2021 Ford Expedition vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted six weary travelers at Los Angeles International Airport with its plush and roomy interior. Despite its luxurious Platinum trim, which topped the lineup starting at $50,595 and culminating at $74,375, the Expedition struggled to accommodate all the passengers' luggage. The Magnetic gray SUV, equipped with 4WD, a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, and second-row captain’s chairs, had a total cost of $80,510. However, the limited cargo space forced one passenger to carry a suitcase on her lap for the 40-mile ride to the suburbs.

Despite this setback, the Expedition Platinum's bold presence and intricate design details, such as a chrome grille and 22-inch machined-face aluminum wheels, made it a striking vehicle. The extended-length MAX version could have resolved the cargo issue, offering more space for luggage. The leather-lined cabin, though featuring some hard plastic elements, provided comfort for the six-person crew, with the front seats even offering a massage function. The Expedition's interior, while luxurious, reminded passengers of its origins, suggesting that those seeking a more refined experience might consider the Lincoln Navigator.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, redesigned in 2021, continued to impress with its mature styling and shared design elements with other Nissan vehicles, like the Pathfinder. The Rogue featured a V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a sleek floating roof design. The interior boasted a sophisticated, layered dash with contrasting colors and surfaces, enhancing its detailed look. The center console, with an electronic gear selector lever, provided ample storage space, including a tray beneath the console and a wireless charging pad.

The Rogue's cabin was equipped with Nissan's Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats and a roomy second row, offering good legroom for passengers. The fit and finish were exemplary, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model. The Rogue's cargo area was generous, with 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. This made the Rogue a practical choice for families and commuters alike.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, available in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 4WD. The engine produced 375 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm, except for the Platinum trim, which boasted 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. The Expedition's towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the specification, and it offered Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology for easier trailer maneuvering.

The Expedition's acceleration was impressive, even with a full load of passengers and cargo. The twin-turbo V6 emitted a pleasant engine note, and the 10-speed transmission operated smoothly. However, the ride quality suffered due to the Platinum's 22-inch wheels, which transmitted road shock into the cabin. Despite this, the Expedition's four-wheel independent suspension provided a stable and controlled ride. The FX4 Off-Road Package, available on XLT and Limited models, added off-road capabilities, but the Platinum trim did not include this option. The Expedition averaged 17.1 mpg on the evaluation loop, with an EPA rating of 19 mpg in combined driving.

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 represented an 11% increase in horsepower and a 24% increase in torque compared to the 2021 model's 2.5-liter engine. The VC-Turbo engine's variable compression technology allowed for improved power and efficiency, with the EPA estimating 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined.

The Rogue's new CVT transmission offered wider gear ratios, enhancing acceleration and responsiveness. The chassis and suspension handled the new engine's power well, delivering a smooth and controlled ride with minimal body roll. The electric power-assisted steering provided good feedback, and the Rogue's 35.4-foot turning diameter was tight and maneuverable.

The 2021 Ford Expedition's primary shortcoming was its inability to transport more than five people and their luggage simultaneously. The extended-length Expedition MAX addressed this issue, offering 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 121.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. The regular-length Expedition provided 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 104.6 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Expedition's independent rear suspension ensured comfort for all passengers, and the power-deploying running boards made entry and exit easy. However, the high liftover height of the cargo floor could be a challenge when loading heavy items.

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, a tray beneath the console, and cubbies in the dash. The Rogue also offered USB-A, USB-C, and 12-volt outlets, along with a wireless charging pad. Rear-seat passengers had storage options in the doors, seatbacks, and center armrest, as well as USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports. The Rogue's cargo area provided 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat, making it a practical choice for families and commuters.

The 2021 Ford Expedition's Sync 3 infotainment system, while user-friendly, showed its age with an 8-inch touchscreen display that sometimes responded slowly to inputs. Despite this, Sync 3 offered modern features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. The Expedition also included Amazon Alexa compatibility and an enhanced voice recognition system. The test vehicle featured a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging but lacked the available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue's technology upgrade from the 2021 makeover 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 trim levels. The Rogue's infotainment system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 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 on models with ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link. This allowed the Rogue to adjust speed proactively based on road conditions. Nissan's Intelligent Key evolved to allow unlocking of both front and rear doors by tapping the rear door handle button.

The 2021 Ford Expedition, with a curb weight of at least 5,368 pounds, had a safety advantage over many vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Expedition a five-star overall crash-test rating, though the rollover-resistance rating was three stars for RWD and four stars for 4WD models. The Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a semi-autonomous parking assistance system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured 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. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control for Level 2 advanced driver-assist capabilities. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and the 2021 model earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).