2022 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Kia Seltos

Despite its classification as a subcompact SUV, the 2021 Kia Seltos had a big-car feel. It featured an upright layout with a commanding view of the road. The headlight design, though busy, flowed well into the grille styling. The lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle, hinting at off-road capabilities, even though the Seltos wasn't designed for such adventures. The two-tone roof design and red circles around the wheel centers added a trendy and dynamic touch. Inside, the Seltos boasted a straightforward design layout with clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech features, reminiscent of more upscale brands like Audi. The clean LCD screen for climate controls and the sporty handle framing the tray below the center stack underscored its utilitarian yet sporty nature.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, redesigned in 2021, carried forward its mature and sophisticated look. It featured Nissan’s V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a floating roof design. The SL and Platinum trims came with LED fog lamps and active grille shutters to improve airflow. Inside, the Rogue had a layered dash with contrasting colors and surfaces, giving it a detailed and tasteful look. The center console, with its electronic gear selector lever, offered ample storage space, including a tray beneath the console. The 9-inch center infotainment display and the roomy second row with Nissan’s Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats added to its appeal. Fit and finish were exemplary, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). AWD was standard on LX and EX and optional on the S. The base engine was adequate for city driving but lacked power at higher speeds. The S Turbo and SX Turbo trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard AWD. This engine provided ample power for quick acceleration and highway driving. The Seltos handled well, with minimal body roll in turns and a smooth ride over bumps, especially in Sport Mode.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a performance boost with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This was an 11% increase in horsepower and a 24% increase in torque compared to the 2021 model. The new engine, combined with a wider-ratio CVT, improved the Rogue’s acceleration and responsiveness. The Rogue also boasted impressive fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined. The chassis and suspension provided a smooth and controlled ride, with minimal body roll and good steering feel. The Rogue’s 35.4-foot turning diameter was tight, making it easy to maneuver.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This made it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs. The SX Turbo trim included a hard cargo cover that doubled as a tray for small items. The Seltos also provided ample storage compartments and cubbies throughout the cabin, with impressive rear-seat space for a subcompact SUV.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior storage and cargo space. The front cabin featured numerous storage options, 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 offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the base S trim and a 10.25-inch touchscreen on the SX Turbo trim. The SX Turbo also featured a Bose premium sound system and a 7-inch digital display screen in the instrument panel. While the infotainment system was intuitive and user-friendly, it had some quirks, such as defaulting to the phone’s music when plugged in via USB and only one data-connecting USB port.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured significant technology upgrades, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display on upper trims. 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 on models with ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link, providing predictive speed control based on road conditions.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and child-seat anchor latches. All trims except the base LX included a suite of driver-assistance features, such as forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control with idle stop-and-go and cyclist detection.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite across all trims, including automatic emergency braking, 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 advanced driver assistance. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2021 model.