2022 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a highly anticipated addition to the Ford lineup, designed as a smaller sibling to the rugged Bronco. It featured a modern retro aesthetic reminiscent of the Land Rover, with short front and rear overhangs for better off-road capability. The vehicle's tall fender wells and tucked-in body sides were crafted for trail driving, minimizing the risk of catching on obstructions. The Bronco Sport's front end echoed the larger Bronco, with bold white "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, and a modest Ford blue oval badge on the tailgate.

The Bronco Sport's wheels varied by trim level, starting with 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model and progressing to 18-inch machined-face aluminum Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks model. The interior was rugged yet tasteful, featuring an uncluttered design with unique HVAC vent shapes and an 8-inch infotainment screen. Interior trim levels ranged from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, with the First Edition model offering Navy Pier Leather power front seats. The cargo area was designed with active buyers in mind, capable of holding two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes and offering a variety of factory and aftermarket accessories.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue continued to build on its reputation as a top seller with a mature, sophisticated design. The exterior featured Nissan's V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a floating roof illusion created by dark supporting pillars. The SL and Platinum trims included LED fog lamps, while active grille shutters and underbody covers improved airflow. The Rogue's slightly bulging liftgate added a sleek finish to the body.

Inside, the Rogue's cabin followed a layered dash design with contrasting colors and surfaces in some trims. The center console was a highlight, featuring an electronic gear selector lever that freed up space for storage beneath the console. The 9-inch center infotainment display was positioned near the driver's eye line, and the instrument panel offered either a 7-inch center display or a full 12.3-inch digital screen in upper trims. Nissan's Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats provided comfort, and the roomy second row offered good legroom and ample space for passengers.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices tied to trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models were equipped with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes.

The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, four-wheel independent suspension, and generous suspension travel. Ground clearance ranged from 7.8 to 8.8 inches, depending on tire and wheel size. On-road, the 2.0-liter engine provided a better match for the vehicle's character, while the 1.5-liter engine could feel strained under pressure.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a performance boost from its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, which produced 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine featured Variable Compression technology, allowing it to adjust the compression ratio for improved power or efficiency as needed. The new engine offered an 11 percent increase in horsepower and a 24 percent increase in torque compared to the previous 2.5-liter engine.

The Rogue's new engine also delivered impressive fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The updated CVT transmission provided a wider range of gear ratios, enhancing acceleration and responsiveness. The Rogue's chassis and suspension handled the new engine's power well, offering a smooth, controlled ride with minimal body roll. The electric power-assisted steering provided good feel, and the 35.4-foot turning diameter was tight.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with features like a cargo space designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford offered over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting kayaks, surfboards, skis, and camping equipment. The roof could support up to 150 pounds (100 with a moonroof), and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds, while the 1.5-liter engine could tow 2,000 pounds.

The cargo area included a flip-up rear glass, a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin featured ample storage compartments, including big door pockets, multiple cubbies, and covered storage. However, taller drivers might have found it challenging to see past the roof overhang to spot traffic lights, and the bulges in the hood could obscure the trail ahead when off-road.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue offered a well-thought-out interior with numerous storage options. The front cabin included 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. USB-A, USB-C, and 12-volt outlets were available in the center stack, 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 provided 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, depending on configuration, and expanded to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Ford+Alexa, and SiriusXM. FordConnect with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard. The base audio system included six speakers, while a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The terrain management system offered up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, and trail control technology provided a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading.

Intelligent access with push-button start was included on all trims except the Base model. Heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels were available on Outer Banks and above, along with a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue carried over the technology upgrades from its 2021 makeover. 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. Navigation-equipped models used Google Maps and Waze with voice commands. 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 used navigation data to adjust speed proactively based on road conditions. Nissan's Intelligent Key allowed for unlocking the rear doors by tapping the button on the rear door handle.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, dynamic brake support, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link, and road-sign recognition.

All Bronco Sport models featured AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes, providing traction control, anti-lock braking, and electronic stability control. However, crash-worthiness ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue included the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of safety technologies across all trim levels. Standard 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, Intelligent Driver Alertness technology, and rear door alert. Blind spot intervention and traffic sign recognition were available.

ProPilot Assist combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control to help with acceleration, braking, and steering in heavy traffic and on the open road. The enhanced ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link added predictive speed control based on navigation data. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, while the 2021 model earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.