2022 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a mixed reception regarding its exterior design. While it featured an aggressive nose and a low hood, the design seemed to lose its appeal past the A-pillar, making it almost indistinguishable from its predecessors. The flat taillights and contoured rear helped mitigate its minivan-like tendencies, but it still lacked the pitch-perfect proportions seen in competitors like BMW, Audi, and Jaguar. The AMG trim added a sporty touch, but it still couldn't compete in looks with the likes of the BMW X5 M or Porsche Cayenne Turbo. However, the interior was a different story. The redesigned GLE Coupe boasted a streamlined and cohesive look, with a luxurious interior featuring high-quality materials and a stunning layout. The red and black interior was particularly eye-catching, and the twin arching grab handles on the center console, outlined with LED lighting, were a standout feature.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, had a more mature and refined exterior design compared to its previous iterations. The new model carried over the design improvements from the 2021 transformation, featuring a V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a floating roof design. The SL and Platinum trims came with additional features like LED fog lamps and active grille shutters to improve airflow. Inside, the Rogue followed a layered dash design trend, with contrasting colors and different surfaces in various trim levels. The center console was a highlight, featuring an electronic gear selector lever, a wireless charging pad, and ample storage space. The 9-inch center infotainment display was positioned near the driver's eye line, and the instrument panel varied from a 7-inch display on lower trims to a full 12.3-inch digital screen on upper trims. The Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats and roomy second row added to the Rogue's appeal.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled in performance, offering a range of engine options and advanced suspension systems. The base GLE 350 featured a 2.0-liter inline-four engine with 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, while the GLE 450 had a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The AMG GLE 53 took it up a notch with 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, thanks to an electric supercharger. The GLE 580 featured a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine with 483 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, and the AMG GLE 63 S topped the range with 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. The GLE's air suspension systems, including AIRMATIC and AMG Ride Control+, provided a smooth and controlled ride, with features like adaptive dampers, roll stabilization, and E-Active Body Control. The GLE's hybrid setup, with a 48-volt battery, added up to 21 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque for brief periods, improving throttle response and reducing engine vibration. However, fuel efficiency was not its strong suit, with the GLE 450 achieving 21/26/23 mpg and the GLE 350 4Matic returning 19/26/22 mpg.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a significant performance boost with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This was an 11% increase in horsepower and a 24% increase in torque compared to the previous 2.5-liter inline-four engine. The VC-Turbo engine's variable compression technology allowed it to adjust the compression ratio for better power or efficiency, depending on the driving situation. The new engine also improved fuel economy, with the Rogue achieving 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The Rogue's CVT transmission had wider gear ratios, providing better acceleration and responsiveness. The chassis and suspension handled the new engine's power well, delivering a smooth and controlled ride with minimal body roll. The electric power-assisted steering had good feel, and the 35.4-foot turning diameter was tight for a compact crossover.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a spacious interior, with most models being two-row SUVs that could be optionally equipped with a third row for seating up to seven. The second-row seats had power controls for recline, fore-aft adjustment, and headrest positioning. The GLE Coupe, however, was limited to five seats, with the rear space feeling more constricted due to the sloping roofline and large rear tires. Cargo capacity was generous, with 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 75 cubic feet with all rows folded. The Coupe had less cargo space, with 23 cubic feet behind the second row and 61 cubic feet with all rows folded. The new MBUX infotainment system improved usability, featuring a single touchpad and a simplified interface. Seat controls on the doors, rocker switches for the suspension, and shortcuts for driving modes on the steering wheel were easy to use, though the thumbpads on the steering wheel could be fussy.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior storage and cargo space. The front cabin had numerous storage options, including bottle holders in the doors, cupholders in the console, a glove compartment, a center console bin, a tray beneath the center console, and cubbies in the dash. The center stack featured 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's cargo area offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, depending on the configuration, and 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE was packed with advanced technology features. The main 12-inch display was a touchscreen equipped with Interior Assistant, which could read hand gestures. The system could be controlled via the touchpad or the right thumbpad, and it featured search bars and larger type for easier navigation. The AMG models had a Track Pace app for virtual pit crew functions and GPS lap timing. The Seat Kinetics system made small adjustments to the seat as you drove, and the head-up display and instrument panel could be reconfigured in various layouts. The ambient lighting had 64 colors, and the navigation system could overlay arrows and street names on the front camera feed. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a natural voice assistant that responded to the command "Mercedes." The semi-automated functionality could change lanes and slow down for curves by itself.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue carried over the technology upgrades from the 2021 model, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display on upper trim levels. The Rogue used Google Maps and Waze with voice commands for navigation, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on upper 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 system could adjust the Rogue's speed based on road conditions ahead, such as reducing speed for a freeway curve or preparing for an exit. Nissan's Intelligent Key allowed for unlocking the rear doors from the rear door handle, making it more convenient for passengers.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for its top ratings in six crash tests, headlights, and standard forward emergency braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not rated the GLE. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and a driver attention monitor. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic braking, and semi-automated control. The Pre-Safe Sound system played a "pink noise" to reduce hearing damage in a crash, and the Pre-Safe Impulse Side system could inflate the side bolsters of the front seats to better position occupants in a side impact.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of safety technologies across all trim levels. Standard safety 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 had ten supplemental airbags and extended crumple zones for passive safety. Each Rogue model also had Nissan's Intelligent Driver Alertness technology and rear door alert. Available safety features included blind spot intervention and traffic sign recognition. ProPilot Assist combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control to help control 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 a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2021 model.