Shopping for a car, truck, or SUV is an overwhelming process, especially if you are on a tight budget. With so many options available, it can be hard even to know where to start. If the 2023 Nissan Rogue wasn’t on your list already, there are a few reasons it should be. Everyone might not agree about the best small SUV of 2023, but the Rogue checks many of the essential boxes that shoppers prioritize.

What small SUV has the best overall rating?

There are a lot of small SUVs on the market this year, but the 2023 Nissan Rogue has some excellent ratings from experts. U.S. News ranked the Rogue in the top five for compact SUVs for several reasons. With room for five passengers, the seats are comfortable and spacious. That is helpful for those with a family or who might occasionally plan on chauffering a group to and from school.

Nissan offers five trim levels, with the base Rogue S starting at only $27,910. A fully-loaded Rogue Platinum is $37,490. The base S and SV trims have plenty of features and safety systems for those on a tight budget. All versions get a three-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available for $1,500.

The 2023 Rogue S has an eight-inch screen, adjustable seats, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring are standard. Pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and driver-attention monitoring are also included on the base trim.

Is a small SUV good for a first car?

This small SUV from Nissan is a great option for a first car. If there is room in the budget, the SV trim adds additional and upgraded features. The driver’s seat is adjustable eight ways, and the speaker system gets an upgrade. Dual-zone climate control and a push-button start are also part of this trim. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and ProPilot Assist are additional features on the $29,600 Rogue SV.

When tested by the IIHS, the 2023 Rogue proved to be a safe option. It earned high marks on most main crashworthiness tests, like the small overlap, side, and roof strength. Nissan’s crash avoidance and mitigation systems all earned the highest score of “superior” on the tests. The Rogue’s LED reflector headlights also provided good illumination, achieving the highest rating of “good.”

The NHTSA also crash-tested Nissan’s small SUV and gave it a five-star overall safety rating. Testing found that the Rogue protected the driver and passengers in the frontal, side, and rollover tests.

Is Nissan’s compact SUV fuel efficient?

Nissan’s small SUV has some of the best fuel economy in the class. With front-wheel drive, the Rogue gets 30 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. This setup suits most drivers, but those in snowy areas might want to consider all-wheel drive. That drops the fuel economy to 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, which is still acceptable for a compact SUV.

Nissan has pretty good coverage on the 2023 Rogue with a three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty. The powertrain is covered with a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. It is definitely one of the best Nissan SUVs of 2023 and makes a lot of sense for a compact but versatile vehicle.