The 2023 Nissan Rogue is almost as big as the Honda CR-V, and the interior room is similar. In fact, the Nissan boasts a headroom advantage when not equipped with a sunroof, but that setup is only available on the lower two trims.

That said, the Rogue is catching up in overall packaging. There’s a fair amount of ingenuity to the space and cubbies in the center console. The latter has a second level beneath the shifter big enough for storing bags, caps, and more. The deep bin at the rear of the console has dual lids hinged at the sides instead of a single lid hinged at the back, so it needs less space to swing open.

You can fold the rear seats from the second row or cargo area, and Nissan’s Divide and Hide cargo system is both useful and easy to understand. This all really helps to take full advantage of the trunk, though a couple editors lamented the lack of a cargo cover. But we otherwise appreciated all the usable space the Rogue offers.

As this is the top trim, the 2023 Nissan Rogue Platinum features all the available bells and whistles. They include a standard 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is an inch bigger than the one offered in other trims, and a 12.3-inch cluster display instead of analog gauges. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are easy to set up and load quickly, and second-row riders get USB charge points, heated seats, temperature controls, and their own LCD temperature readout. ProPilot Assist hands-on semi-autonomous driving technology is also standard on three out of four models.

Nissan missed some opportunities here, however. At this price, most of our testers thought ventilated seats should have been included. And although both screens are big and sharp, some of the central display’s graphics look like they are rendered in a lower resolution than others.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue Platinum is an excellent all-arounder suitable for most shoppers in the compact SUV segment. With its new powertrain, the Rogue is more efficient without a quickness penalty, and we appreciate how practical and upscale its two-tone cabin has become. This isn’t an SUV created to deliver athletic dynamics or off-road capability, but it finally stands as a compelling alternative to the strong offerings from Honda and Toyota.

The Rogue Platinum we tested carried a somewhat steep $43,030 price, but that included $3,165 in options, features like a head-up display, a three-zone climate control system, and heated rear seats—all of which the 2023 Honda CR-V doesn’t offer at any trim level. If we compare top trim to top trim, the Honda is more efficient thanks to its hybrid powertrain. But the Nissan has caught up in almost every other way, and in some cases it has surpassed the previous class leader. That might be the 2023 Rogue’s best trick yet.