2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson featured a more conventional design compared to its futuristic successor. It had an upright layout that provided a commanding view of the road. Inside, the Tucson boasted a modern, attractive dash design where tech features were seamlessly integrated into the overall aesthetic. Every button and dial was easy to find, making the interior user-friendly and visually appealing.

Trim levels for the 2021 Tucson included SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate. The base SE trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, a digital driver information display, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like LED headlight accents, heated side mirrors, roof rails, and more luxurious interior touches such as leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue carried forward the significant redesign from the previous year, which gave it a more mature and sophisticated look. The exterior featured Nissan’s V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a floating roof design. The SL and Platinum trims included LED fog lamps and other aerodynamic enhancements like active grille shutters and underbody covers to improve airflow.

Inside, the Rogue showcased a layered dash design with contrasting colors and surfaces in different trims. The center console was a highlight, featuring an electronic gear selector lever, ample storage space, and a wireless charging pad. The 9-inch center infotainment display was positioned near the driver’s eye line, and upper trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The Rogue’s Zero Gravity front seats and roomy second row provided comfort and space, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that delivered 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered either front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD).

The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at highway speeds, while the 2.4-liter engine provided a livelier performance around town. The Tucson had a comfortable and refined ride, striking a balance between softness and athleticism. The 2.0-liter engine allowed for a towing capacity of up to 1,500 pounds, while the 2.4-liter engine increased this to 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a performance boost with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, which produced 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This was an 11 percent increase in horsepower and a 24 percent increase in torque compared to the previous 2.5-liter engine. The VC-Turbo engine featured Variable Compression technology, which adjusted the compression ratio for better power or efficiency as needed.

The new engine significantly improved the Rogue’s performance, making it more responsive in various driving situations. The Rogue also boasted impressive fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The new CVT transmission offered wider gear ratios, enhancing acceleration and responsiveness. The Rogue’s chassis and suspension provided a smooth, controlled ride with minimal body roll, and the electric power-assisted steering had good feel.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While this was slightly below average for the compact SUV segment, it still offered adequate space for weekend bags or larger items. Higher trims like the Sport included a hands-free power liftgate for added convenience.

Despite its compact size, the Tucson offered solid front-seat headroom and legroom, with comfortable and supportive seats for long trips. The rear seats were less spacious but still accommodating for adults. The interior featured plenty of cubbies and compartments for storage, making it practical for everyday use.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior space and storage options. The front cabin featured numerous storage areas, including bottle holders, cupholders, a glove compartment, a center console bin, a tray beneath the center console, and various cubbies. The center stack included USB-A, USB-C, and 12-volt outlets, along with a wireless charging pad.

Rear-seat passengers had storage options in the doors, seatbacks, and center armrest, along with USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports. The second-row seat was a 60/40 split reclining bench. The Rogue offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, depending on the configuration, and a generous 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim offered an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Additional available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue continued 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 used Google Maps and Waze for navigation with voice commands. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were 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 on models with ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link. This allowed the Rogue to adjust speed proactively based on road conditions ahead. Nissan’s Intelligent Key evolved to allow unlocking of the rear doors from the rear door handle, adding convenience for families.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Higher trims added features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

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 and extended crumple zones for passive safety. Additional safety features included Nissan’s Intelligent Driver Alertness technology and rear door alert, with blind spot intervention and traffic sign recognition available.

ProPilot Assist combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control to help with acceleration, braking, and steering in heavy traffic and on the open road. The enhanced ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link added integration with the navigation system for predictive speed control. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and the 2021 model earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.