2020 Nissan Rogue vs 2019 GMC Acadia

The 2019 GMC Acadia was a handsome SUV with a shorter wheelbase that provided an athletic stance and an upright grille that gave it an upscale appearance. Despite not being marketed as a luxury SUV, it was as nice as, if not nicer than, the more expensive Buick Envision. The Acadia had broader appeal than other GM vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox and Buick Envision. Although considered a midsize SUV, it felt closer in size to compact competitors like the Nissan Rogue.

The Acadia came in several trims: SL, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2, and the range-topping Denali. The base SL trim included 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, 7-passenger seating, remote keyless entry, 3-zone climate control, and heated power side mirrors. Higher trims added features like LED headlights, Sirius XM satellite radio, power liftgate, fog lights, and a premium Bose stereo system. The SLT-1 AWD trim with the Black Edition appearance package added 20-inch aluminum wheels with black accents, giving the Acadia a more menacing look.

The 2020 Nissan Rogue, available in S, SV, and SL trims, had a single engine and transmission combination with a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Rogue remained attractive despite its age, with a bold V-Motion grille and exaggerated fender swells. The SL trim, with 19-inch aluminum wheels, added to its appeal.

Inside, the Rogue's age was more apparent with older styling themes and unimpressive plastic surfaces. However, the SL trim's center console sides were padded for driver comfort. The Rogue's interior design was functional but lacked the modern, angular motifs seen in newer vehicles.

The 2019 GMC Acadia offered two engines: an inline 4-cylinder and a V6. The V6 was not available in the base SL or SLE-1 trims but was optional in the SLE-2 and SLE-1 with FWD. The SLT-1 AWD, SLT-2, and Denali trims came standard with the V6. The base 4-cylinder engine produced 193 horsepower, while the 3.6-liter V6 engine delivered 310 hp, providing fantastic acceleration and the ability to chirp the tires from a quick takeoff.

Power was sent through a 6-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels or available AWD. The AWD system featured GMC's Active Twin Clutch system, allowing drivers to switch between FWD, AWD, Sport mode, and All-Terrain mode. The V6 Acadia could tow up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. The base SL Acadia with the 4-cylinder engine and FWD returned fuel economy figures of 21 mpg city, 26 highway, and 23 combined. The SLT-1 AWD with the V6 returned 17/25/20, and in a week of combined driving, it achieved 19.8 mpg.

The 2020 Nissan Rogue had a single engine and transmission: a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). While the CVT did a good job of making the most of the engine's power, the Rogue's performance was merely adequate, especially when accelerating onto a freeway, passing slower vehicles, or climbing a mountain grade. The EPA estimated that FWD versions of the Rogue would return 29 mpg in combined driving, but during testing, it managed no better than 24.9 mpg.

The Rogue's ride and handling were improved by brake-induced technologies like Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, which helped tuck the Rogue tighter into turns and smooth out speed humps. However, the Rogue SL, with its 19-inch wheels and tires, was not particularly fun to drive. The electrically assisted steering was lifeless and heavy, and the suspension lacked isolation, making the Rogue more of a vehicle to endure than enjoy.

The 2019 GMC Acadia provided a solid amount of space for the driver and front passenger, with deep trays for small items and functional center console and in-door bins. The SL, SLE-1, and SLE-2 trims featured 7-passenger seating with a middle bench seat, while the SLT-1 AWD trim had captain's chairs, reducing seating capacity to 6. The second-row seats were comfortable and provided decent head- and legroom, but the third-row seats were not very roomy and suitable only for kids. The Acadia offered 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, 41.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 79 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2020 Nissan Rogue's front seats were somewhat undersized examples of Nissan's Zero Gravity cushion designs, but getting comfortable was challenging for taller drivers. The back seat, however, provided excellent thigh support, a proper backrest angle, and a great view, making it a preferred location for passengers. The Rogue's in-cabin storage was lacking, with only the glove compartment offering a healthy amount of space. However, the Rogue excelled in cargo volume, with 39 cubic feet of space behind the back seat, underfloor storage compartments, and a standard Divide-n-Hide cargo management system.

The 2019 GMC Acadia's base SL trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen running GMC's IntelliLink infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot. The SLT-1 trim upgraded to an 8-inch screen, and the Denali trim added standard navigation. Higher trims also featured a 4.2-inch color information display within the gauge cluster, with the Denali trim offering an 8-inch display that turned it into a semi-digital instrument panel. The Acadia was also available with a color head-up display.

The 2020 Nissan Rogue's infotainment system included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a hands-free text messaging assistant. Upgrades included SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation with door-to-door assistance, a Bose premium sound system, and NissanConnect Services. However, the NissanConnect interface used a 7-inch touchscreen with a recessed display that looked outdated and had slow response times. The voice-recognition technology was also subpar, making the Rogue's tech quotient suffer.

The 2019 GMC Acadia came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. The Driver Alert Package 1, standard on the SLT-1 and optional on the SLE-2 trim, added a blind-spot warning system, lane-change alert, and rear park assist. The SLT-2 trim added the Driver Alert Package 2, which included low-speed forward automatic braking, lane-departure warning, pedestrian detection, forward-collision alert, adaptive headlights and high beams, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.

The 2020 Nissan Rogue's standard Safety Shield 360 collection included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking for the front and rear, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included a Rear Door Alert and a Tire Fill Alert system. Options included a surround-view camera and ProPilot Assist adaptive cruise control with lane-centering capability. However, the Rogue's crash-test ratings were less impressive, with a 4-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and less-than-ideal ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).