / 37 highway
- Seating capacity: 5
- Starting MSRP: $26,525
- Warranty: 36 months / 36,000 miles
- Horsepower: 203
- Engine: 2.5-liter VVT-i
- Drivetrain: AWD / FWD
- Estimated mpg: Up to 27 city / 35 highway
- Seating capacity: 5
Overview of the Nissan Rogue:
Nissan is constantly pushing the limits. With the release of the world’s first variable compression turbo engine (VC-Turbo™), they are pushing the envelope again. This incredible engine pushes out 201hp and 225 ft-lb of torque when you stomp on the gas.
If practicality and value are your goals, the Rogue is an excellent choice. Capable of seating five adults, it has a spacious cab with plenty of storage. Even with the spaciousness, it maintains sleek, sharp lines on the outside and doesn’t look like a bulky SUV.
Mechanical
When Nissan dropped the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine in favor of this year’s brand new engine, the horsepower increased, and the fuel efficiency also improved. According to Nissan’s specs, you can expect to get up to 30 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.
If you live where the roads tend to get ugly, you’ll be happy to know that AWD is an available option. However, you’ll have to pay extra for the upgrade because FWD is the standard drivetrain.
Warranty
The Rogue is backed by Nissan’s 36-month / 36,000-mile limited warranty and their 60-month / 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This warranty is on par with the industry average. When financing a vehicle, you can often purchase an extended warranty package if the length of Nissan’s factory warranty is concerning.
Safety
The Rogue comes with many standard safety features, such as an automated braking system or blind-spot monitoring. There are also advanced features available, like a semi-automatic driving mode or adaptive cruise control.
Overview of the Rav4:
Like the Rogue, the Rav4 is not the fastest or sportiest vehicle in Toyota’s lineup. However, it offers tremendous value for the consumer looking for an affordable and reliable SUV to drive. The nice thing about the Rav4 is there isn’t any new engine technology this year. So, its 2.5-liter engine is not only factory-tested, but it’s “real-world” tested as well.
Mechanical
The 2.5- liter naturally aspirated engine boasts 203 horsepower. Many SUVs in this class are going toward smaller, turbocharged engines, giving them better fuel efficiency. But Toyota sticks to the naturally aspirated engine, which offers decent power. And according to their specs, you can expect to get 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.
Warranty
Toyota’s warranty stacks up against the industry average with a 36-month / 36,000-mile limited warranty and a 60-month / 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. If you’re not happy with this warranty, Toyota also offers a 10-year / 125,000-mile extended warranty as an additional purchase with your new SUV.
Safety
If there is one thing that Toyota has always taken seriously, it’s their safety ratings. The Rav4 comes with a host of standard safety systems such as an automated braking system, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. If you want to stick with the base model, you can add other features like blind-spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic alert.
How Do These SUVs Stack Up?
Nissan and Toyota have made SUVs for many years, and they both do it well. There is no clear winner in a head-to-head competition. However, there are few places where one has a slight edge.
Performance
Suppose you’re looking for that slight advantage of extra horsepower. In that case, the Rav4’s naturally aspirated engine will offer you a few extra ponies.