2022 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave represented a significant comeback for the Buick brand, which had struggled through the Malaise Era of automotive design and marketing. The Enclave, a large, American-made SUV, helped Buick regain its footing by appealing to consumer preferences for SUVs. It was the largest of Buick's four SUV offerings, standing out with its impressive design and luxurious Avenir trim, which featured a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist yet upscale interior with soft leather seats, polished accents, and a somewhat fussy electronic transmission shifter.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Rogue continued to build on its success as a top seller since its redesign in 2013. The 2022 model carried forward the mature styling introduced in the previous year, featuring a V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a sleek floating roof design. The interior of the Rogue was sophisticated and detailed, with a layered dash, electronic gear selector lever, and ample storage options. The Rogue's cabin was designed for comfort and convenience, with Nissan's Zero Gravity front seats and a roomy second row.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. The Enclave's performance was strong, with a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The ride quality was exceptional, thanks to the premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping, and the Enclave achieved an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, received a significant performance boost with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine. This three-cylinder engine produced 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, a notable improvement over the previous model's engine. The Rogue's new engine delivered impressive fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The Rogue's CVT transmission provided smooth acceleration and responsive performance, while the chassis and suspension offered a controlled ride with minimal body roll.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering spacious and comfortable seating for six or seven passengers. The Avenir trim featured luxurious amenities such as 12-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The Enclave's third-row seat was genuinely useful, and the cargo space was impressive, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

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, and a center console bin. Rear-seat passengers also had ample storage options and USB ports for device charging. The Rogue's cargo area was generous, offering 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space with the second row up and 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in some areas. It featured an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, it lacked integration with smart home digital assistants and had a relatively short free trial period for connected services. The Avenir trim included a rear camera mirror, which provided a live video feed of what was behind the vehicle.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, offered a more advanced technology suite. 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 also included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay 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 Buick Enclave's safety features were somewhat limited, with advanced systems like forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking restricted to higher trim levels. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking were only available on the Avenir trim with the optional Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but missed out on a Top Safety Pick accolade from the IIHS due to its Marginal headlight performance rating.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue came standard with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, which included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link was available for advanced driver assistance. The Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2021 model.