2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

Cadillac had showcased numerous impressive concept vehicles in recent years, each hinting at design elements that would eventually become a reality. The most recent was the Escala, and its influence was evident in the face of the redesigned 2021 Cadillac Escalade. From there back, however, the new 2021 Escalade didn’t rewrite any styling playbooks. It sat on standard 22-inch wheels for the first time in its history, displayed crisp creases on its flanks, and offered a familiar look at the rear, with tall, vertical, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) taillights stretching up and fading into the roof.

The Rogue had been in the Nissan lineup since 2007. A redesign for the 2013 model year cemented its place as a top seller, putting it in a back-and-forth duel with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Last year’s transformation reworked the Rogue’s slightly cute styling into a more grownup look, and the 2022 model carried on with no new flourishes. The new Rogue displayed several exterior design features in common with other current-generation Nissan vehicles, especially the recently reworked Pathfinder. It had a version of Nissan’s V-motion grille up front, flanked by multi-level LED headlights, with daytime running lights above the main headlight.

In the past, it had been said there was no replacement for displacement. But with the all-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade, that wasn’t true. A 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine was a no-cost option that replaced the standard 6.2-liter V8 engine. Most people were likely to stick with the V8 because of the way it sounded and performed. Cadillac even offered a Performance Upgrade Package for it, complete with a performance air intake kit and a cat-back performance exhaust system that undoubtedly added some menace to the V8’s muscle. With 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque on tap, delivered to the rear or all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission, the hefty Escalade had no trouble in the acceleration department.

The Rogue’s performance hadn’t been a big disappointment in the past, but it hadn’t been exhilarating, either. The 2022 Rogue not only benefited from the chassis improvements Nissan made in 2021, but it also got a jolt of energy from its new engine, the latest addition to the VC-Turbo family. The 2022 Rogue's 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine had three cylinders arranged inline and made 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. That was an increase of 11 percent over the 2021’s 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine horsepower produced, and 24 percent more torque. The added power livened up the Rogue’s performance in all situations.

As impressive as the Escalade’s improved ride and handling qualities were, the bigger story was the larger and more useful cabin. The new independent rear suspension design allowed designers and engineers to lower the SUV’s floor, and the longer wheelbase and overall vehicle length contributed to additional interior volume. The result was significant gains in passenger room and comfort, as well as cargo capacity. Front-seat occupants wouldn’t notice much difference between the old Escalade and the new one, aside from the overall design, quality, and high-tech controls. Heated seats were standard, ventilated seats came in all but standard Luxury trim, and Platinum trim added massaging seats.

Even though the Rogue had only been through three generations of evolution, Nissan had honed it into a very capable vehicle with smart details. Just looking around the front cabin, one could notice how many places there were to stash and store the items a family or commuter might need to have handy in their vehicle. The Rogue offered bottle holders in the door, cupholders in the console, a glove compartment, a center console bin, a tray beneath the center console, cubbies in the dash, and more. Rear-seat passengers also had storage options in the doors, in the seatbacks, and in the center armrest, and they got USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports for their devices.

Cadillac equipped the new Escalade with a long list of high-tech features, starting with an industry-leading implementation of OLED instrumentation and infotainment screens housed in a curved-glass display measuring 38 inches across. Cadillac said it offered greater pixel density than a 4K television, with each pixel programmed for deep, true blacks and a seemingly infinite range of color. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and pairing an iPhone XS and streaming music via Pandora or making and receiving phone calls was no trouble. However, Apple CarPlay would not work for some users, and the voice recognition technology had some issues interpreting standard voice prompt tests accurately.

The Rogue’s 2021 makeover came with a technology upgrade, which carried over to the 2022 model. On the upper trim levels, the most significant upgrades were to the vehicle’s screens—three of them, to be precise: a new 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. When equipped with navigation, the Rogue used Google Maps and Waze with voice commands. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard features, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on upper trim levels. 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.

Cadillac Escalade safety started with the SUV’s sheer size. At a minimum, this SUV weighed 5,635 pounds, which meant it would crush most other vehicles into which it collided. Cadillac equipped every 2021 Escalade with forward collision warning, automatic forward emergency braking at speeds below 50 mph, and front and rear pedestrian detection. A Safety Alert Seat buzzed the driver’s bottom when any of these features detected a potential hazard. Premium Luxury and Sport trim raised the safety ante with standard blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance systems.

The 2022 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. ProPilot Assist took Safety Shield 360 features and amped them up to a Level 2 advanced driver-assist system. The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a four-star (out of five) overall safety rating from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).