2021 Buick Envision vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign after two consecutive years of facelifts. This two-row compact crossover, positioned between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave, featured a lower and wider stance, giving it a more planted appearance. The Envision's new sculpted look was more pronounced than its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, but not as sleek as the Acura RDX. The three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—offered distinct looks, with the Avenir trim making its debut in the Envision lineup. The Avenir grade added premium exterior elements like a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels, while the interior boasted leather-appointed seating with diamond perforated inserts and a head-up display.

The Envision's cabin featured a driver-centric design with a protruding center stack housing the infotainment screen and climate controls, angled towards the driver. While the design choices were stylish, the abundance of piano black plastic on the dashboard and center console attracted dust. The Envision rode on 18- or 20-inch wheels, depending on the trim level, and all models came with LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights. The welcome lighting animation projected the Buick logo onto the surrounding area as the key fob holder approached, adding a touch of sophistication.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue continued to build on the redesign from the previous year, which transformed its slightly cute styling into a more mature look. The new Rogue shared several exterior design features with other current-generation Nissan vehicles, including the V-motion grille and multi-level LED headlights. The SL and Platinum trims came with LED fog lamps, and the floating roof design added to the sleek appearance. The Rogue also featured active grille shutters and underbody covers to improve airflow, enhancing its aerodynamic efficiency.

Inside, the Rogue's cabin followed the trend of a layered dash with distinct horizontal layers, creating a sophisticated and detailed look. The center console, with its electronic gear selector lever, provided ample storage space beneath it. The 9-inch center infotainment display was positioned near the driver's eye line, and the instrument panel featured either a 7-inch center display or a full 12.3-inch digital screen in upper trims. The Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats and roomy second row offered comfort and ample space for passengers. The fit and finish of the Rogue were exemplary, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model.

The 2021 Buick Envision saw a significant change in its powertrain with the introduction of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 2.5-liter engine. This new engine produced 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, a downgrade from the 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque of the previous model. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the weight savings did not fully compensate for the power loss. The Envision's fuel efficiency improved, with the FWD model achieving 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined, while the AWD version managed 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The Envision's drivability was comfortable but not particularly engaging, with noticeable engine and road noise during acceleration and deceleration.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a performance boost with 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 fuel economy improved significantly, achieving 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The new CVT transmission provided a wider range of gear ratios, enhancing acceleration and responsiveness. The Rogue's chassis and suspension delivered a smooth and controlled ride, with minimal body roll and good steering feel.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign did not translate into improved cabin space. Despite a longer wheelbase, the Envision had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, and rear-seat passengers lost two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. The cargo capacity also decreased, with 25.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front passenger's access to climate controls and the infotainment screen. Small-item storage was typical for the segment, and the Envision offered standard features like heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

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 a tray beneath the center console. Rear-seat passengers had storage options in the doors, seatbacks, and center armrest, along with USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports. The Rogue's cargo area offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat, making it highly versatile for various needs.

The 2021 Buick Envision's technology was functional but not groundbreaking. The standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities clearly. The driver could use the available 8.0-inch driver information display for quicker access to station and song information. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview camera, keyless entry, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, HD Radio, surround-view camera, HUD, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue's technology upgrade from the previous year carried over, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display on upper trims. 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 higher trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan's hands-on driver-assist technology, was available and integrated with the navigation system for predictive speed control, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included Buckle to Drive, forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, rear-seat alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models.

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 also had ten supplemental airbags, extended crumple zones, and Nissan's Intelligent Driver Alertness technology. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control for a Level 2 advanced driver-assist system. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and the 2021 model received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.