2021 Audi Q3 vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2021 Audi Q3 showcased a design that fit well within the era of "postmodern automotive styling." Its massive corporate grille paired seamlessly with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling while primarily delivering on the latter. Inside, the cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, making it a standout feature. Although the Q3's interior felt modern and refined, it was no longer as unique due to Volkswagen's similar designs.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue continued the grownup look introduced in the previous year's redesign. It featured a V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a floating roof illusion created by dark supporting pillars. The Rogue's cabin followed a layered dash design trend, with contrasting colors and surfaces in some trims. The center console was a highlight, featuring an electronic gear selector lever, ample storage space, and a 9-inch center infotainment display. The Rogue's Zero Gravity front seats and roomy second row added to its appeal.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, delivering 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Q3's handling was nimble, and its ride was comfortable, striking a balance between engaging driving dynamics and refined ride quality. However, the base engine exhibited some turbo lag, especially under hard acceleration.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a performance boost from its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine featured Variable Compression technology, which adjusted the compression ratio for optimal power and efficiency. The Rogue's new CVT transmission offered wider gear ratios, improving acceleration and responsiveness. The Rogue's chassis and suspension provided a smooth, controlled ride with minimal body roll, and its electric power-assisted steering had good feel. The Rogue also boasted impressive fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined.

The 2021 Audi Q3 offered 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the overall cargo space was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for it with comfortable front seats and impressive rear-seat headroom and legroom, accommodating up to five passengers comfortably.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior space and storage options. The front cabin featured numerous storage compartments, including bottle holders, cupholders, a glove compartment, a center console bin, and more. Rear-seat passengers also had ample storage options and USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports. The Rogue's cargo area offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, depending on configuration, and 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi's MMI system, featuring Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. An upgraded 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation was available, along with wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit, a customizable digital display, was also available.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue carried over the technology upgrades from its 2021 makeover. Upper trim levels featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. The Rogue offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on higher trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan's hands-on driver-assist technology, was available and integrated with the navigation system for predictive speed control.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of safety technologies across all trim levels. Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Rogue also had ten supplemental airbags, extended crumple zones, and Nissan’s Intelligent Driver Alertness technology. ProPilot Assist and enhanced ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link were available for advanced driver assistance. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2021 model.